Johannesburg : The South African Government has expressed its deep grief at the sad demise of Archbishop Denis Eugene Hurley who passed away on Friday, the 13th February 2004 in Durban and offerred condolences to the family, friends and the Church of the late emeritus Bishop of Durban, South Africa.

"On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, The Presidency conveys sincerest condolences to Denis Hurley's family, his church, his friends and his colleagues.
"A press obituary, among the many that have appeared celebrating his life, rightly describes him as a prophetic South African churchman and theologian with a global reputation who championed human rights in the darkest days of apartheid," the Presidency said in a statement dated 17th Feb. 2004.

It added that his life and work ought to be seen by the nation as a continuing inspiration as the country deepened its democracy and sought to deliver a better life for all people.
The Presidency said Archbishop Hurley was one of the first Christian leaders in the 1950s to express public opposition on behalf of the church to apartheid and he spoke out all his life in support of the rights of black South Africans.

"Archbishop Hurley's challenge to white power covered issues such as desegregating Catholic schools and campaigning against the pass laws. "He condemned the migratory labour laws that cruelly separated families, and forced removals that were used by the then government to uproot hundreds of thousands of black people from their homes."

Way back in 1951, he was one of the first Archbishops who openly expressed himself against apartheid and spoke in support of the rights of the blacks.

May the contribution of late Archbishop Hurley for the Kingdom of God be continued and be a true example for many more saints to follow.

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