Father Bryan Massingale, a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University in New York City, will deliver the keynote speech for Dr. Martin Luther King Week activities at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University at 7 p.m., Jan. 16 at Escher Auditorium, Benedicta Arts Center, CSB, St. Joseph.
His talk, “Redeeming the Soul of America: The Challenge of King’s Vision to the Faith Community,” is free and open to the public.
Father Massingale is a consultant to many faith-based justice organizations and has served as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America and convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium.
He also is the author of the book “Racial Justice and the Catholic Church.” The book examines the presence of racism in America from its early history through the Civil Rights Movement and the election of President Barack Obama. It also explores how Catholic social teaching has been used — and not used — to promote reconciliation and justice.