Today is a federal holiday, honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Later this week will be the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
This is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an ecumenical project promoted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The year’s theme is “Do Good; Seek Justice.” We included prayers for that intention at Mass at my parish over the weekend.
I perceive a common theme.
Dr. King strove for the recognition – not the creation, but recognition – of the inherent rights of all human beings. Whatever civil rights might mean to the politicians making speeches today, I can’t see that any rights make sense unless the right to life is recognized first.
I couldn’t look anyone in the eye and say that I support that human being’s right to vote but only after someone else allows that human being to live.
Honoring Dr. King, recalling Roe, seeking justice: defending the right to life does all three.
Ellen Kolb 