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African-American Catholic Bishop Hopes to See His Community More Active on Pro-Life

LifeSiteNews.com Interview with Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, DC, January 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Towering above most of the hundreds of clergy and prelates at the Vigil Mass for the March for Life in Washington DC last week, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley is, at 6'5'', America's tallest Catholic bishop.  His gentle smile and humble demeanor however disarm any threat which his imposing stature may impart.

The former college basketball player, was enthusiastic about the crowds of young people who packed the basilica of the National Shrine for the Mass.  "It is a fantastic turn out," Bishop Holley told LifeSiteNews.com. "It is a great witness to see all these young people who really want to live the culture of life and it is affirming to us as bishops, as priests and as consecrated, to see all these young people who really want to witness and to be a part of this new evangelization for this millennium."

Bishop Holley hoped that society would soon recognize its discrimination against unborn children.  "We can address racism and all the other 'isms' of our society - but the dignity of the human person begins with that child in the womb," he said.  "It has to begin there."

Bishop Holley said he would like to see more African Americans involved in the human rights struggle to protect the lives of unborn children from abortion. "I think, one of the things that I would like to see more of, within the African American community in particular, but in all communities of color, to see more people involved" in pro-life.

The bishop explained that one of the reasons for the relative lack of participation in pro-life activities by African Americans is due to having to deal with racism.  Pro-life activism, he said, "is slow going within the African American community because of the fact, I think, that we have to deal with racism . . . it takes so much of our energy."  Speaking of pro-life work, he added, "when you are so preoccupied with trying to eradicate racism, it leaves you drained for something like this."

"It is my hope," he concluded, "that, as a people, we will be able to really deal with it and talk about it honestly and I think we are doing that but I would like, again, to see within the African American community and other communities of color, to see more of our presence" in the struggle against discrimination directed at preborn children.

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