Archbishop Ncube Ntrouble - but what is the truth of the matter?

The VIS bulletin was terse and to-the-point:

"[Today the Holy Father:] Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, presented by Archbishop Pius Alick Ncube, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law."

The back story is long and complicated, but to summarize:

• Abp. Pius Ncube has been an outspoken critic of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe (who, from all reports, is a corrupt dictator)
• President Mugabe has had his state-run media and secret service proliferate a vicious campaign accusing the Archbishop of having a sexual relationship with his secretary
• The President conducted an undercover operation that resulted in a video which purports to show the Archbishop having relations with his secretary (and other women as well)
• Abp. Ncube has denied the accusations, but has resigned to "protect the church." He will remain a bishop in Zimbabwe and continue opposing the president's activities.

I don't believe that the Archbishop's resignation proves that he is guilty, as the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop's conference pointed out to reporters. The Archbishop was not asked to resign [update: this detail is now contested - see bottom of the post], and he submitted his request back in July with the purpose of allowing himself more time to defend against the civil charges of adultery that he is facing from the government as well as a suit submitted by the husband of the woman with whom he is purported to have had an affair.

The Catholic Church is said to be conducting its own investigation, and that's what I'll be watching more than the (likely corrupt) civil suit. Efforts are also underway to examine the authenticity of the media which attempts to compromise the Archbishop (I don't envy those involved with that task).

It is also interesting to note that the Archbishop was charged with adultery almost immediately after he was quoted as saying that it would be morally justifiable to overthrow President Mugabe's regime [source]. If we want to talk about timing, that is rather noteworthy.

And I have to say that, in general, I'm very impressed by the Archbishop's words. If he is indeed guilty, this only makes the situation all the more tragic because he clearly seems to have an integrated understanding of his office and duties as an Archbishop - at least on paper.

The CNS coverage of this issue is extremely well-done and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read more of the archbishop's position, as well as learn more about the background of the controversy.

Finally, Rocco reports:

Ncube's resignation is the second indicator in a week of a concerted shift in the Holy See's Zimbabwe policy.

Little noticed when it dropped eight days ago, Benedict transferred the nuncio to Harare, Archbishop Edward Adams, to Manila as the papal representative to the Philippines.

Other sources:

• Sep 12: Zimbabwe Archbishop Resigns (New York Times)
• Sep 12: Pope lets critic of Mugabe quit after sex video (UK Gaurdian ... unfair headline)
• Sep 11: Archbishop Pius Ncube resigns amidst allegations of adultery (CNA)
• Sep 11: Zimbabwe's Archbishop Ncube resigns under fire (CWNews)
• Sep 11: Pope Accepts Zimbabwean Prelate's Resignation (Zenit)
• Sep 11: Ncube to resign, reports anticipate (CathNews)
• Aug 31: Zimbabwe's bishops rally behind accused archbishop (CNA)
• Aug 31: Zimbabwe bishops rally behind accused prelate (CWNews)
• Aug 28: Lawyers for Archbishop Ncube ask for detailed charges (CWNews)
• Aug 23: Zimbabwe government launches new charges against Archbishop Ncube (CWNews)

Update: John Allen reports: "Ncube yesterday told Corriere della Sera, Italy’s leading newspaper, that he would “never admit” that the photos are authentic. Ncube also said that he would not have resigned on his own, but did so in obedience to a request from Benedict XVI." The AFP reports along similar lines.

Update 2: CWNews, in turn, disputes that the Holy See asked for the resignation:

A spokesman for the bishops' conference of Zimbabwe told the Catholic News Service that Archbishop Ncube had submitted his resignation freely, denying that the Vatican had pressed him to resign. However he also said that the archbishop's resignation was "not expected." Ncube had earlier told reporters that he had offered to resign in July, when newspapers in the nation's capital first ran stories on the adultery charges.