AmericanPapist Comments
Why is this important? Why is anyone covering this?
Janice, a loose-cannon bishop is a very dangerous thing. He can ordain evil people to the priesthood and episcopacy and basically start a schismatic or heretical church with valid orders. In the process, he puts the salvation of many souls in jeopardy.
I hope the Vatican declares his actions to be that of a madman or someone under extreme influence of weirdos, so that all that he does is invalid. Not as a psychological diagnosis but a canonical one with teeth that makes him harmless.
Doc Angelicus,
I know, but even the SSPX has only gathered so many adherents. Milingo is a small-time, small-duration story. We've got much bigger things to worry about than one man's delusions.
I'm sorry, but when I first glanced at this item, I saw an Onion-like headline: Milingo Accidentally Excommunicates Himself Over Weekend.
I sympathise with both the Doc and Janice. Certainly Milingo's actions are atrocious; but really, he has become such a parodic figure by now, surely only other completely crazy people are following him. Pardon--not that the souls of disturbed people are not also souls to be saved. But you know what I mean. I wish we could all just sweep this embarrassment aside.
I wonder how many people said things like that about Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988?
Or, speaking of it, about Martin Luther or Henry VIII?
I'm not convinced that Milingo incurred automatic excommunication through this action. Since penal law requires a strict interpretation, the question must be asked - what, specifically did Milingo do through this ceremony? All four men he ordained bishops already claim to have received valid episcopal consecration - hence Milingo ordained them "sub conditione." If they were, indeed, validly ordained bishops (even though their ordinations were clearly illicit) then Milingo did not impart any episcopal character upon them. Hence, he did not consecrate anyone a bishop without a pontifical mandate, and so c. 1382 doesn't apply.
Archbishop Milingo has certainly given the Church ample rope with which to excommunicate him, but I think it will have to be done through a canonical trial, rather than latae sententiae. For this one, I say bring back the bell, book and candle and have a public excommunication rite!
Is Ed Peters really your father? Awesome!
Tim's point is well made, but there is a split in the news sources themselves on this. I was assuming he ordained the men (a 1382 matter) as reported by some sources, but some other sources plausibly argue he only "installed" them, which is a violation of canon law, of course, but a different one from 1382. I updated my post to reflect the present uncertainty as to the facts about what Milingo did.
Also, Thom's high opinion of my book is totally correct. In the interest of full disclosure, however, I must mention that I think Thom's has great taste in books.
For what it's worth, Jimmy Akin reports that the Vatica has confirmed that Milingo has indeed excommunicated himself.
...now it's really hit the fan.
Ed Peters is your father?
When you found out, did he chop off your hand and did you fall into an abyss only to end up being saved by sliding into an air vent?
Cause that would be cool.
I'll admit that it took me a few seconds to get that reference, and in the meantime I was completely at a lose to explain what would make you invent that image, Stubble...
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