Catholic World News News Feature

Vatican pulls passport of excommunicated archbishop October 15, 2007

Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, who was excommunicated in September 2006, has had his Vatican passport revoked.

The 77-year-old Zambian prelate, who has been working with followers of the Unification Church and lobbying for an end to clerical celibacy, planned to travel to Rome with a group of married priests in December.

Like other prelates, Archbishop Milingo held a passport giving him the diplomatic protection of the Holy See. That passport has now been withdrawn, reflecting his break with the Church. The African archbishop was excommunicated after a series of clashes with the Vatican, culminating with his illicit ordination of 4 married men as bishops.