MONDAY MAY 28 2001
Vatican's rebel archbishop weds Moonie
FROM RICHARD OWEN IN ROME - The Times
AN ARCHBISHOP from Africa was facing excommunication by the Vatican yesterday after marrying a Korean woman at a mass wedding in New York presided over by the Rev Sun Myung Moon.
The marriage of Mgr Emmanuel Milingo, 71, and Sung Ryae Soon, 43, who was chosen for him by Mr Moon, was the last straw for the Vatican. Mgr Milingo has defied the Pope for years by carrying out exorcisms and unauthorised healing services. He released a bestselling CD of rap music inspired by African rhythms.
Before taking part in the mass wedding at the Hilton Hotel yesterday Mgr Milingo, who is from Zambia, said that after "a lifetime devoted to the Church of Rome and my priestly vows" he had been "called by the Lord to take a step which will change my life for ever". He added that he expected his marriage to "alter my relations with the Roman Catholic Church", but that as far as he was concerned he remained a Catholic.
The news at first met with disbelief in Vatican City. "I hope it is not true," JoaquÃn Navarro-Valls, the Pope's chief spokesman, said. In a statement from New York, Mgr Milingo confirmed that it was and said that he had informed the Pope of his plans last week.
The Unification Church, known as the Moonies, said that Mgr Milingo was "not converting to another Church . . . he remains deeply committed to his own Church".
Mgr Milingo became Archbishop of Lusaka at the age of 39, a meteoric rise. The Vatican soon became alarmed, however, by reports of his unorthodox behaviour. In 1983 he was summoned to Rome and made deputy head of the Pontifical Council for Migrants in the hope that that would enable the Curia to "contain" him. He was barred from holding church services, but continued to hold unauthorised "healing" Masses and exorcisms in halls - often with packed congregations. In 1999 he became involved with the Moonies. Eventually he was stripped of his Curia post.
He and his bride were among 60 couples married by Mr Moon. Like all couples involved in such weddings, they had not met before.
Summary excommunication would normally follow, Vatican officials said, because violation of celibacy was a clear breach of canon law. The Pope may opt for the lesser penalty of suspension pending a definitive judgment.
Vatican's rebel archbishop weds Moonie
FROM RICHARD OWEN IN ROME - The Times
AN ARCHBISHOP from Africa was facing excommunication by the Vatican yesterday after marrying a Korean woman at a mass wedding in New York presided over by the Rev Sun Myung Moon.
The marriage of Mgr Emmanuel Milingo, 71, and Sung Ryae Soon, 43, who was chosen for him by Mr Moon, was the last straw for the Vatican. Mgr Milingo has defied the Pope for years by carrying out exorcisms and unauthorised healing services. He released a bestselling CD of rap music inspired by African rhythms.
Before taking part in the mass wedding at the Hilton Hotel yesterday Mgr Milingo, who is from Zambia, said that after "a lifetime devoted to the Church of Rome and my priestly vows" he had been "called by the Lord to take a step which will change my life for ever". He added that he expected his marriage to "alter my relations with the Roman Catholic Church", but that as far as he was concerned he remained a Catholic.
The news at first met with disbelief in Vatican City. "I hope it is not true," JoaquÃn Navarro-Valls, the Pope's chief spokesman, said. In a statement from New York, Mgr Milingo confirmed that it was and said that he had informed the Pope of his plans last week.
The Unification Church, known as the Moonies, said that Mgr Milingo was "not converting to another Church . . . he remains deeply committed to his own Church".
Mgr Milingo became Archbishop of Lusaka at the age of 39, a meteoric rise. The Vatican soon became alarmed, however, by reports of his unorthodox behaviour. In 1983 he was summoned to Rome and made deputy head of the Pontifical Council for Migrants in the hope that that would enable the Curia to "contain" him. He was barred from holding church services, but continued to hold unauthorised "healing" Masses and exorcisms in halls - often with packed congregations. In 1999 he became involved with the Moonies. Eventually he was stripped of his Curia post.
He and his bride were among 60 couples married by Mr Moon. Like all couples involved in such weddings, they had not met before.
Summary excommunication would normally follow, Vatican officials said, because violation of celibacy was a clear breach of canon law. The Pope may opt for the lesser penalty of suspension pending a definitive judgment.