Zambians Denounce Married Archbishop

Emmanuel Milingo, 71, was wed Sunday in New York City by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. The bride, Marie Sung, 43, a physician from South Korea, was chosen by Moon, leader of the Unification Church.

The bishops said that Milingo had betrayed his vows because he was still under his priestly commitments.

Bishop Dennis Dejong, spokesman for Zambia's Roman Catholic Church, said Milingo turned his back on the church by marrying.

``By doing this, the former archbishop has put himself outside the Catholic Church,'' Dejong said. ``We feel sympathy for the many people who put their trust in the former archbishop and now feel betrayed and abandoned.''

Milingo has long been at odds with the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

While archbishop of Lusaka, he ran afoul of the Vatican over his ministry of faith healings and exorcisms. He resigned under pressure in 1983, a very rare occurrence with an archbishop below normal retirement age and in good health.

He then was brought to Rome as a functionary in the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, but continued public meetings of healing and exorcism. Last year, he was quietly retired from the post.

The Vatican said Monday Milingo has put himself ``outside the church'' and can no longer be considered a bishop. It said further sanctions would soon be announced, indicating it is considering excommunicating Milingo.

Milingo said he had kept his priestly vow of celibacy since 1958 but decided it's time for Catholicism to change.

``The sacrifice of celibate life has fulfilled its purpose. We enter the era when every man and woman is called to fulfill his or her original purpose to reflect God's image,'' he said. Milingo also said. ``I have no desire to leave the church that I love.''

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Roman Catholic bishops in this southern African nation Tuesday criticized their former archbishop for breaking church rules by marrying.

Emmanuel Milingo, 71, was wed Sunday in New York City by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. The bride, Marie Sung, 43, a physician from South Korea, was chosen by Moon, leader of the Unification Church.

The bishops said that Milingo had betrayed his vows because he was still under his priestly commitments.

Bishop Dennis Dejong, spokesman for Zambia's Roman Catholic Church, said Milingo turned his back on the church by marrying.

``By doing this, the former archbishop has put himself outside the Catholic Church,'' Dejong said. ``We feel sympathy for the many people who put their trust in the former archbishop and now feel betrayed and abandoned.''

Milingo has long been at odds with the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

While archbishop of Lusaka, he ran afoul of the Vatican over his ministry of faith healings and exorcisms. He resigned under pressure in 1983, a very rare occurrence with an archbishop below normal retirement age and in good health.

He then was brought to Rome as a functionary in the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, but continued public meetings of healing and exorcism. Last year, he was quietly retired from the post.

The Vatican said Monday Milingo has put himself ``outside the church'' and can no longer be considered a bishop. It said further sanctions would soon be announced, indicating it is considering excommunicating Milingo.

Milingo said he had kept his priestly vow of celibacy since 1958 but decided it's time for Catholicism to change.

``The sacrifice of celibate life has fulfilled its purpose. We enter the era when every man and woman is called to fulfill his or her original purpose to reflect God's image,'' he said. Milingo also said. ``I have no desire to leave the church that I love.''

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