Maravi

Milingo is not part of us,says Bishop Lungu

Milingo is not part of us,says Bishop Lungu
By Masuzyo Chakwe and Lambwe Kachali
Tuesday June 03, 2008 [04:00]

EMMANUEL Milingo still stands excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president Bishop George Lungu has said. Bishop Lungu yesterdaysaid the Catholic faithful in the country should be aware that if the former archbishop was holding any religious functions, those ceremonies were being done outside the Catholic Church.

"Following what has come out in the media this week, we, the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) wish to reiterate what we said in November 2006 that former Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo still stands excommunicated from the Catholic Church," Bishop Lungu said.
He said even if signs and symbols, as well as attire being used during the services resembled those of the Catholic Church, the services conducted were not part of the church.

However, Bishop Lungu noted that the former archbishop was a Zambian who was free to come home and do what he pleased.
"The Catholic Church has a divine right to legislate on matters concerning its own internal life," said Bishop Lungu.

And Lusaka Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu said there was nothing more he could say about archbishop Milingo because he was not part of the Catholic Church anymore, whether he liked it or not.

"Whether he accepts it or not, period! If he is still insisting, that is his prerogative, that is his problem not our problem," said Archbishop Mpundu.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Milingo on Sunday during his healing session at Lusaka's Masiye Drive Inn, said God would be very strong on bishops and leaders who steal sex through adultery and fornication.

Archbishop Milingo said God knew the importance for people to get married.
He said it was unfortunate that some bishops had continued to take advantage of the weak in society in order to abuse them.

He said there was no need for religious leaders to refrain from marrying when God had allowed the union of Mary and Joseph.

"Mulungu ndiye apatsa moyo ngati mwamuna ndi mkanzi agwilizana kuti apange mwana kupyolela mwa Mulungu. God is the one who gives life when a man and woman agree to have a child through the Lord," Archbishop Milingo said. "When you commit adultery or fornication, you are stealing sex from someone's wife or husband, and God is and will be very strong on sex."

Archbishop Milingo said it was not a secret that some clergy and other national leaders were using their status in society to abuse the underprivileged.
He warned that God was supreme and would not judge people according to their status in society.

"Otherwise; anthu akuonongeni. The so-called educated ali ndi ndalama zimene sizimantha muthumba mwao. Kuli abambo ambili amene akuba sex ku anthu. Akabagwila, palibe chomwe amachita nabo pokuti amagula ajudge. People will destroy you. The so-called educated whose pockets do not run out of money, such as the bishops are stealing sex from people. When they are arrested, nothing happens because they easily bribe the judges," he said.

He said it was important for believers to marry in order to avoid sexual temptations.
Archbishop Milingo also told the gathering to confess their sins and turn to God if they were to see the Kingdom of Heaven.

"We have to take marriage very seriously. I think it is important to examine your lives. Tell the Lord that you are ready and you want to serve him; that you don't want any more sexual scandals in the country, that you want to be of service to others, to be the example," Archbishop Milingo said. "That you have sinned against many people and God should take away the sexual immorality and assure that you will not have sex with anyone. We, human beings are like fish in water; once it comes out of water it is dead. So we are. Immediately we get out of the hands of God, we are worthless. So let us ensure that we cling to God to have eternal life. To be in God's spirit all our lives."
And Archbishop Milingo said the political violence being experienced in some countries was a shame to the African continent.

He said it was sad that African countries had failed to realise the importance of their sovereignty.

He said the wars and political violence experienced in some African countries were a great source of worry on the future of the continent.

Archbishop Milingo said there was need to find a lasting solution to such violence.
"We have political wars that do not finish. What Rwanda had passed through is a shame to us Africans, what Zimbabwe is passing through is a shame to us Africans, so is Sudan, Kenya and now South Africa. As Africa, we need to change our political attitude if we are to maintain peace," said Archbishop Milingo.

Archbishop Milingo, who came into the country with his South Korean Wife Maria Sung last Saturday, is conducting healing sessions in Lusaka until Thursday.

Labels: BISHOP MILINGO, CATHOLIC CHURCH, GEORGE LUNGU

posted by MrK @ 7:53 AM