Alexandra Maclennan Publishes Biography of Cardinal McCann in Cape Town
Alexandra Maclennan presents a book in Cape Town about Cardinal Owen McCann, who shaped the Catholic Church during apartheid in South Africa. The book launch takes place on 18 November in the Archbishop's Chancery Building.
A new publication examines South African Catholicism during one of the most difficult phases of the country's recent history. Under the title "Cardinal Owen McCann – Catholicism, Apartheid, and Diplomacy in South Africa", author Alexandra Maclennan traces the life and work of the cardinal, whose name is closely linked with the Catholic Church at the Cape. The focus is on the themes of Catholicism, apartheid and diplomacy.
The book launch is scheduled for 18 November at 4:00 p.m. in the Archbishop's Chancery Building in Cape Town. The event will be conducted by Bishop Sylvester David OMI. Attendance is only possible with prior registration; access is via a QR code displayed on a poster. The registration deadline is 12 November 2026.
The biography sheds light on how the Catholic Church in South Africa related to apartheid and what role Cardinal McCann played in this. The combination of church office and diplomatic action in particular makes the figure significant for engaging with the country's past. The work thus fits into a broader debate about how faith communities stood in relation to the political conditions of apartheid and what room for manoeuvre they had.
For readers interested in the history of the churches in southern Africa, the event offers the opportunity to meet the author and discuss the subject in person. The question of how spiritual authority and political responsibility interacted in a divided country remains highly relevant.
Source: adct.org.za
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