Martin Luther King Jr

In focus: Catholics at March for Life, federal death penalty case, Nicaraguan bishop to stand trial

In the spotlight this week: presidential inauguration, pro-life rally, COVID-19 memorial.

In the spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., “we must meet the forces of hate and ignorance with the power of love,” the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement for the Jan. 18 federal observance of the slain civil rights leader’s birthday.

While the United States has “come a long way” in addressing racism and injustice, much more remains to be accomplished to achieve the dream of “the beloved community” envisioned by the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said.

During the month of February, Black HIstory Month, we watched together many movies, some fictional but most factual, that portrayed the stories of individuals who helped to break down racism and discrimination, fight for equal rights, rise to a place of honor and respect in unjust systems and challenged others to be treated with humanness and dignity.

Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism spoke at a news conference about Martin Luther King, jr. support of nonviolence to bring about social change.