Faithful must realize King’s dream, says Bishop Fabre VIEW GALLERY -- use arrow keys to navigate through photos By Fabvienen Taylor
JACKSON — Forty years after the assasination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. some people continue to ask, “Why remember the past events of the civil rights movement?” said Bishop Shelton Fabre, auxiliary of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
People gather and remember past injustices and suffering to learn from them, so they will not be repeated, said Bishop Fabre, quoting the philosopher George Santayana. The only way to let the past stay in the past is to remember it, so it won’t be resurrected, he said.
But the civil rights movement was about more than the suffering and tragedies that occurred, Bishop Fabre said.
The many positive advances and achievements of the movement are celebrated in remembering, he said, which is especially important for people continuing the struggle today for racial reconciliation — Dr. King’s dream.
Bishop Fabre was the keynote speaker for the annual celebration honoring Dr. King at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle on Sunday, Jan. 13. “Forty Years . . . Learning to Live Together” was the theme of the program.
“Simply enacting civil rights laws did not accomplish Dr. King’s dream of greater harmony and peace among the races,” he said, noting the accomplishments and limitations of governing bodies.
It is the responsibility of people of faith and churches — where the civil rights struggle began — to realize Dr. King’s dream, Bishop Fabre said.
It is people of faith who must embrace and be a part of the continuing conversion of their own hearts and the hearts of others for racial reconciliation and peace among all races, he said. “God’s grace and our efforts will bring that vision to fulfilment,” Bishop Fabre said.
Rabbi Batsheva Appel of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and Father Ricardo Phipps, pastor of Jackson St. Mary and Christ the King parishes also spoke and the gospel choir of Natchez Holy Family Parish led the singing.
“May we all leave here today a little more firm in our commitment to do more,” said Bishop Joseph Latino. “It has got to come from us.”
