Pope calls meeting on married priests

[spindrifter]

The Times November 15, 2006

From Sarah Delaney in Rome

THE Pope will gather church officials for a “reflection” on celibacy and marriage for priests tomorrow. The move has been prompted by the rebellion of an excommunicated Zambian archbishop, who has founded a movement for the promotion of married clergy.

The Vatican says that the heads of its congregations or ministries would examine the situation “created by the disobedience of Monsignor Emmanuel Milingo” and consider requests for exemptions to the celibacy rule for priests who wished to marry or who were already married.

It made clear that Pope Benedict XVI had not called the meeting intending to make significant changes but to discuss the issue in general and some circumstances in particular. “The meeting was called because of what happened with Mgr Milingo,” the Vatican said, “but they will also discuss the situation of priests who have left and who want to come back.”

The flamboyant Archbishop Milingo, 76, who married Maria Sung at a Unification Church mass wedding presided over by the Rev Sun Myung Moon in 2001, is the founder of a group called Married Priests Now. He was excommunicated in September after he installed four married Roman Catholic priests as bishops in a ceremony in Washington.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2454012,00.html

[Donnachaidh]

1. uhh -- this archbishop is a Moonie?

I hope he's out on his behind. permanently.