VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 2001 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican reacted cautiously to the news that Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo was marrying in a group wedding conducted by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.
Archbishop Milingo, 70, married Sung Ryae (Anna) Soon, a 43-year-old Korean physician, today at the New York Hilton. Moon assigned him the bride last week.
The newlyweds plan to move to Africa, according to a Moon spokesman, the Reverend Phillip Schanker.
Earlier, in Rome, Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls wrote: “There is no direct information from the archbishop.”
Navarro-Valls clarified that “for some time, Archbishop Milingo has not held direct posts in organizations of the Roman Curia.” The Zambian left Rome a week ago and, since then has had no contact with the Curia.
Milingo was named archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia, when he was 39. In 1983 he was called to Rome to answer accusations of improper use of the powers of exorcism. He was transferred to the Vatican as a functionary in the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
Archbishop Milingo spent his time, however, organizing exorcisms and healing services in Italy.
Recently, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, archbishop of Milan, and Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar of Rome, prohibited banned Archbishop Milingo from using their diocesan churches for his services.
As a result, the Zambian started holding the services in hotel reception rooms.
In 1999, the archbishop was removed from his post in the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
Last November, the Vatican issued strict rules aimed at curbing unauthorized exorcism and faith healing.
