VATICAN CITY, July 17 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Tuesday gave African Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo a month to separate from his wife and quit the sect of Reverend Sun Myung Moon or face excommunication.
The Vatican said that Milingo, who was married by Moon in late May, had until August 20th to comply with three conditions set by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
"(a) Leave (wife) Maria Sung; (b) sever all links with the sect, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification;
"(c) declare publicly his fidelity to the doctrine and ecclesiastical discipline of celibacy and to manifest his obedience to the Supreme Pontiff by a clear and unequivocal act.
"Should Archbishop Milingo not formally act by August 20, 2001 to fulfil what is hereby required of him, excommunication reserved to the Holy See will be imposed," the Vatican said in its daily bulletin.
It said it had not been able to communicate with Milingo to "invite him to reflect on the grave consequences of his conduct and actions, to make amendments for the scandal given."
Milingo, a controversial 71-year-old faith healer who also practices exorcism, married 43-year-old Maria Sung in a ballroom at the New York Hilton on May 27.
The Roman Catholic Church has strict celibacy rules for its clergy, who are not allowed to marry.
The service, one of 60 performed during the day, was conducted by Moon, who chose Milingo's bride for him. Sung is an acupuncturist from Korea.
After the wedding, Milingo, a Zambian, told reporters he was unconcerned by the threat of excommunication. "God is still with me," he said. "I love my church."
But he also said the Vatican was judging him and trying to put him against a wall.
Milingo's marriage was the latest in a string of embarrassments he has caused the Vatican over what some Church authorities consider his unorthodox methods.
In defiance of diocesan bishops in Italy, he has presided at colourful masses and meetings at which he has carried out impromptu exorcisms.
Last September, Milingo, who moved to Rome in 1983, was quietly stripped of his job in a Vatican department.
In November, the Vatican issued strict new rules on exorcism and faith healing. Milingo was not mentioned by name, but many of the rules seemed to be drafted with him in mind.
Reverend Moon, leader of the controversial Unification Church, is hailed as the messiah by his followers but has been strongly criticised in several countries.