Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo (of Zambia) was excommunicated on Tuesday, September 26 by the Vatican for his break with the Church in celebrating an unauthorized episcopal ordination and/or installation. He was already in trouble for an “attempted” marriage to Marie Sung, a Korean acupuncturist (which took place in 2001). I say “attempted” because marriages that break the rules in the Catholic Church are considered null-and-void. He is only feigning marriage and any sexual activity is fornication. He reconciled with the Church, claimed he was brainwashed, and then left again.
He used to perform unauthorised exorcisms and large scale healing services. He was known for being flamboyent and outspoken. But it looks like the Catholic Church will have the final word. This week he participated with George, wannabee Pope, Stallings in the installation of four men as bishops. His campaign, called MARRIED PRIESTS NOW! seeks to end compulsory celibacy for priests. It has been at least 20 years since such a highly ranked clergyman has been excommunicated.
The Vatican described the archbishop as “spreading division and confusion among the faithful,” and so censure was necessary and we need to pray fervently for healing and fidelity during “these moments of ecclesiastical suffering.” The archbishop was guilty of “irregularity and of progressively open rupture of communion with the Church.” Both Milingo and Stallings were participants of the mass wedding celebrated by Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church in New York back in 2001. Moon picked out Asian women for both men.
Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington, said Archbishop Milingo’s actions in attempting to name bishops without Vatican approval were “clearly illicit.” (Unfortunately, this does not mean that the bishops are necessarily “invalid”!) The event took place on Sunday at the Imani Temple on Capitol Hill, which is operated by pseudo-Archbishop George Augustus Stallings Jr., a former Catholic priest who defected back in 1989. Stallings must have had some concern or doubt about his own episcopal orders because he was one of the men consecrated by Archbishop Milingo. The others were Peter Paul Brennan of New York; Patrick Trujillo of Newark, N.J.; and Joseph Gouthro of Las Vegas.
Some have suggested that Milingo is demon-possessed. Back in the 1970’s his healing services were so wild that he was warned by Rome. He incorporated local customs and it was said that his rituals resembled voodooism. He was told to stop but refused. Ordered to Rome in 1983, he continued his bizarre ministry and became a celebrity drawing thousands to services and for exorcisms. Now he suffers from automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication for participation in unauthorised ordinations.
It is all just too sad. Note that while the various News services assert in headlines that the Vatican excommunicated him, the truth be said, he did it to himself. All that Rome is doing is declaring the obvious, stating a fact to insure that faithful Catholics are not fooled into thinking Archbishop Milingo and his cronies are in good standing.
WASH POST: Milingo Excommunicated By Vatican
Below is a Spanish parody of the issue, not recommended for everyone, okay, maybe not recommended for anyone! I thought Spain was more respectful of the Church. You have been warned:
DISCUSSION
JOHN PAT:
A tragic shame!!! Stallings et al are considered Valid “Old Catholic” Bishops…to what purpose for another line of Apostolic Succession. This shows how far the “Old Catholic” position has taken since 1870 with the beginning of the movement. On the other hand “Old Roman” Catholic clergy maintain the discipline and praxis of the Ancient Catholic Church of Holland which predates PIO IX’s establishing a rival heirarchy at Utrecht. One can not be a Roman Catholic Bishop if one is not in communion with Peter! “Old Romans” pray for the Holy Father in the Una Cum at Mass, the “Old Catholics” abandoned such practices along with auricular confession, celibacy, veneration of the Saints etc. TRADITIONALISTs are cast out while PROGRESSIVE get second chances! By this account Archbishop Lefevre should be Canonized.
BISHOP CORNELIUS:
I Whole heartly Agree Bishop Cornelius ECCC UK
Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Celibacy, Marriage, Priests |
Blogger Priest 
Hi Fr. Joe, I was a bit confused about your statement that after laiciziation, any future ordinations would be “both illicit and invalid.” I wrote to Cathy Caridi (canonlawmadeeasy.com), and she agreed that the “power to ordain comes from a man’s episcopal consecration, which can never be undone” (I can forward you the thread if you’re interested). So unless I misunderstand something, Milingo’s future ordinations would be illicit but still valid. Peace!
Hello –
I would like to ask two questions about your recent posts regarding the actions of the controversial Archbishops:
1. Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington, said Archbishop Milingo’s actions in attempting to name bishops without Vatican approval were “clearly illicit.” (Unfortunately, this does not mean that the bishops are necessarily “invalid”!)
Considering the circumstances described above, why would the bishops not necessarily be invalid? Doesn’t the Pope himself need to approve all bishops?
2.Now, Archbishop Milingo (76 years old) has gone over the deep end again and is back with Maria Sung. Like other dissenters, he refuses to leave the Church, desiring instead to force her to change. “My position is very clear in my understanding of my ordination by the church. Once a priest, always a priest. Even though a priest can renounce his vows and be defrocked by the church, the church avows that he always remains a priest.”
What does that mean – “once a priest, always a priest”? If he has renounced his vows and/or been given permission to leave by the Church does that not mean he has permission to marry and to live an ordinary life?
Thank you – D. Strauss