Archdiocesan News
Mary-Ann Greaney
September 2013
Richard Archer, who died suddenly in July while on retreat in England, was a member of the Archbishop’s Justice, Peace and Development Commission.
Richard had been to Berlin to represent Australasia for Pax Christi when he died on Saturday 20 July. His funeral was in London on the 14 August and it is hoped a Requiem Mass will be able to be held soon at his home parish of St Anne’s, Newtown.
Richard will be remembered for his commitment to social justice and the various peace movements of which he was a member including Peace Movement Aotearoa, United Nations Association of New Zealand, as a founding member of Pax Christi in New Zealand and others.
Richard took seriously a message from the 1971 synod of bishops that called attention to the structural roots of injustice afflicting human relations:
‘Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world are constitutive elements in the Church’s mission of preaching the Gospel.’
This understanding of his faith called him to action in many areas that included standing in solidarity with a variety of people on the margins of society. He was also a regular participant in the Global Day of Action on Military Spending and made submissions to Parliament on disarmament and cluster bombs.
May he rest in peace.
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