US bishops to honor 50th anniversary of civil rights milestones

Last updated on: August 28, 2014 at 6:41 pm by CNA Daily News

US bishops to honor 50th anniversary of civil rights milestones 2014-08-28T18:41:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Aug 28, 2014 / 12:41 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The U.S. bishops are encouraging commemorations of the 50th anniversary of milestones in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, saying they should inspire further work for the common good.

“The Civil Rights Era was an important time in the history of our country,” Bishop Shelton Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, La., said Aug. 25. “In constructive ways, many priests, religious sisters, religious brothers and lay Catholic faithful were involved in the struggle for civil rights.”

“Recalling the Catholic Church’s past participation in these important historic moments serves to challenge the faithful to work constructively today to enhance the common good for people of all races and ethnicities,” said the bishop, who chairs the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on African-American Affairs.

Over the next year, the bishops’ subcommittee will remember the Mississippi Freedom Summer advocacy campaign of June-August 1964, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the civil rights march from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery held in March 1965, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The bishops’ subcommittee will release blog posts and video clips, as well as suggest practical ideas to engage the Catholic community during the commemorations at the parish, school, and small group levels.

Prayer and catechetical resources, as well as a calendar of diocesan events, will also be provided, the U.S. bishops’ conference said.

The resources aim to promote dialogue through examining how the Civil Rights Movement influenced contemporary multicultural relations. The effort will help people consider the movement’s historical legacy and will help highlight the role the Catholic Church and Catholic leaders played in it.

Reflections on Catholic social teaching should also play a role in the commemorations, Bishop Fabre said.

“Reflecting upon the Church’s social teachings from the perspective of the history of civil rights is an opportunity to become more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ as we strive to live these social teachings today and share them with others,” he said.

The resources may be accessed at the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in the Issues and Action section’s Cultural Diversity subsection.

Blog posts commemorating the civil rights anniversaries will be posted at usccbmedia.blogspot.com.

Previous Post

August 28, 2014

Scholars: Boko Haram caliphate claim may be inspired by ISIS

Next Post

August 28, 2014 Successful Okla. lawsuit could stop future black masses

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE