VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 26, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the statement issued today by the Vatican press office on retired Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo of Lusaka, Zambia.
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The Holy See has followed with profound concern the activity begun recently by Monsignor Emmanuel Milingo, archbishop emeritus of Lusaka, with a new association of married priests, spreading division and disconcert among the faithful.
Exponents of the Church of various levels have tried in vain to contact Archbishop Milingo to dissuade him from continuing with his actions, which cause scandal, especially among the faithful who have followed his pastoral ministry for the poor and sick.
Taking into account the understanding manifested, even recently, by the Successor of Peter to this elderly pastor of the Church, the Holy See has awaited with vigilant patience the evolution of events that, unfortunately, have led Archbishop Milingo to a condition of irregularity and of progressive open rupture with the communion of the Church, in the first instance with a supposed marriage and later with the ordination of four bishops, on Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C.
With this public act, both Archbishop Milingo as well as the four ordained have incurred excommunication "latae sententiae" [automatically], established by canon1382 of the Code of Canon Law. Moreover, the Church does not recognize and does not intend to recognize in the future these ordinations or any ordinations derived from them, and considers that the canonical state of the four alleged bishops is the same as it was before the ordination.
The Apostolic See, concerned about the unity and peace of Christ's flock, had hoped that the fraternal action of people close to Archbishop Milingo would serve for his rethinking and return to full communion with the Pope. Unfortunately, the latest events have dispelled these hopes.
In moments of ecclesial suffering like this the prayer of the whole community of the faithful must be intensified.
[Translation by ZENIT]
ZE06092606 - 2006-09-26
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-17077?l=english
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