Cardinal Wuerl recalls famed March on Washington
August 28, 2013
L’Osservatore Romano has published a reflection by Cardinal Donald Wuerl on the fiftieth anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famed “I Have a Dream” speech.
“The majestic statue of King at his new memorial in Washington reminds us of his towering achievement in bringing our nation to a fuller awareness of the equality of all people before God,” Cardinal Wuerl wrote. “His dream, with its roots deep in prayer and Sacred Scripture, continues to challenge us to see each other as brothers and sisters, children of the same loving God.”
After recalling that his predecessor, Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle, delivered the invocation at the march, Cardinal Wuerl paid tribute to O’Boyle’s commitment to desegregation. The archdiocese today, he said, honors King’s and O’Boyle’s legacy by “providing educational opportunities for all children, but particularly for those who would otherwise be consigned to schools too often designated as ‘failing.’”
Cardinal Wuerl also linked the March on Washington to the annual March for Life.
“As Washington's archbishop, I have witnessed King’s vision of Americans praying and marching together for justice,” he wrote. “Each year at the March, Rallies and Masses for Life, hundreds of thousands of people from across the country gather to pray and then march together in defense of the dignity of human life in all its stages. Our faith can never be relegated to just an hour inside church on Sunday.”
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Further information:
- The dream of Martin Luther King (L’Osservatore Romano)
- USCCB: statement for 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington (CWN, 8/14)
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Posted by: -
Aug. 28, 2013 8:43 PM ET USA
Imagine Wuerl in the context of 50 years ago, had he then been the Archbishop of Washington --- would he have been out at the March or hiding under his desk?
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Posted by: Defender -
Aug. 28, 2013 10:38 AM ET USA
"Our faith can never be relegated to just an hour inside church on Sunday.” But things have gotten so bad that this is a common measurement for devout Catholics. The reasons are generally known (though, for some reason some think VII was a coincidental to changes underway) - much lies at the bishops' feet.
