Milingo seeks guidance of self-proclaimed Messiah

Seoul, South Korea, Feb 2, 2007 / 09:02 am

Former Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo has been secretly staying in Seoul to study the theology of the Unification Church, founded by the controversial Rev. Sun-Myung Moon, South Korea’s “The Hankyoreh,” divulged yesterday.

Milingo’s relationship with the Rev. Moon first became public when the self proclaimed “second Messiah” officiated a marriage between Milingo and Maria Sung, a woman who is a member of the Unification Church.  Milingo, who has excommunicated himself from the Catholic Church, is now reportedly learning Korean to study with Moon.

A source close to Moon’s Unification Church admitted to “The Hankyoreh” Moon is indeed planning to study Moon’s theology and that, "the reason why we have been mum regarding his visit here is so as not to stoke the anger of Catholics."

Moon’s theology is centered around the idea of him being the "Lord of the Second Advent" who is providing the "physical salvation" that Jesus was unable to accomplish because he was executed and never got married.  According to the Associated Press, it is Moon’s opinion that Jesus gave only "spiritual salvation."

Milingo first shocked the Catholic world by announcing his marriage to Sung in 2001.  After meeting with Pope John Paul II and current Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Zambian prelate renounced his marriage to Sung and took up residence in Rome.

However, in July 2006, Milingo left Rome to lead a married-priest conference in Washington and to reestablish his supposed marriage to Sung.  

In September 2006 Milingo ordained four married men as Catholic bishops without Papal mandate.  The former archbishop’s excommunication was formally announced following the act.

Last week, Milingo showed up at a Unification Church gathering held in a central Seoul hotel, urging again that the Vatican allow Catholic priests to marry. According to sources, he is expected to attend an international gathering at the Marriott Hotel in Seoul, between Feb. 20 and 23, which will culminate in a birthday party for Moon.