Retired Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo of Lusaka, Zambia, who attracted the world’s attention in 2001 when he attempted to marry a Korean acupuncturist during a ceremony of Sun Myung Moon’s Unificationist Church, has been dismissed from the clerical state. Citing Canon 292, the communiqué explains that dismissal from the clerical state implies the “loss of the rights and duties attached to the clerical state, except for the obligation of celibacy; prohibition of the exercise of any ministry, except as provided for by Canon 976 of the Code of Canon Law in those cases involving danger of death; loss of all offices and functions and of all delegated power, as well as prohibition of the use of clerical attire.”
A communiqué published today by the Vatican press office notes that the “dismissal of a bishop from the clerical state is most extraordinary,” and adds that the Church “hopes that Archbishop Milingo will see the error of his way.”
Although the scandal of Milingo’s attempted marriage — so noted because the Church doesn’t recognize its validity — garnered much more media attention, the Church didn’t take the extreme measure to dismiss him from the clerical state until after he began in September 2006 to ordain bishops without permission from the Vatican. The ordinations are part of an effort to abolish celibacy in the priesthood.
“By so doing,” the Vatican statement affirms, “he incurred the penalty of excommunication latae sententiae (Canon 1382) which was declared by the Holy See on 26 September 2006 and is still in force today.”
“Sadly, Archbishop Milingo has shown no sign of the desired repentance with a view to returning to full communion with the Supreme Pontiff and the other members of the College of Bishops,” the note continues. “Rather, he has persisted in the unlawful exercise of acts belonging to the episcopal office, committing new crimes against the unity of Holy Church.
“Specifically, in recent months Archbishop Milingo has proceeded to several other episcopal ordinations. The commission of these grave crimes, which has recently been established, is to be considered as proof of the persistent contumacy of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo.
“The Holy See has therefore been obliged to impose upon him the further penalty of dismissal from the clerical state.”
“While expressing hope for their conversion, the Church reaffirms what was declared on 26 September 2006, namely that she does not recognize these ordinations, nor does she intend to recognize them, or any subsequent ordinations based on them, in the future,” the Vatican affirms. “Hence the canonical status of the supposed bishops remains as it was prior to the ordination conferred by Archbishop Milingo.”
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 17, 2009 (Zenit.org)