Cape Town, South Africa, Jan 20, 2012 / 01:08 am
The Archbishop of Cape Town has asked South Africa’s parliament to amend a major state security bill in order to protect the “freedom of information” and to preserve “open and transparent government.”
“As the Catholic Church in Cape Town we have the duty to continue opposing this bill, not only as members of civil society, but also because there is a moral imperative to serve the common good,” Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town said Jan. 19.
“This bill does not serve the interests of the nation and can be used to damage our democracy and lead us on the road, once again, to a security state,” he said.
The Protection of State Information Bill has already passed South Africa’s National Assembly and now must go through parliament’s upper chamber, the National Council of Provinces.