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UNDER THE VATICAN
order, Milingo must ”(a) leave [wife] Maria Sung; (b) sever all links with
the sect, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification;
”(c) declare publicly his fidelity to the doctrine and
ecclesiastical discipline of celibacy and to manifest his obedience to the
Supreme Pontiff by a clear and unequivocal act.
“Should Archbishop Milingo not formally act by August 20, 2001 to
fulfil what is hereby required of him, excommunication reserved to the
Holy See will be imposed,” the Vatican said in its daily
bulletin.
It said it had not been able to
communicate with Milingo to “invite him to reflect on the grave
consequences of his conduct and actions, to make amendments for the
scandal given.”
Milingo, a controversial
71-year-old faith healer who also practices exorcism, married 43-year-old
Maria Sung in a ballroom at the New York Hilton on May 27.
The Roman Catholic Church has strict celibacy rules
for its clergy, who are not allowed to marry.
The service, one of 60 performed during the day, was conducted by
Moon, who chose Milingo’s bride for him. Sung is an acupuncturist from
Korea. |
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UNORTHODOX
METHODS
After the wedding,
Milingo, a Zambian, told reporters he was unconcerned by the threat of
excommunication. “God is still with me,” he said. “I love my
church.”
Milingo’s marriage was the latest
in a string of embarrassments he has caused the Vatican over what some
Church authorities consider his unorthodox methods.
In defiance of diocesan bishops in Italy, he has presided at
colorful masses and meetings at which he has carried out impromptu
exorcisms.
Last September, Milingo, who
moved to Rome in 1983, was quietly stripped of his job in a Vatican
department.
In November, the Vatican issued
strict new rules on exorcism and faith healing. Milingo was not mentioned
by name, but many of the rules seemed to be drafted with him in
mind.
Reverend Moon, leader of the
controversial Unification Church, is hailed as the messiah by his
followers but has been strongly criticized in several countries.
© 2001 Reuters
Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters
content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of
Reuters.
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