SA bishops angry at police action

by Jack O'Sullivan FOLLOWING the appearance in court of Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban last week and the detention on Sunday of three Presbyterian ministers, South Africa's Catholic bishops have accused the South African Government of provoking a Church-State crisis.
In an angry statement, the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) said that the Government was trying "to suffocate the voice of dissension and increase the possibility of Church-State conflict."
Archbishop Hurley was accused of falsely charging the South African police with committing atrocities in Namibia. In the packed Pretoria Regional Court, he pleaded "not guilty" and his trial, was scheduled for February 1985.
As the case opened last Friday, bishops from throughout the world sent messages of support to Archbishop Hurley, President of SACBC. Cardinal Hume said "all you have done arises from your deep commitment to the gospel" and assured him of "our continuing support".
The arrest of the Revd Jeff Moselane, the Revd Luther Mateza and the Revd Malunbazo, Presbyterian Ministers in the black township of Sharpeville brought a statement from the SACBC saying that it "highlights the growing tension between the Church and State in South Africa".
The bishops added that the Church has had to fill the gap left by the bannings and arrests of opposition leaders, but would soon face the same gap because of "this act of silencing the people of God".
In a later statement the SACBC also condemned the sending of 7000 police and soldiers into the township of Sebokeng in the Vaal triangle. "The police and army are now seen as the aggressors by openly invading the township and sealing it off", the bishops said.