South African bishop is accused on Marxist control

by Christopher Rails A SOUTH AFRICAN__newspaper has accused Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban of "rank naivete" in believing that a Swapo government in Namibia would allow the churches to continue their work unfettered.
Archbishop Hurley was interviewed by the v‘eekly Financial Mail. an influential South African paper, on May 21.
The interviewer called Swapo (the South West African Peoples' Organisation) "Marxist", and asked the archbishop what the position of the Church would, be if it became the government of Namibia.
Archbishop Hurley replied: "Namibian church leaders say that the vast majority of Swapo members are practising Christian church members ... Even in Swapo camps there are chaplains and church services."
The paper's editorial said it was surprising that the archbishop should "display such rank naivete over what might flow from a Swapo takeover in Namibia." And it went on: "The archbishop has a touching faith in Sam Nujoma's willingness to allow the Catholic. and other churches. to continue their work unfettered in what would, in our --view: bea--M.arxist-sa Archbishop Hurley defended the Church's right-and duty to campaign for social justice in southern Africa.
He admitted this could lead to a split between black Catholics and white Catholics, commenting: "Privileged groups like white South Africans are shocked and hostile when the rightness of their position is questioned ... They don't realise the degree of anger among black groups. The Church has an obligation to both."
Asked whether his stand could lead to government action against the Church, he replied that "having embarked on this road, we are prepared to continue it, whatever the consequences."
The editorial said that "men in such positions of leadership (as Archbishop Hurley) should consider their qualifications to comment in their official positions. The effects of such comment on the morale of those fighting to prevent the spread of Marxism which always, and everywhere, is sustained only through violence should also be considered." The paper added: "And religious freedom is invariably a
-casualty stetn,—tivat epitomises the anti-Christ."
The Financial Alail ignores the fact that there are baptisms and religious service in Swapo run refugee camps, and it gives no reasons for thinking the situation would be different in a Swaporun Namibia.
Christians account for 70 per cent of Namibians, and Nujoma has requested an OvamboKavango Church chaplain for Lutheran Christians in the camps. He already has an Anglican. chaplain.
Church leaders are welcomed into Swapo camps, and have been uniformly impressed by them.
The paper gives no reason for having singled out Archbishop Hurley, when his remarks simply reflect the feelings of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference in a recent report.
That report is similar in content to that of a British Council of Churches report by Hans Rohr of the Christian Democrat Party of Namibia, and of the Anglican, Bishop Desmond Tutu.