March on Washington Anniversary: Time To Face Unmet Goals

WASHINGTON—The 50th anniversary ofthe August 28, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom calls people toaddress poverty, racism and class inequality, said the U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops' Committee on Cultural Diversity.

Thecommittee, which is chaired by Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas,issued its statement August 13, as the nation prepares to commemorate the eventat which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech on the NationalMall.

"Wejoin our voices to those who call for and foster continued dialogue andnon-violence among people of different races and cultures, and who worktirelessly for the transformative, constructive actions that are always thefruit of such authentic dialogue," the bishops said. "We rejoice in theadvances that have occurred over the past 50 years, and sadly acknowledge thatmuch today remains to be accomplished. However, we must always view the taskthat remains from the perspective of the continued call to hope and in thelight of faith."

The bishops cited both Dr. King, whosaid "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope," andPope Francis, who in his first encyclical, LumenFidei, declared that "Faith teaches us to see that every man and womanrepresents a blessing for me, that the light of God's face shines on me throughthe faces of my brothers and sisters."

The bishops urged solidarity to meetthe goals of the 1963 march.

"We join the call for positiveaction that seeks to end poverty, increase jobs, eliminate racial and classinequality, ensure voting rights, and that provides fair and just opportunitiesfor all," they said.

In addition to Bishop Flores, signatoriesincluded Auxiliary Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of New Orleans, chairman,Subcommittee on African American Affairs; Bishop Gerald Barnes of SanBernardino, California, chairman, Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs; Bishop RandolphCalvo of Reno, Nevada, chairman, Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific IslanderAffairs; Archbishop Charles J. Chaput O.F.M. Cap,Archdiocese of Philadelphia, chairman, Subcommittee on Native American Affairs and Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio Del Riego of San Bernardino, chairman,Subcommittee on the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers.

Thebishops' statement can be found at https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/resources/index.cfm.

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Keywords: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Bishop Daniel Flores,Bishop Sheldon Fabre, Bishop Gerald Barnes, Bishop Randolph Calvo, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, BishopRutilio Del Riego, racism, poverty, March on Washington, USCCB, U.S. Conferenceof Catholic Bishops, Pope Francis, LumenFidei, I Have a Dream

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