Washington D.C., Apr 4, 2018 / 15:58 pm
Fifty years after the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Catholics can still learn much from his legacy, said a leader in the largest predominantly black Catholic organization in the U.S.
"Dr. King's legacy is one of faith and overcoming external forces working against you. His life, work, and ultimate sacrifice illustrate that we are called to work for the greater good," Percy Marchand, associate director of the Knights of Peter Claver, told CNA April 3. "Dr. King's legacy is a shining example of self-deprecation and personal sacrifice for one's fellow man."
"Dr. King would not want us to look upon this day in sadness," Marchand continued. "He would want us to look at it with inspiration and rededication; with hope and commitment; with love and compassion – even for our enemies or those who don't love us."
The Knights of Peter Claver is a New Orleans-based Catholic fraternal order present in about 39 states and in South America. Its membership is significantly African-American but open to all practicing Catholics without regard to race or ethnicity. Many of its members played a role in the U.S. civil rights movement of the mid-20th century, in which King, a Baptist minister, was the most prominent leader.