RELIGION : Black Priest Rejects Vatican

A black priest suspended last year from the Roman Catholic Church after demanding that black members be allowed to institute their own rituals during Mass declared today he no longer accepts the authority of Rome.

“As of today the African American Catholic Congregation is independent and will no longer be under Rome,” Father George Stallings said during an appearance on the “Donahue” show that was taped Tuesday and aired today.

Stallings, 41, said his Washington congregation is “still Catholic” but will no longer accept the authority of the 2,000-year-old church.

“Today we go independent,” said Stallings, displaying a colorful logo of his newly proclaimed religion to a nationwide television audience. “We no longer consider ourselves to be under the Pope or under the aegis of the Roman Catholic Church.”