The mass wedding of 60 couples at the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue was celebrated by the Rev Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church. It was not clear what was more likely to bring the wrath of Rome down on the 71-year-old emeritus archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia: the marriage that broke his priestly vows or the fact that his bride was chosen by the head of a sect that the Vatican considers heretical.

Before he married Sung Ryae-soon, a doctor, Mgr Milingo said: "At 71, after a lifetime of devotion to the Church and to my priestly vows, the Lord has called me to take a step that will change my life forever." He said he was not leaving the Church and would not dissociate himself from Catholic tradition. The Vatican said at the weekend that it would await his statement before reacting.

Born in a poor village in Zambia, Mgr Milingo was made a bishop by Pope Paul VI in 1969, when only 39. A talented singer, he has recorded a CD of rap music. But his habit of holding exorcisms and healing sessions during Mass led to him being ostracised by the Church hierarchy long ago. His growing friendship with Sun Myung Moon has not helped his relations with the Vatican.

He is also one of the few members of the Curia accused of being a witch-doctor.

28 November 2000: Vatican ban on exorcism at Mass
7 February 1999: Vatican enraged by return of the 'exorcist witch doctor'