Emmanuel Milingo : Unification Church - Milingo Saddens Bishops

Catholic Bishops in Zambia are deeply saddened and pained by the defection of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo by marrying in the Moon Sect.

In a statement yesterday, the Zambian Bishops stated that they had for a long time tried to reach out to Archbishop Milingo but that he had unfortunately rejected their regular and honest advice.

"Other people in the Church, including the Holy Father, have tried to reach out to him, but he took this advice as a form of persecution (Mt,18:15-17

)," the statement stated.

"In spite of all the efforts made by us and others, he decided to go on with his plan to marry, thereby turning his back on the Catholic Church." The Bishops stated that by his action, the former Archbishop has put himself outside the Catholic Church.

"This implies that he is no longer a Bishop nor part of the Catholic Church," the statement read in part. They stated that the former Archbishop has betrayed his vows by attempting marriage while still under his priestly commitments.

They stated that his act portrays his failure to abide by sound apostolic tradition, which suddenly induced him not to perceive the advice from so many and not to discern the truth. "He rather portrayed the others as not understanding his actions," the Bishops observed.
(...)

The Bishops invited all Christians to continue praying for the former Archbishop in the hope that he will decide to repent and come back to the Church. The Vatican has also expressed deep regret at the decision by Milingo to marry in the Moon Sect.

According to a statement issued by the Press Office of the Holy See on Monday, the Vatican regretted that Milingo has caused a deep injury to the Church Communion by breaking away from the vows which Bishops have to live with. The Vatican stated that by his action, Milingo will not be considered Bishop of the Catholic Church anymore.
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