Catholic Questions about Martin Luther King Jr

[maxdouglas402]

Would Martin Luther King Jr ever be considered a saint? I’m pretty sure he never joined in the Communion of Saints through the Holy Eucharist, but he seemed to be a pretty holy man that did some great things.

I don’t know too much about him, I haven’t read his books yet, but it seems he was named after the man Martin Luther, who accidentally split the Church. Other than his name he was a pastor that was murdered for standing up for something that God sees as important. He made impacts around the world, and in a peaceful way he helped show that all men and women are made in the image and likeness of God.

So, I guess my question is more along the lines of, does the Church hold any extra appreciation for Dr.Martin Luther King Jr?

 

[benjammin]

Would Martin Luther King Jr ever be considered a saint? I’m pretty sure he never joined in the Communion of Saints through the Holy Eucharist, but he seemed to be a pretty holy man that did some great things.

I don’t know too much about him, I haven’t read his books yet, but it seems he was named after the man Martin Luther, who accidentally split the Church. Other than his name he was a pastor that was murdered for standing up for something that God sees as important. He made impacts around the world, and in a peaceful way he helped show that all men and women are made in the image and likeness of God.

So, I guess my question is more along the lines of, does the Church hold any extra appreciation for Dr.Martin Luther King Jr?

Not to taint what he did for civil rights, but at least as far as his marital relations go, he wasn’t very holy. I think even Coretta has acknowledged this now. Also, you can’t be a saint unless you are catholic.

 

[bzkoss236]

Also, he was named after his father. His father may have been named after Martin Luther, but not necessarily MLK Jr himself.

 

[MyGuardianAngel]

His name was never formally changed to Martin Luther, legally they were Martin King Sr and Jr. they changed it to sound more prestigious

 

[Julia_Mae]

Not to taint what he did for civil rights, but at least as far as his marital relations go, he wasn’t very holy. I think even Coretta has acknowledged this now. Also, you can’t be a saint unless you are catholic.

I think it’s more precise to say the Church doesn’t Canonize those who are not Catholic, although there have been some proposals to do so. However, anyone can be a saint, regardless of religious affiliation.

 

[benjammin]

I think it’s more precise to say the Church doesn’t Canonize those who are not Catholic, although there have been some proposals to do so. However, anyone can be a saint, regardless of religious affiliation.

Thanks for the clarification:thumbsup:

 

[po18guy]

As with each of us, Dr. King relies on the infinite mercy of God.

 

[godismyfather]

He had a speech and made 2 million catholics converted to Protestant faith, in Mexico, but later on, one apparition of Mary in Mexico brought people in Mexico back to Catholicism by at leaast 10-15 millions. Martin Luther King was a good activist and a politician but not a holly man. A lot of activists do not necessarly live a holy sainthood life! People can fight for a cause but that does not make them a saint!

 

[agnes_therese]

A speech of his caused 2 million Catholics to leave the Church? Can you point us to a reliable source for that?

He had a speech and made 2 million catholics converted to Protestant faith, in Mexico, but later on, one apparition of Mary in Mexico brought people in Mexico back to Catholicism by at leaast 10-15 millions. Martin Luther King was a good activist and a politician but not a holly man. A lot of activists do not necessarly live a holy sainthood life! People can fight for a cause but that does not make them a saint!

 

[edwest2]

The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, was a Baptist minister. A fact that is often not mentioned in the media. When jailed due to his civil rights activities, he wrote that Jesus was in the jail cell with him. Then Attorney General of the United States, Robert Kennedy, made a phone call upon hearing about this, asking if he could be released on bail.

thekingcenter.org/

Peace,
Ed

 

[livingwordunity]

Would Martin Luther King Jr ever be considered a saint? I’m pretty sure he never joined in the Communion of Saints through the Holy Eucharist, but he seemed to be a pretty holy man that did some great things.

I don’t know too much about him, I haven’t read his books yet, but it seems he was named after the man Martin Luther, who accidentally split the Church. Other than his name he was a pastor that was murdered for standing up for something that God sees as important. He made impacts around the world, and in a peaceful way he helped show that all men and women are made in the image and likeness of God.

So, I guess my question is more along the lines of, does the Church hold any extra appreciation for Dr.Martin Luther King Jr?

He might have had good intentions, but he was in error with regard to his anti-Catholic stereotyping of the Catholic Church. It’s possible that he could go to Heaven despite his theological errors, but it wouldn’t make any sense for the Catholic Church to officially recognize him as a saint especially considering that there are probably millions of virtuous Catholics who are in Heaven who were never canonized by the Church.

 

[Kelfa28]

He was a holy man in name only…IMHO.

His history of marital infidelity speaks for itself.

 

[tskrobacz]

A saint is one who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness, sanctity, and virtue. While the English term “saint” originated in Christianity, the term is now used by historians of religion “in a more general way to refer to the state of special holiness that many religions attribute to certain people,” with the Jewish Tzadik, the Islamic wali, the Hindu rishi or guru, and the Buddhist arahat or boddhisatva also referred to as saints. Depending on the religion, saints are recognized either through official church recognition or by popular acclaim.

 

[JerryZ]

A saint is one who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness, sanctity, and virtue. While the English term “saint” originated in Christianity, the term is now used by historians of religion “in a more general way to refer to the state of special holiness that many religions attribute to certain people,” with the Jewish Tzadik, the Islamic wali, the Hindu rishi or guru, and the Buddhist arahat or boddhisatva also referred to as saints. Depending on the religion, saints are recognized either through official church recognition or by popular acclaim.

Except those pesky Catholics have a guy with some keys and when He declares someone is in Heaven you can take His word as fact.
Popular acclamation notwhistanding

 

[Julia_Mae]

He might have had good intentions, but he was in error with regard to his anti-Catholic stereotyping of the Catholic Church. .

Well, we now have lots of gossip about him, but I was a hippie chick during his heyday and cannot recall the topic ever coming up. Could we please have an actual citation to something he said or else could we please stop slandering the man? He was not chaste. This is the only negative thing we actually know.

 

[maxdouglas402]

after i heard his speech “I’ve been on the mountaintop,” which he gave before he died, it made me think he was a man very close to God. Surely he couldn’t have done any of the things he did without the help of God. Any citations other than wikipedia discussing his marital affairs and anti-catholic stereotyping would be appreciated.

 

[edwest2]

Well, we now have lots of gossip about him, but I was a hippie chick during his heyday and cannot recall the topic ever coming up. Could we please have an actual citation to something he said or else could we please stop slandering the man? He was not chaste. This is the only negative thing we actually know.

Thank you. Being a guy who was around during the Hippie era, the non-violence of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, was admired, but some found it dangerous.

teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=40

Peace,
Ed

 

[Julia_Mae]

Thank you. Being a guy who was around during the Hippie era, the non-violence of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, was admired, but some found it dangerous.

teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=40

Peace,
Ed

Thanks, Ed. You always have the best links.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

 

[paulrxp]

He might have had good intentions, but he was in error with regard to his anti-Catholic stereotyping of the Catholic Church. It’s possible that he could go to Heaven despite his theological errors, but it wouldn’t make any sense for the Catholic Church to officially recognize him as a saint especially considering that there are probably millions of virtuous Catholics who are in Heaven who were never canonized by the Church.

I’m glad this discussion on Dr. King was started, even though it’s a few years old. I was watching this video:

youtube.com/watch?v=bOOL3BYaIEQ

To me it’s one of his most powerful speeches, because it was relevant to his time, and it’s especially relevant to ours today. As Catholics, our faith would compel us to support his cause, and because of how Dr King went about fighting for it in a non-violent way.

That being said, I’m very disappointed in the anti-Catholic sentiments his father had. Perhaps Dr. King had them as well, not entirely sure, but I don’t think he would have went out of his way to have us join the fight if certain events had not occurred. His imprisonment being one. After he was jailed and when Kennedy fought to have Dr. King released. Dr. Kings father had a change of heart and softened his views towards Catholics. I think he threw his support for JFK’s presidency which was a bold move for any protestant from the south during that time. Imagine getting up before a congregation of Baptists in the South and telling them you’re voting for a Catholic. They must have been shocked.

What I’ve never understood about the African Americans who were devoutly and almost entirely protestant is how they never looked at Americas history. History from a purely religious perspective, not just a racial one. Since its inception. America never treated Catholics equally with non-Catholics. That’s historical fact. There weren’t many states early in our history were we could have openly practised our faith. So I never could understand why African Americans wouldn’t have been drawn or could at least relate to a faith that was treated as unfairly as they were. Just a thought. I just think we could have greatly helped the cause, and had helped a whole lot earlier, had we only been given the chance.

 

[edwest2]

Would Martin Luther King Jr ever be considered a saint? I’m pretty sure he never joined in the Communion of Saints through the Holy Eucharist, but he seemed to be a pretty holy man that did some great things.

I don’t know too much about him, I haven’t read his books yet, but it seems he was named after the man Martin Luther, who accidentally split the Church. Other than his name he was a pastor that was murdered for standing up for something that God sees as important. He made impacts around the world, and in a peaceful way he helped show that all men and women are made in the image and likeness of God.

So, I guess my question is more along the lines of, does the Church hold any extra appreciation for Dr.Martin Luther King Jr?

He should always be referred to as the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister. There is a very good autobiography about him:

amazon.com/Autobiography-Martin-Luther-King-Jr/dp/0446676500/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Regarding your question, here is an answer from EWTN:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur58.htm

Ed