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	Bishop Pius Ncube Confesses Adultery on Easter Sunday ZimDaily March 23, 2008 http://www.zimdaily.com/news/117/ARTICLE/2445/2008-03-23.html Ncube, who is currently in the Vatican where he has been summoned by the Pope, is set to offer an explanation to the Holy See concerning his breach of his vow of celibacy. He will remain in the Vatican until December, so that he grows in faith, according to official Vatican sources. Ncube was felled by an adultery scandal spearhead by Zimbabwe 's notorious spy Central Intelligence Organisation and State-owned media, which threw away all pretense at professionalism and did a hatchet job on the archbishop. The State media published compromising photos - apparently taken by cameras planted by security agents in the ceiling of the Bulawayo cleric's bedroom - depicting him having sex with a married woman. Ncube has since stepped down from his archbishopric and is now a mere bishop. He has been instructed by his lawyers to remain silent, but in an exclusive interview with Frontier Africa TV recorded just before Easter, he admits the adultery scandal for the first time. In the interview with Frontier Africa TV - an independent film production company, Ncube apologises but speaks out vociferously against Mugabe ahead of the impending vote. "It is true, I do admit that I did fail in keeping God's commandment with regard to adultery," he said in the filmed interview. "Having failed in keeping the Seventh Commandment 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' I would like to apologise to you, I'd like to apologise that so many of you were praying for me, for the fact that so many of you standing with me in fact suffered so much." Father Ciro Benedettini, the deputy Vatican spokesman, has declined to comment about Ncube's current attachement to the Vatican . "I can't make any comment on the subject at the moment." Benedettini however said Ncube's has been instructed to follow Church rule that bans priests and bishops from taking part in politics. "Canon law forbids members of the clergy from participating directly in politics," he said. It is understood from the sources in Rome that Ncube is unlikely to be permitted to return to Zimbabwe until later this year and that he will probably be required to resettle as an ordinary priest. Ncube says in the interview: "I'm disturbed. I'm very traumatised by this situation. My mouth just dries up. I did fail my vows. The problem is how do you repent, how do you turn round, how do you regain your integrity? "I need to explain to the pope's people my situation and the situation of the diocese. I need a bit of time to rest and to discern, to think about the future and perhaps get counselling." He however has no kinds words for Mugabe who he brands a "despot" almost six times in the interview. He says of the appalling situation in Zimbabwe : "I think Christ would condemn the violence, widespread rape and torture by government agencies and the Mugabe-loyal youth militia. I don't think Christ would have survived in Zimbabwe . We're all being held to ransom by one despot. Mugabe's government doesn't like people who speak the truth. Plenty of people who criticise the government have died mysteriously. Christ wouldn't have had a chance."
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