Anglican Leaders Support Sanctions

Church of England leaders Monday voted overwhelmingly in favor of economic sanctions against South Africa and urged the British government and banks and businesses to exert pressure on Pretoria.

The 394-21 vote followed a three-hour debate at the regular summer session of the General Synod, a policy-making body of bishops, clergy and laity.

“Let us now with faith, determination and hope support this motion and determine that we will not let the Africans down,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Robert R.K. Runcie.

The primate is spiritual head of the church and leader of the world’s 70 million Anglicans. About two million South Africans--black, white and mixed-race--are Anglicans.

The decision was certain to irritate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government, which has opposed sanctions against South Africa on grounds that they are not effective.