Exploring Catholic Social Teaching
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Handout E<br />
Excerpt from “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”<br />
by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<br />
Activity #2<br />
This activity is meant to help extend, deepen, or apply the learning that has occurred in this chapter.<br />
Scored ____ / 10<br />
Activity Instructions<br />
A Project or write on the board the quotation:<br />
One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit<br />
that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty<br />
of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing<br />
the highest respect for law. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<br />
198 <strong>Exploring</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Teaching</strong><br />
High School Chapter: Different Types of Justice<br />
199<br />
Handout E<br />
Excerpt from “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”<br />
by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<br />
______/ 10 pts.<br />
4 Considering the last paragraph, why is “legal” not the same as “moral” or “good?” What are examples of<br />
laws in our country today that allow for harmful or immoral behavior?<br />
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Directions: Visit SophiaOnline.org/MLKLetter and skim over “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Rev.<br />
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King wrote this letter in 1963 from his jail cell, where he had been<br />
incarcerated for his role in organizing nonviolent protests against segregationist policies in<br />
Birmingham, Alabama.<br />
Read carefully from the paragraph beginning “Since we so diligently urge<br />
people to obey the Supreme Court's decision of 1954 outlawing segregation<br />
in the public schools” to the paragraph ending “If today I lived in a Communist<br />
country where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I<br />
would openly advocate disobeying that country's antireligious laws.”<br />
As you read, pay close attention to the ways in which Dr. King echoes<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> teachings on just and unjust law in his letter. Then, answer the<br />
following questions and prepare for a discussion.<br />
1 According to Martin Luther King, Jr., why are segregation laws<br />
unjust? What is the origin of segregation, and why is it something<br />
that ought to be resisted?<br />
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Martin Luther King Photo Credit:<br />
Warren K. Leffl er (March 2 1965).<br />
2 Dr. King was not <strong>Catholic</strong>, but he identifi es two <strong>Catholic</strong> saints in his description of just law. Identify them<br />
and describe how their teaching refl ects King’s message.<br />
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5 Write a brief refl ection explaining your response to the following quotation:<br />
“One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I<br />
submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the<br />
penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality<br />
expressing the highest respect for law.”<br />
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3 What does King say that is directly refl ected in your chapter reading on legal justice?<br />
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© Sophia Institute for Teachers<br />
© Sophia Institute for Teachers<br />
© Sophia Institute for Teachers<br />
High School Chapter: Different Types of Justice<br />
169
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