MARIA Sung is free to marry another man, said Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo yesterday.
According to Archbishop Milingo's brother, Martin Chilumbu, Milingo told him during a more than 30 minutes long telephone conversation from Argentina where he is on retreat that he was no longer interested in Sung. Chilumbu, 82, told journalists at information and broadcasting minister Newstead Zimba's office yesterday that from the conversation they had in Ngoni at the Vatican Apostolic Nuncio's official residence, it was clear that Archbishop Milingo regretted his marriage to Sung at a mass Unification Church marriage ceremony about two years ago.
"He told me that he erred when he married her and said she was free to return to Korea," Chilumbu said. "I am going to tell her this evening (yesterday) about Milingo's decision so that she can have a nice sleep." Chilumbu who was accompanied by Human Rights Commission chairperson justice Lombe Chibesakunda said he was ready to marry Maria to another man who would be interested if she did not want to return to Korea.
Chilumbu said Maria was determined to stay until Archbishop Milingo returned to Zambia next month after his retreat in Argentina. "We have been with her since she came here, even today (yesterday) I was with her and she says she will wait until Milingo returns," Chilumbu said.
"She insisted that she will wait for him." He said the Archbishop was expected back to Rome on October 12, before proceeding to Zambia three days later.
Chilumbu said he had no doubt that he was speaking to his brother because he knew his voice very well and discussed other matters concerning the family in the village in Eastern Province. Justice Chibesakunda who also spoke to Archbishop Milingo said he was in high spirits and indicated he was being looked after very well.
She said Archbishop Milingo indicated during the 10 minutes conversation that he was looking forward to coming home at the end of his retreat next month.
"He said he was grateful that the Zambian government had shown so much concern," justice Chibesakunda said. She said Sung was free to stay in the country like many other foreign nationals if she did not want to return to Korea after her futile marriage trip to Zambia.
Information minister Newstead Zimba said government were concerned about the safety of Archbishop Milingo like many other nationals living outside the country. Zimba hoped that this would rest speculations that Archbishop Milingo was unwell and imprisoned by the Vatican.