"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail is a classic document worthy of regular review and reflection..."
- Study Guide Introduction Letter by Bishop Denis Madden and Bishop Daniel Flores
Christian Churches Together, on the 50th anniversary of the Letter from Birmingham Jail, released a response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s statement as well as a study guide for reflection. Below you will find the full package - Introduction Letter, the Study Guide Intro for Catholics and the CCT Study Guide.
Full Study Guide | Study Guide Intro for Catholics | CCT Study Guide
Read historical summaries for two significant periods:
- African American Civil Rights Movement (1955 – 1968)
- African American Civil Rights Movement (1896 – 1954)
And follow links below for insights into Jewish life at the time of Jesus:
- Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Roman Rule: 63 BCE-313 CE, Jewish Virtual Library
- Horsley, Richard. Jews and Christians in a Roman World, Archaeology Magazine
- Tabor, James. The Jewish World of Jesus: An Overview, www.UNCC.edu
Reference Documents
On Racial Harmony A Statement by the Administrative Board, National Catholic Welfare Conference, August 23, 1963 – reaffirms the U.S. Catholic bishops’ official position against racial discrimination and segregation.
Brothers and Sisters to Us U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism in Our Day, 1979 – clarifies the sinful nature of racism; acknowledges legal remedies of the civil rights era, recognizes continued need for personal and social transformation, and underscores the intrinsic relationship between racial and economic justice.
What We Have Seen & Heard A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization From the Black Bishops of the United States, September 9, 1984 – a message to and for Catholics of African descent.
Reconciled Through Christ On Reconciliation and Greater Collaboration Between Hispanic American Catholics and African American Catholics, February 1997 – reissued online in September 2013, articulates common backgrounds, experiences, concerns and shared values; renews the invitation to build relationships across cultural lines though joint dialog and active collaboration.