wfn.org | Mandela honoured by Parliament of Religions at Cape Town Ceremony

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

7 December 1999

Cape Town - Former South African President Nelson Mandela was honoured by
leaders of the world's major faiths at a ceremony at the Good Hope Centre
in Cape Town this week.

He received the two awards at a meeting of the Parliament of World
Religions, which is taking place in South Africa's "Mother City".
After receiving the Juliette Hollister Award from the Temple of
Understanding and the Ghandi-King Award for Non-Violence, Mr Mandela
stressed the importance of religious institutions in South Africa's
struggle against apartheid.

"My generation is the product of missionary education" he said. "Without
religious institutions, I would never have been here today. To really
appreciate religion, you had to be a South African in jail under
apartheid".

Mandela was educated at Methodist mission schools and Fort Hare University,
which arose out of the work of the Church of Scotland in the Eastern Cape.
He was jailed by successive South African governments for 27 years. He
received the Nobel Peace Prize for his part, as a leader of the African
National Congress, in the overthrow of apartheid.

"It was the religious leaders who visited the prisoners (on Robben Island)
and gave us the hope that one day, we would return", he continued.
"Religion was one of the motivating forces of everything we did and will
have a crucial role in guiding and inspiring humanity to meet the enormous
challenges we face. We shall have to reach deep into our faith as we
approach the new century".

Rev Dave Wanless - Coordinator: Ecumenical News Network southern Africa
Tel & Fax: +27 (21) 683-9665
Cell: 082 958-6482
E-mail: davecong@mweb.co.za
Website: www.uccsa.co.za