Anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Hurley dies

The tireless anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Emeritus Denis Hurley OMI, has died. He was 88. As the Catholic Archbishop of Durban, Archbishop Hurley was a high profile opponent of the apartheid regime working hand in hand with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the struggle. The Archbishop refused to be silenced in his criticism of the brutal regime even after three petrol bombs exploded through the window of his Durban home. Amongst his proudest moments, the Archbishop counted appearing in court on charges of making 'false statements' about atrocities committed by a South African police unit in Namibia - charges that were eventually dropped by the South African Government. In recent years, Archbishop Hurley has challenged and led the Catholic Church in South Africa to respond to the needs of the growing number of people affected by the spread of the HIV virus. He was also a leading light in South Africa's Justice and Peace movement. In a statement, CAFOD said today "We will always be grateful for the immense contribution of Archbishop Hurley to its work in South Africa." "As a CAFOD partner and friend, Archbishop Hurley will be very much missed," said CAFOD South Africa programme officer Jackie Reeve. "His energy and vigour in challenging injustice continued until the very end of his life. His clarity on justice issues has helped to guide and inspire the work of CAFOD and many others in South Africa." Archbishop Hurley became the world's youngest bishop in 1947, when he was just 32 years old, and went on to become the world's youngest archbishop just three years later. Source: CAFOD