Kolvenbach and King

Fr. Kolvenbach and Dr. King both claim that justice is universal. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” writes King. Kolvenbach claims, “Tomorrow’s whole person must have, in brief, a well-educated solidarity.” In other words, all people share an obligation to denounce oppression, wherever it exists. If all people are created in the image of God, as Kolvenbach and King would certainly argue, than we have a responsibility to defend the humanity of everyone across the globe. This is quite the task.
There seems to be a subtext to both of these pieces. Action is critical, words alone can not fight injustice. Kolvenbach spends a large part of his writing addressing this conflict within the Jesuit order. The Jesuits are largely centered around education. While Kolvenbach points out the critical role higher education plays in promoting justice, he also argues that this is contingent on its commitment to action. “To make sure that the real concerns of the poor find their place in research, faculty members need an organic collaboration with those in the Church and in society who work among and for the poor and actively seek justice,” he writes.
In a similar vein, Dr. King criticizes the white moderate “Who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace
which is the presence of justice.” King makes it quite clear that, while the words or beliefs of this type of person might mirror his own, without action, they are meaningless. Or rather, they are a hindrance. He does not say just how many people have pressured him to spend more time negotiating or to simply “Wait,” but considering that even his patience seems to be wearing off, it must have been quite a few.
Both Kolvenbach and King recognize the tremendous pressure of the status quo. They argue that it cannot be changed only with words or maybe, even, only with action. There must be words and deeds, a service of faith and a promotion of justice. This dichotomy colors much of their writing.

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