US Bishops' Head Archbishop Broglio Quotes Martin Luther King ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ in Message for MLK Day

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Dr. King’s Message Continues to Impact Our Lives Today

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and these words remind us that we are connected and responsible for each other as we seek to fulfill the dream and build a more just society for all God’s children, said Archbishop Broglio.

January 9, 2025
WASHINGTON – “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and these words remind us that we are connected and responsible for each other as we seek to fulfill the dream and build a more just society for all God’s children, said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Referencing the words of the late civil rights leader whose life and legacy are commemorated on January 20, Archbishop Broglio’s full reflection on Dr. King follows:

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. challenged all to live out the principle of solidarity and human dignity. As we commemorate what would have been his 96th birthday, Dr. King’s message continues to have an impact on our lives today. Our Holy Father Pope Francis said in his address to the United States Congress during his Apostolic Visit to the United States:

‘Here too I think of the march which Martin Luther King led from Selma to Montgomery fifty years ago as part of the campaign to fulfill his “dream” of full civil and political rights for African Americans. That dream continues to inspire us all. I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of “dreams.” Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment. Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a people.’

“Dr. King’s memorial holiday is a fitting occasion to recall also his words from Letter from a Birmingham Jail where he stated, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ In reflecting on the continuing realities of racial injustice, immigrant families seeking welcome, and economic disparity, these words remind us that we are connected and responsible for each other as we seek to fulfill the dream. As we approach Dr. King’s holiday, let us be inspired by this righteous man’s work and sacrifice to create a more just society for all of God’s children.”

USCCB Release