From peoadmin at anglicanchurchsa.org.za Mon Nov 2 15:27:48 2009 From: peoadmin at anglicanchurchsa.org.za (Gail Allen) Date: Mon Nov 2 18:53:58 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] To the Laos Message-ID: <9CF667DCE6C20E47B9A4A9DFE93DAED243024DC617@HMC-MBX04.he.businessgateway.co.za> Archbishop Thabo Makgoba To the People of God- To the Laos November 2009 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed his followers 'may all be one, so that the world may believe that you have sent me' (Jn 17:21). Division among Christians can only be considered a scandal, especially when differences turn into painful divisions, or when we take pride in not being like others. This is a tragedy, over which I am sure our Lord weeps. Therefore, though it is often not easy to work with those who have other perspectives on faith, at Provincial Standing Committee we reaffirmed our commitment to pursuing closer ties with our sisters and brothers in Christ, especially our partners in the Church Unity Commission. If you have good stories of local co-operation, in anything from worship to joint projects, do let the Provincial Office know (peoadmin@anglicanchurchsa.org.za) as sharing these can be a great source of encouragement. Our ultimate objective is, as Jesus prayed, that people will come to believe in him as Lord and Saviour, through seeing how Christians love one another (see also Jn 13:35). You may have seen reports that Pope Benedict XVI has agreed that Anglicans who so choose may be received in some manner into the Roman Catholic Church. However until details of the decision have been made public, it is hard to judge what precisely is intended by this move, at whom it is directed, or what the implications are likely to be for our own Province and people. When we know more, I will certainly write and share my response with you, though at present it seems there will be no major effect on us in Southern Africa.. One area where churches can particularly work together - often in partnership with other faiths - is in joining our voices together on public and political questions. Last month I wrote of the importance of lending our combined weight, globally, to press political leaders to take bold decisions at the Climate Change Conference in December. Later in October, I had direct opportunities for engaging in the political arena, first when President Jacob Zuma came to Bishopscourt for a meeting of religious leaders of the Western Cape, and then when I went to Swaziland to participate in a national ecumenical-interfaith gathering and was also granted an audience with King Mswati III. As I said to President Zuma, all faith communities consider truth to be one of the highest virtues, and therefore he should always expect us to express with honesty and independence whatever is on our hearts and minds, on every matter that concerns us - for there is no aspect of human life beyond God's concern. The President in turn recalled how Scripture exhorts Christians to pray for those in government, and asked us not only to do this, but to engage political leaders with advice, and, where appropriate, with clear, though constructive, criticism. Because of a funeral, he had to leave before there was time for proper discussion, but I am determined that we should not be slow to respond to his invitation, whenever issues prompting dialogue present themselves! In the Mountain Kingdom, I met political leaders and civil society organisations, shared a homily at the ecumenical-interfaith gathering, and prayed with the King. I also spent time with our own clergy and people, learning about the difficult social and economic conditions they face. One priest, reflecting on the poor, even oppressive, treatment often faced by women, said 'When I am at the altar, I sometimes feel I just want to jump up and kick the insensitive polygamists in my parish!' Please do keep Bishop Meshack and his flock in your prayers, as they share God's good news as best they can. Sometimes the challenges our nations face seem so many and complex, it is hard to know where to begin to engage with political leaders. Yet Anglicanism has a long history of doing so confidently - often grounding this in another distinctive of Anglicanism, our focus on Jesus and his incarnation. In his life and teaching Jesus shows us what it is to be fully human. He came, he said, to offer life in abundance (Jn 10:10). It seems to me that the scope of this abundant human life is encapsulated in the Two Great Commandments in which he summed up the Old Testament's teaching (Mk 12:29-31). We are created, first, to live in love with God, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and, second, to live in love with our neighbours. Therefore, our goal must be to spread abundant life, in all of these dimensions - heart, soul, mind and strength - and tackle whatever in contemporary life impoverishes, diminishes or oppresses our spiritual, emotional, mental or physical well-being, as God created it to be. And because we are also made to live in love with our neighbours, our vocation is to pursue this human well-being not only among individuals, but also in the shared life of families, communities, towns, cities, and nations - and the whole global village in which we increasingly find ourselves as neighbours (which is why we must not neglect the well-being of the planet that is our home). Taking these together gives us a broad and comprehensive matrix that describes the essential elements of what it is to be human - to be possessed of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical capacities and needs, as both individuals and members of communities - and to flourish. Applied to our own varied contexts, it helps put the focus on issues and priorities that we need to address. We can also use it for constructive engagement with politicians - who, even if our starting points differ, nonetheless are surely also committed to the same goals. It therefore provides both us and them with a tool to measure how well they are succeeding in their responsibilities to deliver the well-being of the citizens and societies at every level of our countries. Advent will soon be upon us, as we prepare to celebrate again how the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us. I pray that this reflection on Jesus' promise of good news for the poor, sight for the blind and liberty to all who suffer any form of oppression, and of what it means to be human and to flourish, may bring you fresh insights, and draw you closer to the one who came to be Emmanuel, God with us, in this life and the life to come. Yours in the service of Christ +Thabo Cape Town -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20091102/f3ce2570/attachment.html From peoadmin at anglicanchurchsa.org.za Wed Nov 4 09:35:15 2009 From: peoadmin at anglicanchurchsa.org.za (Gail Allen) Date: Wed Nov 4 16:58:39 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Archbishops letter to the Church in Pakistan Message-ID: <9CF667DCE6C20E47B9A4A9DFE93DAED243024DD1CF@HMC-MBX04.he.businessgateway.co.za> The Most Revd Thabo Magkoba, Archbishop of Cape Town, has sent the following letter to the Primate of the United Church of Pakistan, in response to the Statement by the Executive Committee of their Synod that follows the latest fatal attack on Christians there (see http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/11/2/ACNS4665). The Archbishop commends the country of Pakistan, and especially the plight of those Christians facing persecution, to the prayers of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. To: The Rt Revd Samuel Azariah Primate, The Church of Pakistan My dear brother in Christ In recent weeks and months, I have found myself drawn to follow closely the difficult times that Pakistan has been experiencing, and the particular troubles which the Christian community has faced. My heart has been grieved by what I have seen and read, and you have been much in my prayers, and remembered frequently in our daily services in Bishopscourt's chapel. The statement adopted by the Executive Committee of Synod, which has just been circulated by the Anglcian Communion News Service has prompted me to write to assure you that I, and my Province, are journeying with you in prayer. I am reminded of how Jesus told his followers not to worry about what to say in the face of persecution, but to let the Holy Spirit speak through them. I am praying that this may be the experience of you and all your people at every level - whether those facing such terrible experiences as the nine burnt to death in Gojra, or you and other church leaders in lobbying the political, judicial and security authorities. May the Father send his Spirit upon you all, to encourage and uphold you, to strengthen your endurance, and to bring you the assurance of his salvation and the steadfast hope that nothing in life or death can ever separate you from his love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. If you would be helped by me, together with other Christian and interfaith leaders, lobbying the Pakistani High Commission in South Africa, I would be glad to do this. Do let me know. Meanwhile, be assured of our continuing prayers for you, and for all Christians in Pakistan. Your in the service of Christ +Thabo Cape Town -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20091104/bea99e65/attachment.html From netman at cpsa.org.za Mon Nov 16 17:15:41 2009 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Mon Nov 16 17:15:56 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw: ACNS4666 The Anglican Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council - Communique Message-ID: > The Anglican Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council - > Communique > > Posted On : November 4, 2009 4:32 PM | Posted By : Webmaster > ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/11/4/ACNS4666 > Related Categories: ACO - Ecumenical > > The Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council (AOCICC) > met in the International Study Centre, Canterbury, England, from 26 to > 29 October 2009. The Council welcomed the Revd Carola von Wrangel from > the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe as a new member. > > The members received reports of developments in each Communion and > reviewed present ecumenical dialogues in which our Communions are > engaged. The Council studied several papers on the theology of blessing. > It also discussed and adopted an information leaflet about the Old > Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht. > > A draft text for a common statement on ecclesiology and mission was > discussed. The Council will present it to the Anglican and Old Catholic > Bishops' Conference and recommends that it be made the theme of the > forthcoming International Old Catholic and Anglican Theological > Conference in 2011. > > Attention was given to the recently published document "Kirche und > Kirchengemeinschaft" (Church and Communion) of the International Roman > Catholic-Old Catholic Dialogue Commission (IRAD), as well as to the > recent Vatican announcement of the Apostolic Constitution to provide > personal ordinariates for Anglicans and former Anglicans. > > The Council participated in daily Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and the > Eucharist in the Cathedral. The Bible Studies each morning were led by > members of the Council. The Council was present at the consecration of > the Bishop of Shrewsbury (Diocese of Lichfield) by the Archbishop of > Canterbury in Westminster Abbey. Old Catholic bishops Joachim Vobbe and > Harald Rein joined with the College of Anglican bishops in the laying on > of hands. > > At a dinner hosted by the Dean of Canterbury he welcomed members of the > Council and led them on a candle-lit pilgrimage in the Cathedral. > > The next meeting of the Council will take place 8-12 November 2010 in > Germany. > > Bishop Harold Rein extended an invitation to the 30th International Old > Catholic Congress, to be held 9-13 August 2010 in Zurich. > > For further information, please contact the Revd Professor Dr Angela > Berlis, tel +41 (0)31 631 4193, email aocicc@alt-katholisch.de, or Neil > Vigers at the Anglican Communion Office, tel +44 (0)20 7313 3929, email > neil.vigers@anglicancommunion.org. > > The members of the Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating > Council are: > > Anglicans > > The Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill - Co-chair > Mr Neil Vigers - acting Co-secretary > The Rt Revd David Hamid > Mrs Maryon J?gers > The Revd Dr Jeremy Morris > The Revd Carola von Wrangel > > Old Catholics > > The Rt Revd Joachim Vobbe - Co-chair > The Revd Professor Dr Angela Berlis - Co-secretary > The Revd Henriette Cr?well (absent) > The Revd Professor Dr David R. Holeton > The Rt Revd Dr Harald Rein > The Rt Revd Dr Dick Schoon (absent) > > Administrative Support and Interpreter: The Revd Lars Simpson > > ___________________________________________________________________ > Anglican Communion News Service, London, From netman at cpsa.org.za Mon Nov 16 17:17:04 2009 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Mon Nov 16 17:17:32 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw: [Cpsa.chat] To the Laos Message-ID: <028CD6D925954B2BA98E1C105A827D5B@jenkins> Archbishop Thabo Makgoba To the People of God- To the Laos November 2009 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed his followers 'may all be one, so that the world may believe that you have sent me' (Jn 17:21). Division among Christians can only be considered a scandal, especially when differences turn into painful divisions, or when we take pride in not being like others. This is a tragedy, over which I am sure our Lord weeps. Therefore, though it is often not easy to work with those who have other perspectives on faith, at Provincial Standing Committee we reaffirmed our commitment to pursuing closer ties with our sisters and brothers in Christ, especially our partners in the Church Unity Commission. If you have good stories of local co-operation, in anything from worship to joint projects, do let the Provincial Office know (peoadmin@anglicanchurchsa.org.za) as sharing these can be a great source of encouragement. Our ultimate objective is, as Jesus prayed, that people will come to believe in him as Lord and Saviour, through seeing how Christians love one another (see also Jn 13:35). You may have seen reports that Pope Benedict XVI has agreed that Anglicans who so choose may be received in some manner into the Roman Catholic Church. However until details of the decision have been made public, it is hard to judge what precisely is intended by this move, at whom it is directed, or what the implications are likely to be for our own Province and people. When we know more, I will certainly write and share my response with you, though at present it seems there will be no major effect on us in Southern Africa.. One area where churches can particularly work together - often in partnership with other faiths - is in joining our voices together on public and political questions. Last month I wrote of the importance of lending our combined weight, globally, to press political leaders to take bold decisions at the Climate Change Conference in December. Later in October, I had direct opportunities for engaging in the political arena, first when President Jacob Zuma came to Bishopscourt for a meeting of religious leaders of the Western Cape, and then when I went to Swaziland to participate in a national ecumenical-interfaith gathering and was also granted an audience with King Mswati III. As I said to President Zuma, all faith communities consider truth to be one of the highest virtues, and therefore he should always expect us to express with honesty and independence whatever is on our hearts and minds, on every matter that concerns us - for there is no aspect of human life beyond God's concern. The President in turn recalled how Scripture exhorts Christians to pray for those in government, and asked us not only to do this, but to engage political leaders with advice, and, where appropriate, with clear, though constructive, criticism. Because of a funeral, he had to leave before there was time for proper discussion, but I am determined that we should not be slow to respond to his invitation, whenever issues prompting dialogue present themselves! In the Mountain Kingdom, I met political leaders and civil society organisations, shared a homily at the ecumenical-interfaith gathering, and prayed with the King. I also spent time with our own clergy and people, learning about the difficult social and economic conditions they face. One priest, reflecting on the poor, even oppressive, treatment often faced by women, said 'When I am at the altar, I sometimes feel I just want to jump up and kick the insensitive polygamists in my parish!' Please do keep Bishop Meshack and his flock in your prayers, as they share God's good news as best they can. Sometimes the challenges our nations face seem so many and complex, it is hard to know where to begin to engage with political leaders. Yet Anglicanism has a long history of doing so confidently - often grounding this in another distinctive of Anglicanism, our focus on Jesus and his incarnation. In his life and teaching Jesus shows us what it is to be fully human. He came, he said, to offer life in abundance (Jn 10:10). It seems to me that the scope of this abundant human life is encapsulated in the Two Great Commandments in which he summed up the Old Testament's teaching (Mk 12:29-31). We are created, first, to live in love with God, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and, second, to live in love with our neighbours. Therefore, our goal must be to spread abundant life, in all of these dimensions - heart, soul, mind and strength - and tackle whatever in contemporary life impoverishes, diminishes or oppresses our spiritual, emotional, mental or physical well-being, as God created it to be. And because we are also made to live in love with our neighbours, our vocation is to pursue this human well-being not only among individuals, but also in the shared life of families, communities, towns, cities, and nations - and the whole global village in which we increasingly find ourselves as neighbours (which is why we must not neglect the well-being of the planet that is our home). Taking these together gives us a broad and comprehensive matrix that describes the essential elements of what it is to be human - to be possessed of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical capacities and needs, as both individuals and members of communities - and to flourish. Applied to our own varied contexts, it helps put the focus on issues and priorities that we need to address. We can also use it for constructive engagement with politicians - who, even if our starting points differ, nonetheless are surely also committed to the same goals. It therefore provides both us and them with a tool to measure how well they are succeeding in their responsibilities to deliver the well-being of the citizens and societies at every level of our countries. Advent will soon be upon us, as we prepare to celebrate again how the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us. I pray that this reflection on Jesus' promise of good news for the poor, sight for the blind and liberty to all who suffer any form of oppression, and of what it means to be human and to flourish, may bring you fresh insights, and draw you closer to the one who came to be Emmanuel, God with us, in this life and the life to come. Yours in the service of Christ +Thabo Cape Town -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20091116/52f3635b/attachment.html From djenkins at mweb.co.za Mon Nov 16 17:19:20 2009 From: djenkins at mweb.co.za (David Jenkins) Date: Mon Nov 16 17:19:42 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw: ACNS4664 Faith leaders - tackling climate change is a "moral imperative" Message-ID: > The Archbishop of Canterbury hosted a meeting of faith leaders and > faith-based and community organisations at Lambeth Palace to discuss the > response of faith communities to the environmental crisis. With 40 days > to go before the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit the participants have > pledged to work together to raise awareness about the effects of > 'catastrophic climate change' on the world's poor and to take whatever > action they can to "to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable > practice." At the meeting a number of presentations highlighted the kind > of action faith communities and faith-based organisations were already > taking in the UK and with partners overseas. > > In the first statement of its kind, signed by leaders from every faith > community (including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, > Baha'i, Jain and Zoastrian) the signatories recognise "unequivocally > that there is a moral imperative to tackle the causes of global warming" > and that "Faith communities have a crucial role to play in pressing for > changes in behaviour at every level of society and in every economic > sector. We all have a responsibility to learn how to live and develop > sustainably in a world of finite resources". > > They call for the UK government and G20 governments in particular to > fight for an ambitious deal which offers hope of rises in global > temperature being kept within two degrees centigrade. > > The statement has been welcomed by the Department for Energy and Climate > Change (DECC). The Secretary of State Ed Miliband said: "Tackling > climate change is a cause that unites people of all faiths. Each > generation holds the planet in trust for the next and to fulfil our > obligations to these future generations, we must succeed in getting a > fair and ambitious agreement. We need the voice of all the world's > religions in the coming weeks as we approach the Copenhagen summit." > > Dr Williams said: "This is an important meeting - the first of its kind > in the UK. We all have to do more to face the challenges of climate > change. Faith communities have a crucial role to play. That was > highlighted today as were some of the things already being done. We must > do our bit and encourage others to do theirs. Together we can and we > will make a difference". > > The full text of the statement is below: > > Statement by Faith Leaders and participants in the Faith and Climate > Change Seminar hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, > 29 October 2009 > > As leaders and representatives of faith communities and faith-based > organisations in the UK we wish to highlight the very real threat to the > world's poor, and to our fragile creation, from the threat of > catastrophic climate change. The developed world is primarily > responsible for the already visible effects of global heating. Justice > requires that we now take responsibility for slowing the rise in global > temperature. We call upon UK negotiators at Copenhagen, and the other > nations of the G20 in particular, to fight for a deal which speedily > ends unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels and puts in place urgent > measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so that global temperature > rise may be kept within two degrees centigrade. > > We recognise unequivocally that there is a moral imperative to tackle > the causes of global warming. This is reinforced by the reality that it > is the poor and vulnerable who are most profoundly affected by the > environmental impact of climate change - especially drought, floods, > water shortages and rise in sea levels. Faith communities have a crucial > role to play in pressing for changes in behaviour at every level of > society and in every economic sector. We all have a responsibility to > learn how to live and develop sustainably in a world of finite > resources. > > This responsibility comes into sharp focus today with less than 40 days > before representatives of governments from across the world meet to > agree a deal on climate change. > > Building on the examples of local and international action to live and > to work together sustainably which have been highlighted in our meeting > today we pledge to: > > *Reach out to our communities, both in the UK and internationally, in > the coming weeks to raise awareness of the real potential for > catastrophic climate change and to increase public support for an > ambitious, fair and effective deal at Copenhagen; > *Continue to share best practice and redouble our efforts to reduce > emissions that result from our institutional and individual activities; > *Work with our partners, our sister churches and communities > internationally to mitigate the effects of climate change on the poorest > and most vulnerable communities in the developing world; and to press > governments to support that effort. > > To help to achieve these ends we agree to use today's meeting as the > first step in an ongoing process of collaboration. We believe our > communities can be key agents of change and urge the Government wherever > possible to support our efforts to build capacity and commitment to > reduce carbon emissions, raise awareness and promote sustainable > practice. > >__________________________________________________________ > Anglican Communion News Service, London, From netman at cpsa.org.za Thu Nov 19 13:29:31 2009 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Thu Nov 19 13:30:08 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw:ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP CALLS ON ANC, GOVT TO RESPECT RIGHTS OF SHACK-DWELLERS Message-ID: <7ED22B1ED94D4947BADD8C9F1123ED18@jenkins> ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN THE MOST REVD THABO MAKGOBA CALLS ON ANC, GOVT TO RESPECT RIGHTS OF SHACK-DWELLERS The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd. Thabo Makgoba, has called on the African National Congress and the Government "to take practical steps to reassure us of their commitment to the democratic rights of shack dwellers." He made the call in a message which he sent to the organizers of a prayer service to be held outside the Durban Magistrate's Court tomorrow (Wednesday), where thge "Abahlali 13" - arrested leaders of shack-dwellers at Durban's Kennedy Road settlement - are due to make an appearance. The full text of his message follows: MESSAGE TO THE PRAYER SERVICE TO BE HELD OUTSIDE THE DURBAN MAGISTRATES' COURT ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18. From Accra, Ghana, where I am attending a meeting of the Global Christian Forum, I send you the assurance of my prayers and the prayers of those with whom I will share your plight. Democracy is being lacerated by the attacks which have been made on the leaders of Abahlali baseMjondolo and on the people of the Kennedy Road and, now, the Pemary Ridge settlements. Like the Psalmist, I lament with you and pray that you will not lose hope, and that justice with mercy will be possible in your lifetimes. I plead with both Minister Jeff Radebe and President Zuma to usher in democracy for all in South Africa, including these displaced, hurting people of God, who are experiencing neither the freedoms nor the fruits of our democracy. I also urge people of faith to pray for the Abahlali 13 and for their families. The way in which the people of Kennedy Road and Pemary Ridge are being treated challenges our police, our ruling party and the South African government to take practical steps to reassure us of their commitment to the democratic rights of shack dwellers. I call on Minister Radebe, President Zuma and provincial and municipal leaders of the African National Congress to ensure their commitment is expressed in the way the police behave in future. ends statement Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Inquiries: Cynthia Michaels on 021-763-1320 (office hours) Archbishop Makgoba's contact numbers in Ghana are: +233 28 910-4035 at his hotel, c/o the Revd Michael Ransford's at +233 27 192-5480 __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4613 (20091116) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4613 (20091116) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20091119/d92e2de6/attachment.htm From netman at cpsa.org.za Thu Nov 19 13:30:48 2009 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Thu Nov 19 13:31:04 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw: Statement from the Archbishop Message-ID: <47B0C041C1F04E1BA8EE7FFF1B3641BB@jenkins> The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd. Dr. Thabo Makgoba, has called on the African National Congress and the Government "to take practical steps to reassure us of their commitment to the democratic rights of shack dwellers." He made the call in a message which he sent to the organizers of a prayer service to be held outside the Durban Magistrate's Court tomorrow (Wednesday), where the "Abahlali 13" - arrested leaders of shack-dwellers at Durban's Kennedy Road settlement - are due to make an appearance. The full text of his message follows: MESSAGE TO THE PRAYER SERVICE TO BE HELD OUTSIDE THE DURBAN MAGISTRATES' COURT ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18. From Accra, Ghana, where I am attending a meeting of the Global Christian Forum, I send you the assurance of my prayers and the prayers of those with whom I will share your plight. Democracy is being lacerated by the attacks which have been made on the leaders of Abahlali baseMjondolo and on the people of the Kennedy Road and, now, the Pemary Ridge settlements. Like the Psalmist, I lament with you and pray that you will not lose hope, and that justice with mercy will be possible in your lifetimes. I plead with both Minister Jeff Radebe and President Zuma to usher in democracy for all in South Africa, including these displaced, hurting people of God, who are experiencing neither the freedoms nor the fruits of our democracy. I also urge people of faith to pray for the Abahlali 13 and for their families. The way in which the people of Kennedy Road and Pemary Ridge are being treated challenges our police, our ruling party and the South African government to take practical steps to reassure us of their commitment to the democratic rights of shack dwellers. I call on Minister Radebe, President Zuma and provincial and municipal leaders of the African National Congress to ensure their commitment is expressed in the way the police behave in future. ends statement Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Inquiries: Cynthia Michaels on 021-763-1320 (office hours) Archbishop Makgoba's contact numbers in Ghana are: +233 28 910-4035 at his hotel, c/o the Revd Michael Ransford's at +233 27 192-5480 --------------------------- The Revd. Canon Cynthia Botha Secretary IALC P O Box 61394 Marshalltown 2107 South Africa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20091119/91fcad4e/attachment-0001.html From netman at cpsa.org.za Thu Nov 19 13:33:49 2009 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Thu Nov 19 13:34:04 2009 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Justice delayed Message-ID: <5ADB83CF708042C5A5984CBC8CF81CC2@jenkins> Grave Concerns about the Detention without Trial of the Kennedy Thirteen: This Travesty Must End 18 November 2009 After their 6th inconclusive bail hearing today, it is now abundantly clear that the legal process for the Kennedy 13 is a complete travesty of justice. They are scheduled to appear again on the 27th November. By that time, some of accused will have been in prison for 2 months without trial - two months in prison without any evidence being presented to a court and without a decision on bail. This is a moral and legal outrage that amounts to detention without trial by means of delay. In our view, it borders on unlawful detention. I am, tonight, issuing a call for their immediate release - justice has been delayed far beyond the point at which it was clear that it had been denied. Ordinarily in a case with such serious charges as those put to the Kennedy 13, it is in fact extremely easy for bail to be denied. Usually all that is required is that the prosecution provide the court with some evidence showing that they have, at least, a prima facie case to make in the trial itself. That the prosecution has still not presented any such evidence, despite the magistrate's repeated concessions to give them more time to do so, indicates to us that the police simply have no case to make. What is being pursued in our courts in this instance is a political agenda against Abahlali baseMjondolo. The Kennedy Thirteen were arrested in the aftermath of the September attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo in the Kennedy Road settlement. Abahlali baseMjondolo is highly respected for its courageous commitment to the equality of all human beings irrespective of their origins or position in society. Their recognition of the spark of the divine in every human being has been a prophetic voice calling us to conscience and grace in the moral wilderness of a country that is losing its way. In April 2007 I visited the Kennedy Six in Westville prison where they held to a hunger strike for 14 days before the murder charges that had been trumped up against them were dropped. In November that year I, along with other church leaders, witnessed and denounced shocking police violence against Abahlali baseMjondolo. In 2007 I had to put aside some of my exuberant faith in our new democracy as I came to understand that the days of police violence, police lies and wrongful arrest were still being used to silence those with the temerity to speak truth to power. I realised, with a heavy heart, that the days of the political prisoner were not yet over in our country. The attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo, and the response to the attack by the police and some figures in the eThekwini Municipality and the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal, have been met with grave concern across South Africa and abroad. It is patently clear that there was a political dimension to the attack and that the response of the police has been to pursue that political agenda rather than justice. I, along with many other church leaders as well as academics and human rights organisations, have called for a genuinely independent and credible inquiry into the attack on Kennedy Road. That call has not been heeded. It has become abundantly clear that the state has taken a political position on the attack and that it has forfeited any claim to neutrality in this matter. The Kennedy Thirteen have come to court on six occasions to ask for bail. On each occasion a group of people, sometimes wearing ANC colours, some drunk and some armed, have been at the court to demand that bail be denied. The behaviour of these people has been appalling. They have openly made all kinds of threats including death threats. Clergy are amongst those who have been threatened and the apparatus of justice has been allowed to degenerate into what looks to all intents and purposes like a kangaroo court. On six separate occasions the magistrate has postponed the bail hearing to give the police another chance to gather some evidence that could link the Kennedy Thirteen to a crime. On each of those six occasions the police have failed to produce any evidence linking the Kennedy Thirteen to any crime. Today the bail hearing for the Kennedy Road Thirteen was postponed until the 27th of November. There were between thirty and forty clergy present at court today, all of us deeply disturbed by this travesty. We are all committed to see this matter through. I am, tonight, issuing a call for the immediate release of the Kennedy Thirteen from prison on the grounds that justice has been delayed far beyond the point at which it was clear that it had been denied. In light of the fact that this is quite clearly a political trial in which the rules that govern the practice of justice are not being followed, I am now calling for people of conscience outside of the state to join us as we set up an independent inquiry into the attack on Kennedy Road on 26 September; the subsequent demolition of the houses of Abahlali baseMjondolo members, the ongoing threats to Abahlali baseMjondolo members, the role of the police, politicians and courts in this matter. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Hebrews 13:3) The Lord will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." (Psalm 102: 16 - 20) Bishop Rubin Phillip Diocese of Natal, Anglican Church of Southern Africa Chairperson, KwaZulu Natal Christian Council -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20091119/f0a19420/attachment.htm