The Advertiser: Church threat to married archbishop [ 19jul01 ]

Church threat to married archbishop

19jul01
ROME: The Vatican yesterday threatened to excommunicate an archbishop who married a woman the Reverend Moon chose for him in one of the sect's mass weddings.

Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo was given until August 20 to leave his wife, sever his ties with the "Moonies", publicly promise to remain celibate and "manifest his obedience to the Supreme Pontiff".

If he doesn't, he will be excommunicated, said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which enforces orthodoxy in the Catholic church.

The 71-year-old Zambian archbishop was married on May 27 in a group ceremony in New York.

His bride, Maria Sung, 43, was selected by Mr Moon, as is customary in his movement, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

After his wedding, Archbishop Milingo said he had "no desire to leave the church that I love".

He had said he had kept his priestly vow of celibacy since 1958 and still considered himself a Catholic, but had decided the church needed to change.

In a letter dated June 10 to the Pope, Archbishop Milingo reassured the Pontiff that his actions were a result of his faith in Jesus.

But in the letter Archbishop Milingo also asked to be released from his vow of celibacy so he could consummate his marriage – and for an audience with the Pope.

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