Leaders in white churches in South Africa have begun to acknowledged that apartheid is a sin, agreeing that attempts to defend it are heretical, and asking forgiveness for having helped to maintain it. The statements of repentance came during a meeting in early March when key leaders of white, black, and mixed-race branches of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa discussed racial problems.
Observers see the results of that meeting as a first step to dealing with the roots of apartheid.
The church was told it could not be reinstated until it agreed with this statement. Since 80 percent of the country's legislators belong to the church, Western analysts said the actions of Dutch Reformed leaders this month could be a significant step toward dismantling apartheid.