"He was outspoken and known for …his support for artificial contraception and married priests, two issues on which the church refuses to budge. He publicly disagreed with Paul VI, pope from 1963-1978, over his encyclical Humanae Vitae, which reiterated the church's official objection to methods of "artificial contraception" such as the Pill. After retiring as archbishop of Durban in 1993, Hurley spoke up in favour of married priests and woman priests, topics that are highly controversial in the Catholic Church."

In pastoral matters (for example on the question of failed marriages and more generally in relation to freedom ofconscience), in liturgical concerns (where he played a role promoting the clarity and resonance of current practices), in catechetics (where he has always favoured dynamic allegiance rather than mere doctrinal adherence), in ecumenical openness, in his analysis of societies, Denis Hurley has allowed himself to be a bold and original thinker. I admire a number of the positions adopted by our current Pope, but, along with many others, I have to disagree with him on many others. I sometimes describe myself as a non-papist Catholic, by which I mean that in my view many of the most powerful spiritual currents within the Church do not really flow through John Paul 2. I have sometimes thought that I need to describe myself as a Hurleyan Catholic.

When I co-founded Women's Ordination South Africa (WOSA) I knew it was the beginning of a journey of a lifetime because we are challenging our Catholic Church to ordain women as priests. My friend, Archbishop Hurley, fully supports the idea. He once said that we have a long way to go and therefore should not give up, because it will eventually happen…As he once said to a group of WOSA members protesting on this issue outside Emmanuel Cathedral: 'Be patient, sisters: just a few more years!'

In March 2002 a journalist from The Mercury interviewed me on the reports of sexual abuse of nuns by Catholic priests… The scandal was the tacit approval of these practices by countless Church officials. Asked if the rule of clerical celibacy contributed to the problem, I said that many Catholics, including myself, were of the opinion that celibacy was a charism freely given by the Spirit to some people and that it should not be imposed on all candidates for the priesthood. Clerical celibacy as currently practiced in the Catholic Church not only caused immense suffering to the priests themselves: it also created havoc in the lives of numerous women and children… I was not quite sure how the Catholic bishops would receive this statement. One reaction came from Hurley: "I read what you wrote in The Mercury and I liked it… It is time for the Church to re-examine its position. We need to move ahead.

"Brenda, will it help for you to know that at the Second Vatican Council there were many of us who said that at the Third Vatican Council they would bring their spouses?"

"I never cease to thank God that theology and science are on sisterly terms in our days, and that men like Teilhard were given to us to bring about this happy situation."

"…With respect, Your Grace, never once have I expressed unwillingness to submit to your authority lawfully exercised. I have indicated that, in conscience, I could not submit to what I am convinced is clearly an abuse of that authority, an abuse which denies Catholics, priests and laity, their right, under the law, to the Immemorial rite of Mass and to the teaching of the Catholic Church. Nor have I ever indicated to you that the promulgation of the new Order of Mass lacked binding force… What I have maintained and still do maintain is that imposition of the new rite as of obligation and the prohibition of the old rite are "ultra vires" and I have provided sufficient evidence to support this. Eminent canonists have agreed that the Immemorial rite has not been abolished and, in law, is freely available to Catholics."

"I write in support of Father Leslie whose suspension by the remorseless Bishop Denis Hurley was nonsensical and groundless. While Father Leslie's sermons, traditional Masses and priestly activities have helped hundreds of Catholics to strengthen their faith, the unrepentant, retired archbishop has caused great damage to the faith, by permitting even encouraging, that which is forbidden, such as altar girls, liturgical dancing, bread of questionable validity etc."

"It is unfortunate that Archbishop Denis Hurley should accuse me of refusing to obey a Church law concerning the celebration of Mass. This, it is respectfully submitted, does not accord with the facts. On no occasion have I ever refused to obey such a law. On the contrary. For several years now my efforts have been devoted, inter alia, to upholding and defending the rule of law against local official policy of denying priests and laity their right, under the law freely to offer, or assist at the Immemorial Rite of Holy Mass and to follow the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church. The archbishop does not mention which law I allegedly refused to obey. I can only surmise that he refers to "Missale Romanum", the document that introduced the new order of Mass. In our discussions, the archbishop wished me to acknowledge that this document abolished, or at least, replaced the so called Tridentine Mass. In conscience, I could not do so since a careful reading revealed that the document contained not one word prohibiting the old Roman Rite. Confirmation of this position comes from Rome…"

"Father Leslie tried to refute my allegation that he was acting in disobedience to a law of the Catholic Church concerning the celebration of Mass…. I have tried for years to get Father Leslie to read with unbiased eyes the following words which are a translation of part of the Latin text of the decree. These words can be found in the introductory pages of any altar missal of the new rite. They are headed Apostolic Constitution. After describing the changes made in the rite of Mass Pope Paul VI concludes: "What we have prescribed in this constitution shall begin to be enforced from the first Sunday of Advent of this year, November 30. We decree that these laws and prescriptions be firm and effective now and in future, notwithstanding, in the extent necessary, the apostolic constitutions and ordinances issued by our predecessors…" If that does not convey that the old rite has been abrogated in favor of the new, what do words mean?"

"With due respect to Archbishop Denis Hurley, it can be confidently stated that an unbiased reader of the constitution "Missale Romanum" would arrive at a conclusion opposite to his… The clause quoted by the archbishop, standard in documents of the nature of the constitution, is an enactment clause bringing the new rite into operation. It refers to the contents of "Missale Romanum." These contents contain no provision for the abolition of the old Rite of Mass. Canon 22 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law, which was in vogue when the constitution was promulgated, requires that, if a later law sets out to abolish a former law, it must explicitly mention this in a repealing clause. This is a fundamental legal principle which is not adhered to in the constitution. If the archbishop will refer to my correspondence with him, he will observe that I do not deny that Pope Paul VI decreed the firmness and effectiveness of what "Missale Romanum" prescribes; only what it does not prescribe, viz the abolition of the old Rite of Mass…".

"During my last visit to Durban, I was distressed to learn that it had become necessary for you to issue a pastoral letter on the short supply of clergy and its effect on the availability of Holy Mass and pastoral services. As you know, Your Grace, it is my great desire to return to full time work in the Archdiocese and I am more than willing to offer my services to alleviate the pressure on other priests. Accordingly, I respectfully ask that you kindly make available to me and to our traditional Catholic layfolk, a church or chapel where the Holy Sacrifice may be freely celebrated in the "Tridentine" rite (using the 1962 Roman Missal) as the law provides. I would gladly take responsibility, under your Grace, for the pastoral welfare of those who assist at Mass at this church or chapel, including the catechization of the young and adults and pastoral visitation. Should you desire me to assist other hard pressed priests for confession, devotions etc. my services would be available to them…"

"… I have been somewhat surprised at certain attitudes of the archbishop. He has set himself up as accuser, prosecutor, judge and executioner in his own cause. This does not augur well for justice."

I know Cape Town is not within your jurisdiction, but because I raised this distasteful matter with you recently, I present you with the latest in this ongoing sordid saga in the hopes that, with a collective effort, further abuses can be prevented. By permitting GAY PRIDE to celebrate homosexuality in one of their churches even to the protest of the local flock, the bishops of Cape Town have shown a flagrant disregard for Catholic teaching, not to mention disrespect for the Pope and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who specifically address this issue in a pastoral letter on the care of homosexual persons (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1986). Bishop Cawcutt's "sincere" repentance for previously promoting his own homosexual agenda seems very difficult to reconcile with recent events.

1. Withdrawal from the South African Council of Churches (SACC), which endorses the "marriage" of homosexual persons in the so-called "Equality Bill"

2. Stringent adherence to the measures mandated by the Vatican's Sacred Congregation for Religious on February 2, 1961 on the "Careful Selection and Training of Candidates for the States of Perfection and Sacred Orders." [This states that "those who are affected by the depraved inclination for homosexuality or pederasty must be excluded from the vows of religion and from ordination" - Ed.]

I wish to respond in writing to some of the points you raised in our recent telephone conversation.

I am sorry that you found our humble requests "arrogant". Our aim was to share our concerns and suggest solutions to the problem, not just of homosexual priests, but of homosexuality in South African society in general. Given the plethora of ephebophilic abuse being reported throughout the Catholic world, not to mention the involvement of Church officials in this country in highly publicized homosexual scandals, surely you can understand our concern?

Sadly, nothing you've said so far has given us much re-assurance. Remarks which give the impression that Catholic priests with a homosexual orientation exist only in the Archdiocese of Cape Town (and are therefore Archbishop Henry's problem) have done little to dispel doubts. Of course, if the Vatican's 1961 Instruction was strictly enforced everywhere, as we've asked, there would be less cause for doubt.

Contrary to your claims, we're not demanding to know the names of homosexually disordered priests banished from parishes and seminaries, although we would like to know what measures you and other South Africa bishops have taken to ensure that gays are not ordained.

For instance, do the vocations/seminary directors and the psychiatrists/psychologists employed by the Church have a clear idea that sexually disorientated men are unsuitable candidate priests? Have you considered implementing a "Courage" as opposed to a "Dignity" or "Gay Pride" apostolate? Even a simple statement of intent would suffice. Although you indicated that the Catholic Church was not party to any endorsement of homosexual "marriage" (under the Equality Bill), you don't seem to have registered your objections either. Nor have recent court decisions to allow adoption by gay couples met with much opposition from Catholic clergy in this country.

Only the silence in the face of widespread abuse of contraceptives (read abortifacients) - and yes by Catholics in your archdiocese too - is more deafening. To reverse the deplorable situation that exists thanks to noted Humanae Vitae dissenters like your predecessor Archbishop Denis Hurley is going to take some effort.

While I am sure you appreciate that homosexual activists, radical feminists, modernists, Catholics for a Free Choice, Call to Action, the women's ordination brigade etc. are enemies of Christ's Church; with "friends" like some of your colleagues in the South African Council of Churches, who needs enemies?

Dear Dr Donnellan

Re: Membership of the SACBC is governed by the Constitution of the SACC which binds members Church's specific [sic] basic tenets of the Christian Faith. No where are controversial moral questions mentioned nor are they binding on member Churches.

I regret that you are not always informed about what the SACBC is saying about current issues.

We issue the statements, the media chooses what to report.

Yours sincerely

+Wilfrid Cardinal Napier OFM

I took the trouble to scour the SACBC website for unreported statements on any of the current issues we've raised. Although I wasn't able to detect any document dealing with the problems of homosexual priests and bishops, adoption by gay couples, homosexual "marriage" etc., my search wasn't entirely fruitless, since I was able to revisit your pastoral letter dated 9th May 2002. May I commend you for not only confirming the link between paedophilia and pornography (including child pornography), but also for pointing out media "schizophrenia" on sexual matters. I'm referring particularly to the following paragraph:

"If the media rightly exposes the horrible acts of child abuse by clerics and religious - it has the same duty to expose the rotten conditions in society which encourage widespread evils such as child abuse, the portrayal of sex, pornography and even child pornography available on the internet - and indeed all kinds of videos reflecting sexual perversion and bestiality."

However, while not wishing to detract from your very pertinent points, have you considered that a similar double-standard may be in operation in the local Church? For instance, given your excellent understanding of the relationship between pornography and sexual abuse, how is that a priest like Father Lavoipierre, known to have indulged himself in pornographic filth, is accorded unrestricted access to innocent Catholic youth in your archdiocese while Reverend Father Eldred Leslie must languish under suspension for more than 10 years because of a desire to celebrate the Tridentine Mass?

Your Eminence,

While you must be very busy with other important matters, perhaps you may find time to act on or even just respond to my respectful requests that all censures on Reverend Father Eldred Leslie be lifted. Why must this poor faithful priest continue to suffer suspension after more than 10 years? Is celebration of the Tridentine Mass such a heinous crime that he must be shunned by the faithful for over a decade? Isn't it a sad reflection on the state of the Church that muslims, buddhists and even pagans are welcomed with open arms in the name of ecumenism while orthodox priests like Reverend Father Eldred Leslie must languish in a form of "gulag"?

Hopefully another 10 years of unfair "excommunication" won't lapse before you feel moved to redress the wrongs of the past.

As regards conversions …we affirm that any form of proselytism is unworthy witness. Instead…the emphasis should fall on seeking unity between Christian Churches.

It is against freedom of religion and the dignity of women that a wife should be expected to join the Church of her husband or that pressure be put on either spouse to convert.

Your unkind and uncharitable remarks about Archbishop Denis Hurley are not only unfair or unjust, they are also untrue. What liturgical aberrations did Archbishop Denis instigate, may I ask? I certainly am not aware of any, because if anything Archbishop Hurley was and still is scrupulously conscientious about, it is the liturgy and its correct implementation.

If anything I am much more lenient as I am of the African Synod generation, who's experience over a 10-year period of close working together with the Holy Father and his co-workers at the Vatican on the interesting and challenging question of the inculturation of the faith and in particular the liturgy. So I don't know where you get the idea that the only direction that the Pope is pointing is backwards!

I wish too that you would respect the rightful aspirations of the 95% Catholics of the Archdiocese who are quite happy with the way the Vatican 2 liturgical reforms have made it possible for them to participate actively in their acts of worship as the People of God at one with their priest and bishop.

One controversy—caused by the suggestions that the role of saints is similar to that of revered ancestors in African cultures—had barely subsided among the Catholics of South Africa. Now a new dispute began, involving suggestions that African culture could be incorporated into Catholic liturgy through animal bloodletting during the Mass.

On the controversy…Archbishop Buti Thlagale of Bloemfontein… [is implicated among] the supporters of a proposal to include elements of animal sacrifice in the Catholic liturgy.

Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, a Catholic priest who is also the deputy minister of education in the South African government, was the first prominent figure to come out in support of the calls—first introduced by some black priests—for the incorporation of animal sacrifices into the liturgy…. On a practical note, he admitted that the architecture of Catholic church buildings might have to be "reviewed" in order to accommodate the requirements of animal sacrifice.

Father Mkhatshwa has already shown his willingness to depart from orthodox Catholic teaching, voting in 1996 to support a proposal for legalized abortion on demand… [In fact, Fr. Mkhatshwa, did not formally support abortion-on-demand, but just as shockingly preferred to abstain from taking sides in the vote over the slaughter of pre-born babies - Ed. CO]

They are young and gorgeous, scantily clad, if at all, and with sex on the brain. When not unbuckling belts, rolling in bed, entwining legs and sliding hands towards nether regions, they are talking about sex. And they are everywhere. On billboards and television, in newspapers and magazines, suffusing South Africa with what resembles a racy advertising campaign for Coca-Cola or Levis. In fact, this is an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign, one of the most audacious and controversial to be attempted in Africa, and the use of branding techniques is intentional. If it works safe sex will become as hip and ubiquitous as Coke.