COURAGEOUSANDPROPHETICLEADER
ABRIEFBIOGRAPHYOFARCHBISHOPDENISHURLEYO.M.I.
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Earlyyearsandtrainingforthepriesthood
DenisHurleywasborninCapeTownin1915.Hisparents,whobothcamefromSkibbereenin
southernIreland,hadsettledinSouthAfrica.Theywereadventurouspeople:beforetheirmarriage
hisfatherhadbeenintheRoyalNavyandhismotherhadlearnedtobeaseamstressintheUSA.
TheybothcamefromfamilieswhichhadsomehistoryofresistingtheEnglishoppressionoftheIrish.
Hisfatherbecamealighthousekeeper,andasachildDenislivedatanumberoflighthousesalong
theCapeandNatalcoasts.ItwasthisfactwhichledAlanPaton,thefamousnovelistandantiapartheidactivist,tosayontheoccasionoftheArchbishop’sseventiethbirthday:“DenisHurleywas
notborninalighthouseassomepeopleimagine.Hisfatherwasthekeeperofthelighthouseat
CapePoint,theguardianofthelightthatwarnsthesailorsofdangersandguidesthemawayfrom
destruction.Nowthesondidnotfollowinhisfather’sfootsteps.Buthebecamealighthousekeeper
too;theguardianofthelightthatwarnsofdangersandsavesusfromdestruction.Thelighthouse
hasbecomeasymboloflightandhopeandourArchbishophasbeendoingthisworkofwarningand
guidingforthegreaterpartofhislife.Andhehasdoneitwithgreatfaithfulnessforwhichtodaywe
givethanks.”
Hurleyattendedvariousprimaryschools,thefirstonRobbenIsland.Hissecondaryschoolingwas
providedbytheDominicansistersatNewcastle,KwaZulu-Natal,andthenbytheMaristBrothersat
StCharles’CollegeinPietermaritzburg.Twoincidentsduringhishighschoolyearsgavehimataste
ofhardshipandpoverty.Hewaslostinacaveforabout24hourswithtwootherboys.Thesecond
incidentwaswhenhisfathersuccumbedtomentalillnessandwasawayfromhomeforayearanda
half:duringthistimethefamilysufferedconsiderableprivation,butwashelpedbytheDominican
sistersandtheOblatesofMaryImmaculate.
BythistimeHurleyhaddecidedthathewantedtobecomeapriest.InJanuary1932,shortlyafter
finishingmatric,hewassenttoIrelandtodohisnovitiatewiththeOblates.Hedidnotgetmuch
intellectualstimulationfromthenovitiateorfromhisbriefexperienceoftheIrishscholasticate.But
hewaschosenbytheOblatestodohispriestlystudiesinRome,attheAngelicum(nowStThomas’s
University)runbyDominicansandthenattheGregorianUniversityrunbyJesuits.Hefoundmuchof
thestudiesverydry,lackinginthepastoraltrainingneededforpriests,buthegrewtolove
philosophywhichtrainedhismindtogototheessenceofproblems.BeinginRomewasexcitingfor
him:heenjoyedthefactthattheOblatestudentscamefromavarietyofcountriesandethnic
backgrounds,hewasfascinatedbythemanyancientRomanmonuments,anddeeplyconsciousthat
Romewasthecentreoftheuniversalchurch.Helovedtoattendmajorpapalliturgies.
ProminentamongparticularinfluencesonHurleyatthistimewerePopePiusXI,whowasstrongly
opposedtoHitlerandMussoliniandwhostressedtheimportanceofthechurch’ssocialteaching.
BrotherHurleywasimpressedtoobytheYoungChristianWorkerswho,withtheir‘See,Judge,Act’
method,werebeginningtomakeanimpactontheChurch.Oneofthecoursesinhisfinalyearswas
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aboutthechurch’ssocialteaching,andhesteepedhimselfinthistopic.Allthisprovedtobe
valuableandsignificantinlateryears.
InterestinglyOscarRomero,whoasArchbishopofElSalvadorwasmartyredbyaright-wingdeath
squadin1980,wasalsostudyingattheGregorianatthesametimeasHurley,andhetoowasgreatly
impressedbyPiusXI.ButHurleyandRomeronevermet,though,asHurleysaid,“wemighthave
passedeachotherinthecorridors.”
In1938whenHitlerpaidastatevisittoItaly,PiusXIleftRomeinordertoavoidmeetinghim;healso
orderedthattheVaticanmuseumsbeclosed.AfellowstudenturgedHurleytotaketheopportunity
toseethe‘greatdictator’,whosecavalcadecouldbeobservedfromtheroofoftheOblate
Scholasticate,butherefused:hehadnodesiretosethiseyesuponthispersonwhomheregarded
astheembodimentofevil.
HurleywasinRomewhenPiusXIdied.HewasinStPeter’sSquareandsawthewhitesmokerisingin
theairtoindicatethatanewpopehadbeenelected.ItwasCardinalPacelli,whobecamePiusXII.
Hurleyheardtheannouncement,andwaspresentforthefirstblessingandthecoronation.
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Priest,BishopandArchbishop:challengingapartheid
TheoutbreakoftheSecondWorldWarin1939meantthattheyoungFatherHurleyhadtoreturnto
SouthAfricasomewhatearlierthanhehadexpected.HearrivedbackinDurbaninJuly1940andwas
appointedjuniorcurateatEmmanuelCathedral.Hesoonfoundthattheolderpriestsinthe
communitywerenotatallinterested,ashewas,inissuesofsocialjustice.Whenhedescribedwith
enthusiasmameetinghehadattendedattheuniversityaboutstartingtradeunionsforblack
workers,theolderpriestsactivelydiscouragedhimfromattendinganymoresuchmeetings.He
wouldhavelikedtodosobutdidn’tfeelthathecouldgoagainstthestrongoppositionofclergy
manyyearshissenior.
HurleyhadbeenmadejuniorcurateattheCathedralbecauseoneofthepriestsonthestaffwanted
tobecomeamilitarychaplain.ThismeantthatHurleymissedoutontheopportunity,affordedto
mostpriestsofthediocese,tolearnZulubybeingimmersedinthelanguageataruralmission
station.Heregrettedthisfortherestofhislife,asheneverreallylearnedtospeakZuluproperly–
despitethefactthathewasfluentinItalian,FrenchandLatin,thelanguageshehadhadtocope
withduringhisstudiesinRome.Still,attheCathedralhewasdistinctlyatthecentreofthings,and
histalentswereseenbymany;theBishophadhisofficethere,andHurleywasmasterofceremonies
forallthegreatoccasions.Thiswasatimewhenanewbishopwasbeingsought.
Fromthefirst,andthroughouthislife,asafaithfulOblatehewastotallycommittedtohisdaily
meditationandtotherecitationoftheDivineOffice,evenattimeswhenhehadaverybusy
schedule.HelovedprayingthepsalmsintheOffice.Sooftentheyreflectedhisownspiritual
journey.Indifficulttimeshewouldpray:“Whydowncastmysoul,whydoyousighwithinme?Put
yourhopeinGod,Iwillpraisehimyet,mySaviourandmyGod.”(Psalm42).Atothertimes,they
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speakofjoyandhappiness:“CryoutwithjoytotheLord,alltheearth,ServetheLordwithgladness,
Comebeforehimsingingforjoy”(Psalm99).WhentravellinginacarwithotherCatholics,heoften
askedthemtojoinhiminsayingtherosary.
AfterafewyearsattheCathedral,in1944hebecamethesecondsuperiorofthenewOblate
scholasticateinPietermaritzburg.Thiswassomethingofaliberationforhim,aftertherather
restrictiveatmosphereoftheCathedralatthattime.HebecameamemberofthePietermaritzburg
ParliamentaryDebatingSociety,whichintroducedhimtoawiderangeofpeopleandideasand
helpedhimtohonehispublicspeakinganddebatingskills.Healsointroduceddebatingatthe
scholasticate.TherewasmuchdiscussionamongtheyoungSouthAfricanpriestsonthestaffabout
theinjusticesofSouthAfricansociety,butitwasallonanintellectualratherthanapracticalor
activistlevel.
Attheendof1946,whenhewas31,HurleywasappointedbishopoftheNatalVicariate.Thismade
himtheyoungestCatholicbishopintheworld.Hehadnohesitationinacceptingthishighoffice,but
laterinlifefeltthathehadbeenfifteenyearstooyoung.Hewasconsecratedon19March1947.His
firstmajorfunction,theverynextday,wasareceptionforKingGeorgeVIandQueenElizabeth!
Thereweresomemurmuringsofdiscontentabouthisappointment,particularlyamongtheFrench
priests,whothoughtthatthereshouldhavebeenanotherFrenchbishopandwhowerecriticalof
thefactthatHurleycouldnotspeakZuluandhadlittleornopastoralexperience.
Earlyoninhisministryasbishop,ashewentabouttheparishes,heheardhowmuchsufferingthere
wasasaresultofSouthAfrica’sracialpolicies.Hebegantotalkstronglyabouttheseissuesinthe
Bishops’Conference,thoughhewasfaryoungerthananyoneelse.Ittookhimquitealongtimeto
persuadetheotherbishopsthattheyshouldjointlyspeakoutagainstthemanyinjusticesprevalent
inSouthAfricansociety.HewasalsoopposedbytheApostolicDelegate,whochairedthebishops’
meetingsandwhodidnotwantanyrockingofthepoliticalboatatatimewhentheRomanCatholic
Churchwasviewedinofficialcirclesasthe“Roomsegevaar”(theRomandanger).Onehasto
rememberthatthenewwhiteNationalistParty,withitsexplicitapartheidpolicyanditsCalvinist
outlook,hadcometopowerin1948.TherewasageneralfearamongmanyleadingCatholicsthat
foreignpriestsandnunswouldbedeportedifthebishopsspokeout.
Inhisearlyyearsasbishop,HurleybecameacutelyawarethattherewasnomoneywithintheNatal
Vicariatetobuildchurches,schoolsandhospitals.Clearlypeoplewerelookingtothenewyoung
bishoptomakeallthesethingspossible.SohedecidedtotraveltotheUSA,andhespentsixmonths
there,goingroundparishesandschoolsappealingformoneyforthemissions.Inthishewashighly
successfulandmanagedtoputinplacesourcesoffundingthatarestillcrucialforwhatisnowthe
ArchdioceseofDurban.Thisperiodalsodidwondersforhimintermsofincreasinghisconfidence,
andperhapsgavehimaninternationalperspectiveonSouthAfrica’sracialsituationwhichmadehim
evenmoredeeplyconvincedoftheneedtospeakoutagainstapartheid.
ItwasonlyafterHurleybecameanArchbishop,in1951–againhewastheyoungestintheworld–
andhadsucceededtheApostolicDelegateaschairoftheBishops’Conferencethathewasableto
persuadethebishopstomaketheirfirstjointstatementagainstracialdiscrimination.
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Intheearly1950stheCatholicChurchstartedtomoveoutoftheshadows.Untilthenithadkepta
lowprofile,consciousofitselfasrepresentingaminoritywithinthecountry.Hurleyhelpedthe
Churchtobecomemoreconfident,aprocessgreatlyhelpedbytheMarianCongressheldinDurban
in1952;itcelebratedthecentenaryofthefoundationoftheCatholicChurchinNatalwiththearrival
ofthefirstOblatesandwasanunashamedpublicdisplayofCatholicismofakindnotpreviouslyseen
inSouthAfrica.
Ataboutthistime,aftermuchdiscussionandhesitation,thefirstjointstatementonracerelations
wasissued.Viewedincontemporaryterms,itwasratherpatronising,butatlasttherewasanofficial
responsebytheCatholicChurchtopressingracialissues.
WhatreallybroughttheCatholicChurchoutoftheshadowswastheBantuEducationActof1953,
designedpartlytogetthechurchestohandtheirschoolsovertothegovernmentbydeprivingthem
ofsubsidies.TheCatholicChurchdecided,rathermoreonreligiousthanonpoliticalgrounds,thatit
wouldnotgoalongwiththisbecausetheschoolswereitsprincipalevangelisinginstrument.Itchose
tokeeptheschoolsandraisealargeamountofmoney–whatwouldbeahundredmillionrandsin
today’sterms.Itmanagedtoperformthisremarkablefeat,partlybyusingNorthAmerican
fundraisingtechniquesandpartlythroughthevigorousleadershipofHurleyasPresidentofthe
Bishops’Conference.InopposingeveryaspectofBantuEducation,whichtreatedAfricansasinferior
humanbeings,thebishops,ledbyHurley,hadsomeconfrontationalmeetingswithDrHendrik
Verwoerd,whowasthenwhatwascalledtheMinisterofNativeAffairs.
Anothermajorjointstatementaboutapartheid,largelywrittenbyHurley,wasproducedin1957.For
thefirsttimeitdescribedapartheidas“intrinsicallyevil”,thestrongestpossiblecondemnationin
Catholicmoraltheology.
InadditiontotheclashaboutBantuEducation,anotherbruisingconfrontationwasaboutthesocalled“churchclause”whichattemptedtogivethegovernmentpowerstosaywhocouldworship
where.Thisreallyarousedtheireofthechurchesandtherewasalotoftalkaboutcivil
disobedience.Interestinglyitwasinresponsetoathreattochurchrightsratherthantogeneral
humanrights.Hurleythoughtthatmorenoiseshouldhavebeenmadeaboutotherapartheid
legislationwhichwashavingadevastatingeffectonthelivesofblackpeople.
HurleyplayedaleadingroleintheNatalConvention,asignificantmeetingofpeopleofallraces
whichproducedanimpressivevisionforaSouthAfricafreeofracialdivisions.Butunfortunatelyhe
wasnotabletoparticipatefullyintheattempttofollowupthismeetingbecauseataboutthistime
hebegantobeinvolvedinpreparationsfortheSecondVaticanCouncil,andwasfrequentlyawayin
Rome.Inthelongrun,however,VaticanIIwouldhaveahugeimpactonthewaytheCatholicChurch
inSouthAfricawouldbegintoreallyfaceuptotheinjusticeofapartheid.
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TheSecondVaticanCouncil
BeforetheCouncilHurleyhadbeeninvolvedinawholenewapproachtoreligiouseducation,or
catechetics,inhisroleastheheadofthebishops’CatecheticalCommission.Hurley’sdynamic
leadershiphelpedtogetnewsyllabiandtextsapprovedthroughouttheregionunderthejurisdiction
oftheSouthernAfricanCatholicBishops’Conference(SACBC).Heattendedimportantcatechetical
conferencesoverseasandalsoledamajorcontinentalconferencewhichurgedtheChurchtouse
newmethodsofpassingonthefaith.
Duringthe1950shewasdoingalotofreadingbysomeofthemostprogressivethinkerswithinthe
CatholicChurch–forexample,JacquesMaritain,CliffordHowellandFrancisXavierDurwell.Hesaid
thatDurwell’sbookTheResurrectiongavehimanewunderstandingofthecentralmysteryofour
faith–thesavingdeathandresurrectionofJesusChrist.Traditionaltheologyemphasizesthe“saving
death”,butDurwellspokeoftheliberatingnewsof“newlife”intheResurrection.Thisinfluenced
Hurley’sspiritualityandhisappreciationoftheGoodNews”oftheEastermessage.Hewasalso
excitedbythewritingsofTeilharddeChardin,whohesaid“wonmyheartcompletely.”Lateron,at
theCouncil,hemadeaspeechinTeilhard’spraise.
Hurley’sinitialreactiononhearingaboutthecallingofVaticanIIwastowonderwhyaCouncilwas
necessary.Whenallthebishopswereinvitedtosendsuggestionsfortheagenda,hedidn’tinitially
replybecausehewastoobusywithotherthings.Butlater,whentheinvitationwasrepeated,he
appliedhismindtotheissue,andproducedasetofsuggestionswhichwereremarkablysimilarto
themainpointsontheagendathateventuallyemerged!
PopeJohnXXIIIappointedHurleytoserveonthe101-memberCentralPreparatoryCommission
whichwastofinalisetheagendaandtoreceivepositionpapersfrom14commissionspreparingfor
theCouncil.Hurleysoondiscoveredthattherewasaconsiderableclashbetweentheprogressives
andtheconservativesinthePreparatoryCommission.Hemadeusefulcontactswithleading
cardinalsfrommajordiocesesinEurope:AlfrinkoftheNetherlands,FringsofGermany,Lienartof
France,andKonigofAustria.Thoughmuchyoungerthanthemandfromanunknownandfaraway
diocese,hefoundhimselfonthesamewavelengthandwellabletodiscussimportantissueswith
them.
Hurleywashighlyfrustratedbythewayinwhichtheconservativeswerehandlingthepreparations:
theyhadnosystematicapproach,andthepapersthattheyputforwardweredullandreactionary.
ManyofthesewouldlaterberejectedbyoverwhelmingmajorityvotesintheCouncil.
WhentheCouncilatlastconvened,in1962,theconservativestriedtorushthroughtheelectionof
membersforthevariouscommissionswhichweretoworkondocumentsanddecrees.Butthe
delegatesrefusedtobesteamrolledintochoosingwithouthavingabetterknowledgeofsuitable
candidates.Undertheleadershipofthepowerfulprogressivecardinalsmentionedearlier,the
assembledbishopsvotedforadelayofafewdaysinordertogettoknowtheirfellowbishops.This
wasacrucialmomentintheCouncilbecauseitgaveaclearsignthatthebishopsfromaroundthe
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worldwerenotgoingtoallowthemselvestobedictatedtobyarelativelysmallnumberof
conservativesfromtheCuria.Thesecurialofficialsthoughtthattheywouldbeabletodominate
proceedingsandthatthebishopswouldsimplyacceptthedocumentstheyhadpreparedandthe
commissionmemberstheyfavoured.
ThiswasanaspectoftheCouncilinwhichHurleyrevelled–thatthebishopsdiscoveredtheirpower
inthislargeassembly.Hewasalsoexcitedbytheinformalmeetingsthatbishopshadinthe
afternoons,whentheywereaddressedbytheologians,someofwhomhadpreviouslybeen
disciplinedbytheVaticanbutwhonowhadthebishopsattheirfeet!Heregardedthisasa
wonderfulexperimentinadulteducation.Thereadinghehadbeendoinginthe1950snowallmade
muchmoresenseandhewasabletoseehowtheChurchcouldchange.Hebecameoneofa
relativelysmallgroupwhowereresponsibleforshapingwhathappenedintheCouncil.Hewas
chosenbyNotreDamePressasoneof24Cardinals,ArchbishopsandBishopswho“madethe
Council”,eachofwhomhadabookletpublishedabouttheirlife,ministry,ideasandroleinthe
Council.
Hurleywasexcited,too,aboutmeetingswithjournalistswherethebishopspresenthelpedthemto
understandwhatwashappening,andwereinturnchallengedbythequestionsjournalistsposed.
OneofthesegatheringstookplaceregularlyonSundayeveningsintheapartmentoftheTime
correspondent,BobKaiser.Hurleycalleditthe“BobKaiserAcademy”.
HealsoenjoyedtheinformaldiscussionsthattookplaceinthetwocoffeebarsestablishedinSt
Peter’s,popularlyknownas“BarJonah”and“BarAbbas”.Itwasherethattherealfeelingsand
thoughtsofthebishopscouldbeheard,ratherthaninthelongseriesofpreparedspeechesinLatin
intheformalsessions.NeverthelessHurleyspokeanumberoftimesinthosesessionsanditseems
thathealwaysmadeanimpact.
HenoticedthatPopeJohnXXIIIintervenedonafewoccasionstoassisttheprogressivesinthe
Council,whereaslateronPopePaulVI,whosucceededhimin1963,intervenedonbehalfofthe
conservatives,forexampleinkeepingquestionsofclericalcelibacyandbirthcontrolofftheCouncil
agenda.
OnceitbecamecleartoHurleythattheliturgywouldsoonbeinvernacularlanguages,hethoughtit
wouldbeimportanttousetheopportunityofhavingallthebishopsoftheEnglish-speakingworldin
oneplace,togetpeopletalkingaboutthestructuresneededtotakeresponsibilityforthetranslation
ofLatintexts.HethusbecameoneofagroupoffourorfiveEnglish-speakingbishopsandliturgical
expertswhowereresponsibleforfoundingICEL,theInternationalCommissiononEnglishinthe
Liturgy.Thisbodyhewouldlaterchairfor16years,andthuspresideoversomeofthefirst
translationsofthemissalandthesacramentaryaswellastherevisedtranslationof1998.
OncetheCouncilformallycametoanend,itbecameHurley’slife-tasktomakesurethatits
decisionswouldbefullyimplemented,particularlyintheArchdioceseofDurban,butmoregenerally
throughoutthecountriesforwhichtheSACBCwasresponsible,aswellasthroughouttheChurchas
farashewasabletoinfluenceevents.
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ImplementingVaticanII
Butfirsthehadtoconfrontasituationinwhichoneofhisbrotherbishops,WilliamPatrickWhelan,a
fellowOblatewhowasArchbishopofBloemfontein,publiclycrossedswordswithhimabout
whetherthepolicyofapartheid(or“separatedevelopment”astheNationalistgovernmentlikedto
callit)couldberegardedasChristian.Whelanthoughtitcould,whileHurleywasadamantthatit
couldnot,andhadrecentlysaidasmuchinoneofhispresidentialaddressestoaSouthAfrican
InstituteofRaceRelationsconference.Whelanissuedastatementofhisown,andforawhilethere
wasconsiderableconfusionastothepositionoftheCatholicChurchinthesematters.Behindclosed
doorsatthebishops’conference,theApostolicDelegateengineeredaresolutionthatendedthe
publicsquabble.Thebishops’conferencedidnotbackdownontheirrejectionofapartheid,but
Hurleywaspainedtodiscoverinprivateconversationsthatmanyofhisbrotherbishopswerefairly
lukewarmintheirsupportofthestandthathehadtakenonthismatter.
HefacedamuchbiggerchallengewhenPopePaulVIpublishedHumanaeVitae,anencyclicalwhich
reiteratedtheChurch’straditionalteachingonartificialbirthcontrol,despitethefactthatitwas
widelyknownthatmostmembersofthePapalcommissiononthistopichadvotedinfavourofthe
Churchchangingitsteaching.Hurleymadeapressstatementsayingthathecouldn’thonestly
supportthePope’sview:thiswasaveryseriousstepforanarchbishopanditisonethathefoundit
difficulttomake.Manypeoplefeelthatthiswaswhyhewasnevermadeacardinal,aroleforwhich
hewaseminentlyqualified.Hetoofeltfortherestofhislifethathehadpermanentlyexcluded
himselffromthishighofficeasaresultofpubliclyexpressinghisdisagreementwiththePope.
ButhecontinuedtobeoneofthemostenthusiasticimplementersofVaticanIIdecisions,especially
inhisownarchdioceseandmoregenerallythroughouttheterritoryoftheSACBC,andevenfurther
afieldthroughhisleadershipofICEL.Someoftheinnovationsforwhichhewasresponsiblewere
thetheologicalwinterschools,hisownextensivetalksonVaticanIIespeciallytonunsandpriests,
andpromotingvernacularliturgy.Hemademanyeffortstoensurethatgoodliturgicalmusicand
appropriatehymnswereavailableinEnglish.Oneofhismoststrikingcontributionswasbeingthe
firstCatholicbishopinSouthernAfrica–maybeinthewholeofAfrica–toholdadiocesansynod,in
1968,justthreeyearsaftertheendoftheCouncil.
ThethemeofthatSynodwastheimportanceofformation–moreespeciallyadultfaithformation.
HithertoChristianformationwaspracticallylimitedtocatechisingchildren.Hurleyhimselfhad
undergoneaprocessofadultformationduringtheyearsoftheCouncil.Nowherealisedthe
importanceofadultfaithformation.Laterhesawthisformationtakingplaceinsmallfaithsharing
groupssothattheChurchcouldbecome“acommunityofcommunitiesservinghumanity.”
ThewayinwhichhebegantorespondtoforcedremovalsinSouthAfricashowedanewactivism.At
LimehillinnorthernNatal,forexample,hewaspresentonthedayofaforcedremovalandlater
helpedthevictimstoerectsheltersintheplacetowhichtheyhadbeenremoved.Healsochallenged
theministerresponsiblefortheremovals:“BeforeGod,howcanyoubeartheresponsibility?”–a
statementthatinfuriatedthegovernment.
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HewasalsoactiveinIMBISA(theInter-TerritorialMeetingofBishopsinSouthernAfrica),thenew
structurecreatedtobringtogetherallthebishopsofSouthernAfrica,includingthoseofAngolaand
Mozambique.Hewaswidelypraisedforhelpingthisbodytoremainunitedinspiteofbigdifferences
especiallybetweenthePortuguese-andEnglish-speakingblocs.
Hewasaconcernedandchallengingfigure,too,atasuccessionofWorldSynodsheldinRome.He
foundtheseeventsdisappointingbycomparisonwiththeCouncilbecausetheyweretightly
controlledbytheVatican.Listeningtoanendlessseriesofunrelatedeight-minutespeecheshe
foundunproductive:he,andothers,hadhopedforsomethingmuchmorecreativeandcollegialand
interestinglythismaynowbecomepossibleunderthechangesbeingmadebyPopeFrancis.
InhisleadershipofICELwithitsvariouscommitteesanditsextensiveuseofliturgicalexpertsHurley
wasabletorecreatesomethingmuchmorelikethespiritofVaticanII.Nowonderthatinthelast
yearofhis16yearsaschairofthisbodyitwasgivenanaward“asamodelofcollegialityforthe
universalchurch.”ButtherewasasteadilyincreasingunhappinessinVaticancirclesaboutthe
freedomofICELanditsinfluencenotonlyonEnglishliturgybutontheliturgicaltranslationsofmany
other“smaller”languages,whichtendedtorelyonICEL’sEnglishtranslationsratherthanthe
originalLatin.BecauseofitsAmericanconnections(that’swherethesecretariatwasbased)ICELhad
accesstomorefundingandstaffingthantheVatican’sownCongregationforDivineWorship;this
mayhavebeenanothersourceoftheirunhappiness.
Hurleywashimselfcriticalofsomeoftheearlytranslationswhichhadbeenrushedinordertomake
vernacularliturgyavailableasearlyaspossible,andhepresidedovertheproductionofamodified
newtranslationofthewholemissalandsacramentary.Butnow,afteranimmenseamountofwork
andfinancialinvestment,allthishasbeencastasideinfavourofacompletelynewtranslation–one
basedonthetheoryof“formalequivalence”inwhicheachphraseorwordintheoriginalLatinhas
tobematchedbyaphraseorwordinEnglish.Thiskindoftranslationisverydifferentfromthose
producedbyICELinHurley’stime,whichaimedtocapturethemeaningingoodcontemporary
English.Afurtherdifficultywiththelatesttranslationisthat,initsattempttodeviseaformal
“sacred”language,itmakesuseofwordslike“bestow”and“deign”whicharenolongerincommon
use.
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Thefightagainstapartheidintensifies
Hurleyisperhapsbestknownforhisoppositiontoapartheidandhisstandforjustice.Thiswas
initiallyaratheracademicandcerebralrejectionofwhathecalledtheinherentlyevilpolicyof
apartheid,butduringthelate1960s,andthroughoutthe1970s,andevenmoresointhe1980s,he
becameknownforhispropheticandoftenalsoverypracticalleadership,especiallyinrelationto
workerrights,tradeunions,consumerboycotts,theactivepromotionoftheopenschoolspolicy,
andsupportfordetaineesandtheirfamiliesaswellasforconscientiousobjectors.Healsoplayeda
leadingroleintheestablishmentinDurbanofDiakonia(nowknownastheDiakoniaCouncilof
Churches)andasignificantsupportiveroleinthatofPACSA(thePietermaritzburgAgencyfor
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ChristianSocialAwareness);bothbodiesareamongthemostwidelyknowncivilsociety
organisationsinKwaZulu-Natal.
HurleysprangtoparticularprominencewhenhewaselectedPresidentoftheSACBCin1981,30
yearsafterhisfirstspellasPresident.Itwasatimewhenpowerfulleadershipwasneededas
resistancetoapartheidintensifiedandalast-ditchattemptwasmadebytheNationalistPartyto
assertitspowerandclingtoapolicythatwasclearlyleadingtodisaster.Hurleywasinmany
respectstherightpersonattherighttime.(Therewereotherstrongchurchleadersatthetime,
mostnotablyAnglicanArchbishopDesmondTutu,whoreceivedtheNobelPeacePrizein1984.)
HurleyledtheCatholicbishopsintheiroppositiontocelebratingthe20thanniversaryofSouth
Africa’sbecomingarepublic.Healsogavecrucialsupporttothe1983LentencampaignofMisereor,
theGermanCatholicBishops’OrganisationforDevelopmentCo-operation,whichexposedGerman
CatholicstothepoliticalcrisisinSouthAfricaaswellasraisingfundsforSouthAfricanjusticeand
developmentprojects.
HeledadelegationofbishopstoNamibiaandensuredthattheirreportpullednopunchesinits
rejectionofthewaySouthAfricawasadministeringthisterritory.Hispubliccommentsontheroleof
the“Koevoet”counter-insurgencyunitwaswhatfinallycausedthegovernmenttodosomething
thattheymusthavelongwantedtodo,namelytobringhimtocourtandmakehimanswercharges.
HoweverthemassivelocalandinternationalsupportforHurleythatthesechargesgalvanised,as
wellasfearsconcerningtheevidenceassembledbyHurley'sdefenceteamparticularlyabouta
numberofgruesomemurdersinOvamboland,ledthegovernmenttowithdrawthechargesjust
threedaysbeforethetrialwasduetocommence.OfcoursetherewasreliefthattheArchbishopdid
nothavetofaceagruellingandprobablydrawn-outtrial,butitwasalsorecognisedthatifthetrial
hadgoneaheaditcouldhavewonderfullyshowcasedtheChurch’spropheticrole,andHurleywould
havebeenasuperbwitness.
Fromhisearliestyearsofpriestlyministry,aswesawearlierwhenheattendedameetingconcerned
withfoundingblacktradeunionswhilehewasstillajuniorcurate,Hurleyhadaparticularsympathy
fortheplightofworkers.Inthishemirroredtheconcernfortheunder-privilegedshownbyBishop
EugenedeMazenod,founderoftheOblatecongregation.DuringhistimeasPresidentoftheSACBC
thiscametofullflowerwhenhedeclaredthatthebishopswanted“tothrowthemoralweightofthe
Churchbehindtheirstruggle”.Hesetupthe“StJosephtheWorkerFund”toassistthosewhowere
penalisedfortheirunionactivities,andmadesurethatnobureaucracydelayedthedistributionof
relief.Hegotthesupportofthebishopsformakingchurchfacilitiesavailableforworkermeetings.
WhenhundredsofworkersweredismissedforstrikingattheDunlopfactoryinHowickhe
championedtheircauseandevenmadechurchlandavailabletothemforfarmingsothattheycould
findawaytosurvivethroughalengthycourtbattleinwhichtheywereeventuallyvindicated.A
tradeunionleadersaidofhim:“Heputhimselfsquarelyintotheshoesoftheworkersandwalked
alongwithallofus.”
AtthistimethereweresomesharpdisagreementsamongCatholics.Thoseofaconservativebent
whobelievedthatabishopshouldhavenothingtodowithpolitics–suchpeopleweremainlywhites
–wereverycriticalofHurley.Hisstancewasmisunderstood,andhewasaccusedofbeingmoreofa
politicianthanachurchman.Itwasadifficultsituationforhim,butheenduredtheattackswith
greatpatienceandcharity.Heborenomaliceinspiteofunfaircriticisms,andwasalwaysreadyfor
9
reconciliation:forexamplewhensomeyearslatertheDutchReformedChurchadmittedthat
apartheidhadbeenaheresy,Hurleywelcomedthiswithoutbearinganygrudgeabouttheirprevious
attitudes.
Hisprofoundspirituallifewasmanifestedinotherways.Hewouldoftenbefoundinanattitudeof
prayer,athisdesk,whenthereweremajordecisionstobemade.Heneveraskedforordemanded
ofotherswhathewasnotpreparedtogiveordohimself.Hewasalwaystolerantofthefaultsand
failingsofhispriests–andeverreadytoforgive.Heshowedgreatgenerosityofspirittoopponents
andcritics.ThisrejectionbymanyofhisfellowwhiteCatholicscausedhimmuchpersonalsuffering.
HefoundspiritualconsolationinthewritingsofStPaulforwhomhehadgreatadmiration:“Weare
indifficultiesonallsides,butnevercornered,weseenoanswertoourproblemsbutneverdespair
...alwayswhereverwemightbe,wecarrywithusinourbodythedeathofJesus...sothatdeathis
atworkinus,butlifeinyou.”(2Cor.4:8-12)
InadditiontothefamousNamibianreportthatledtohisbeingcharged,anotherhighlysignificant
reportcomingfromthebishopsduringHurley’spresidencyoftheSACBCconcernedpoliceconduct
intheVaalTriangle.Hurleypresentedtothemediathe“ReportonPoliceConductduringTownship
Protests:AugusttoNovember1984.”HealsoledthebishopsinaspecialvisittoSebokeng(oneof
thetownshipswherepoliceatrocitieshadbeencommitted):thebishopsprocessedthroughthe
streetsonthewaytocelebrateasolidarityMasswiththelocalcommunity.SarahCrowe,ajournalist
workingforthebishops’conference,whohadplayedanimportantroleinproducingthereporton
policeconductonthebasisofnumerousaffidavits,saidthatshedeeplyadmiredHurley’scouragein
theseactions.Sheadded:“Ithinkinanotherlifehewouldhavebeena…brilliantpolitician.Hehad
very…clearqualitiesofleadershipandgreatoratoricalskills.”
TherewasanimportantpolicyshiftduringHurley’spresidencyinthe1980s.TheChurchdecidedto
moveawayfromtryingtoinfluencewhiteSouthAfricansandpersuadethegovernmenttochange
itsways:insteaditcametoacceptthattheexternalliberationmovementsandtheinternalUDF(the
UnitedDemocraticFront)werethemajorforceforchange,andthattheChurchhadtobeginrelating
tothemdirectly.AccordinglyadelegationofbishopsmettheANCinLusaka,andthebishops
adoptedapolicyinsupportofsanctions(thoughHurleywasambivalentaboutthisashefearedthat
thepoorwouldbetheworsthitasaresult).Healsodevotedmuchefforttohelpingtomobilisethe
Churchtoagreaterinvolvementinsocialjusticeissues.ManyChristians,particularlywhites,who
hadpreviouslybeenlargelyindifferenttosuchissues,begantorecognisetheirimportanceasthe
balanceofpowerbegantoswingawayfromthegovernmentandtowardstheforcesofchange.
Atthesametimehelenthisnametoasignificantcourtactioncallingforthereleaseofadetainee
onthebasisthatthepolicemusthave“reasontobelieve”thatapersonshouldbedetained.Ifthey
hadsuchareasontheyshouldbeabletomakeitknowninacourtoflaw.Whenthepolicerefused
tomakeknowntheirreasons,thejudgeorderedthatthedetaineeshouldbereleased.Thiswasthe
firstoccasiononwhichacourtorderedthereleaseofapersondetainedunderthecountry’s
stringentsecuritylegislation.The“HurleyCase”isstillstudiedbylawstudents.
Hurley’sdaringpropheticstanceledtoanumberofactionsbeingtakenagainsthim.Besidesthe
chargesbroughtagainsthimasaresultofthereportonNamibia,hewasfrequentlyattackedbythe
governmentandbyprominentright-wingers.Hewasalsooneoffourchurchleaders(theothers
beingDesmondTutu,AllanBoesakandWolframKistner)whowerespeciallytargetedfortheir“anti10
government”activities,aswasrevealedduringthehearingsoftheTruthandReconciliation
Commission.Ononeoccasionhishomewaspetrol-bombed,anditissaidthatMinisterJimmy
Krugerhadrecommendedtothecabinetthathebebanned.Inmeetingswiththeill-temperedState
President,PWBotha,Hurleywouldregularlybedresseddownbyaniratefinger-waving“Groot
Krokodil”(bigcrocodile).
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Anactiveoldage
Hurley’slastfewyearsinofficeasArchbishopofDurbansawhimdevotemuchattentiontothe
Bishops’PastoralPlanforthewholeofSouthAfrica.Hechairedthespecialcommitteesetuptolead
thiscampaignandgavetheplanthetitle“Communityservinghumanity”.Hechosetousethe
“RenewProcess”asthemosteffectivewaytointroducethepastoralplantohisownarchdiocese,
andwashighlyenthusiastictoseehispeopledevelopinganewvisionofwhatitmeanttobethe
“PeopleofGod”,afavouritedesignationofVaticanII.
Duringthistime,healsopioneeredanHIV/AIDSministryintheArchdiocese–thefirstCatholic
bishopinSouthAfricatoinvolvehimselfinthisissue.
AccordingtotheCatholicChurch’spolicyhehadtoofferhisresignationasArchbishopofDurban
whenhereachedtheageof75,on9November1990.Hewasaskedtoremaininofficeuntilhis
successorwasappointed;thishappenedonlyinJune1992.Hurleycontinuedevenafterthatas
administratoroftheArchdioceseuntilWilfridNapierOFM,whohadbeenBishopofKokstad,was
installedasArchbishopon4October1992.
Hurley’sfarewellMasswasattendedbyabout10,000peopleatDurban’sExhibitionCentre.The
hugecongregationgavehimarousingwelcomeashearrivedinprocessionwithseventypriests,six
bishopsandCardinalMcCannofCapeTownforathree-hourservice.Hurleyhadbeentheyoungest
Catholicbishopintheworldatthetimeofhisappointment.Nowhewasthelongestservingofall
4.000bishops.(PopeJohnPaulhadrecommendedhimasanexampletothewholeOblate
congregationforhiscourageousstandagainstapartheid.)
InhisretirementHurleybecame,athisownrequest,“ActingParishPriest”ofEmmanuelCathedral,
oneofthemosttaxingjobsintheArchdiocese:thecathedralisbesiegedbythepoorandthe
vulnerable.ThiswasaremarkabletaskfortheretiredArchbishoptotakeon.Itwasthefirsttime
thathehadbeenaparishpriest,eventhoughhehadbeenabishopfor45years.Manystoriesare
toldofhiskindness.Hefrequentlygavetoneedypeopleoutofhisownpocket.Heregularlywentto
visitasickCathedralparishionerinablockofflatswheretheliftwasoutoforder.Athisadvanced
agehedidnotshrinkfromclimbingsixflightsofstepstoreachthesickman.
HecontinuedtoserveontheSACBCastheliaisonbishopfortheJusticeandPeaceCommission,and
lateralsofortheChurchandWorkCommission.Heremainedactive,too,ontheKwaZulu-Natal’s
ChurchLeaders’Group,andenjoyedtakingpartinanumberoftheirecumenicalattemptstobring
aboutpeacebetweentheInkathaFreedomPartyandtheUDF/ANC.Bythistimeverymuchan
“elderstatesman”hewasappointedjointchairofthePeaceAccordstructureforKwaZulu-Natal.
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Anothermajortributetohisreputationasaunifyingfigure,respectedbyallcommunitiesata
difficultmomentofsocialtransition,washisselectionasChancellorofwhatwasthentheUniversity
ofNatal,arolehefulfilledwithdistinction.ThethenVice-Chancellor,ProfessorBrendaGourley,
describedhimas“theperfectChancellor.”
TheyearsafterhisretirementasArchbishophadtheirsadnesstoo.Hewastroubledbyseeing
withintheChurcharetreatfromthespiritofVaticanII,whichhesocherishedandtowhichhehad
madesuchagreatcontribution.Hewasespeciallydisappointedbywhathesawasthefailureto
implementthepolicyofcollegiality,whichwouldhavegiventhebishopsandultimatelyallthe
peopleagreaterrolewithinthethinkingandtheactionsoftheChurch.Hewasdismayedbythe
destructionofICELashehadknownitandashehadhelpedtobuilditupfromitsinceptionduring
theCouncil.WithHurleynolongerinofficeasarchbishopandnolongerChairofICEL,itwasmuch
easierfortheVaticantotakeactionagainstastructurewhichtheyfelthadgotten“outofhand”.He
wasappalledbythewaystaffmembersweretreatedafteralifetimeofdistinguishedservicetoICEL,
andcouldnotunderstandwhythestyleoftranslationknownas“dynamicequivalence”,whichwas
whatICELhadused,inkeepingwiththeofficialpolicyoftheChurchatthattime,wasbeingreplaced
by“formalequivalence”,whichtakesnoaccountoftheprofounddifferencesbetweenlanguages.
Hurleywasveryarticulate,andwrotemanyarticlesandgavemanyaddresses,anumberofwhich
havebeenpublished.Hehasalsobeenthesubjectofafull-lengthbiography,publishedintheUS,
andabookoftributesbyawiderangeofpeople,editedbyaPresbyterianpastor.
Hewasasaintlyman,butnotinanymerelypioussense.Hewaswarm-hearted,alert,thoughtful,
sensitive,andoftenfullofwitandhumour.But,aswehavesaidandasmanyofthosewhowere
closetohimhavetestified,hewasamanofprayer,withadeepspirituallife.Helivedfrugally,was
alwayshumble,andhadaconstantawarenessofthoseinneed.Shortlybeforehediedhesaidto
theOblateSuperiorGeneral:“Youknow,moreandmoreIrealisethatloveistheonlythingthat
matters.”
InhisfinalyearsHurleygrewveryclosetotheCommunityofSant’Egidioandgreatlyenjoyed
invitationstoattendtheirmajorgatheringsinRomeandotherEuropeanvenues,andcontinuedto
dothisrightuntiltheageof88.Hewasdelightedbythewayinwhich,asacommunityfoundedin
thespiritofVaticanII,theyexpressedandembodiedthevaluesoftheCouncil.TheSant’Egidio
membersinturnreveredhimforthelivinglinkthatheprovidedwiththeCouncil.
AfternearlytenyearsasparishpriestofEmmanuelCathedral,HurleyretiredtoSabonHouse,a
retirementhomeforOblatepriests,andlivedtherewithgreathumilityandsimplicity;hecouldhave
requestedtohavehisownhouseandstaff.Atlasthewasabletogivemoretimetowritinghis
memoirs,ataskwhichunfortunatelyhewasabletocompleteonlyuptotheendofVaticanIIin
1965.
JustafewdaysafterhisreturnfromaSant’EgidioeventinFebruary2004,havingattendedthe
goldenjubileeofaDurbanschoolthathehadopenedfiftyyearsearlier,hediedsuddenlyon13
February.AfterseveraldaysinwhichhisbodylayinstateinEmmanuelCathedralandthousands
cametopaytheirlastrespects,hisrequiemMasswasheldattheAbsaStadium,attendedby5,000
12
people.TheburialtookplaceintheLadyChapelofEmmanuelCathedral,achurchwithwhichhehad
beencloselyassociatedsince1940.
ArchbishopHurley’stombisvisitedbymanylocalandoverseaspeople,especiallyduringthe
celebrationofhislifeandwitnessheldeachyearbyEmmanuelCathedralontheweekendclosestto
theanniversaryofhisdeath.AlongsidetheCathedral,the“DenisHurleyCentre”isbeingbuiltto
focuson“Care,Education&Training,andBuildingCommunity”–aimsdeartothelateArchbishop–
inoneofthemostchallenginganddiversecommunitiesofthearchdiocesethatheservedfor45
years.
Select Bibliography
Denis E Hurley, Facing the Crisis: Selected Texts of Archbishop D.E. Hurley (edited by Philippe
Denis). 1997. Cluster Publications: Pietermaritzburg.
Denis E Hurley, Vatican II: Keeping the Dream Alive. 2005. Cluster Publications: Pietermaritzburg.
Denis E Hurley, Memories: The Memoirs of Archbishop Denis E Hurley OMI (edited by Paddy
Kearney). 2006. Cluster Publications: Pietermaritzburg.
Desmond Fisher, Archbishop Denis Eugene Hurley (in the series “Men who make the Council”). 1965.
University of Notre Dame Press: Notre Dame, Indiana.
Peter C Finn and James M Schellman (editors), Shaping English Liturgy: Studies in Honor of
Archbishop Denis Hurley. 1990. The Pastoral Press: Washington, DC.
Anthony M Gamley (editor), Denis Hurley: A Portrait by Friends. 2001. Cluster Publications:
Pietermaritzburg.
Paddy Kearney, Guardian of the Light: Denis Hurley: Renewing the Church, Opposing Apartheid.
2009. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press: Pietermaritzburg, and Continuum: New York.
Paddy Kearney, Denis Hurley: Truth to Power, abridged version of Guardian of the Light, 2012
. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press: Pietermaritzburg.
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