From Our Vaults 42 Years Ago: February 24, 1980

by Admin · Published February 24, 2022 · Updated March 21, 2022

(Left) Sacred Heart Sisters Goretti Hosey (left) and Anne Kelleher celebrated 25 years of religious life with Bishop John Durkin of Louis-Trichardt/Tzaneen at their congregation’s Ofcolaco centre. Both Sisters came from Ireland to South Africa in 1960. (Right) Cover of the Southern Cross February 24, 1980. (Inset) An advert for a music shop in Cape Town.

Govt keeps out Swazi bishop

Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference president Archbishop Joseph Fitzgerald has protested against the South African government’s decision to refuse Bishop Mandlenkosi Zwane of Swaziland a visa. Bishop Zwane, who was thus prevented from attending the SACBC plenary session, was notified that he would have to apply for a visa every time he wants to enter South Africa — something Swazi citizens normally don’t need to do.

Pope to Cape Town conference

In a 900-word message to a University of Cape Town symposium on man’s inhumanity to man, Pope John Paul II said that to speak the truth about violence prepares the way for restoring peace.

Bishops’ call in new Zimbabwe

On the eve of elections in the new Zimbabwe, the country’s bishops have demanded an unequivocal guarantee from all parties that religious rights also include the “freedom to propagate the Christian faith”.

Beware Protestant education

In his editorial, Mgr Donald de Beer writes that the Bible study classes in state schools cannot serve as a replacement for Catholic catechesis, and warns that by teaching the Protestant perspective of Christianity, teachers might even turn Catholic children against their Catholic faith.

Previous “From The Vaults” articles at www.scross.co.za/vaults