VATICAN CITY - An African archbishop who married a Korean acupuncturist in a group wedding in New York conducted by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon can no longer be considered a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican said yesterday.

In an unusually strong statement, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the chief spokesman for the Vatican, said Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo "could not be considered a bishop of the Catholic Church" and would be subject to "foreseen canonical sanctions."

Analysts said "sanctions" almost certainly meant formal excommunication.

He had "inflicted a serious wound on the communion which priests above all must show with the Church," Mr. Navarro-Valls said.

According to canon law, Archbishop Milingo, of Zambia, will be excommunicated if the Vatican considers him guilty of violating the Church's celibacy laws. Priests are not allowed to marry without first leaving the clergy.

Zambia's Catholic bishops said they would meet in Lusaka today to discuss what they saw as a crisis. "Bishops are shocked. It is stunning," said a spokesman for the Episcopal Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops.

Archbishop Milingo, a controversial 71-year-old healer who also practises exorcism, married 43-year-old Maria Sung on Sunday.

The service, one of 60 performed during the day, was conducted by Mr. Moon of the Unification Church, who chose Archbishop Milingo's bride for him.

After the wedding, Archbishop Milingo told reporters he was unconcerned by the threat of excommunication. "God is still with me," he said. "I love my Church."

Archbishop Milingo's decision to marry is viewed as a slap in the face for Pope John Paul II, who had shown him leniency despite pressure from Vatican officials.

Sources said the Zambian bishops would ask the Vatican to expedite the excommunication for what they saw as a betrayal.