18 Facts About Mathew Ahmann

Mathew H Ahmann was an American Catholic layman and civil rights activist.

Mathew Ahmann was a leader of the Catholic Church's involvement in the civil rights movement, and in 1960 founded and became the executive director of the National Catholic Council for Interracial Justice.

Mathew Ahmann was one of four white men, along with Walter Reuther, Eugene Carson Blake, and Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who joined the "Big Six" to organize the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Mathew Ahmann is not commonly thought of when thinking of the civil rights movement but has been said to have acted as a catalyst for the Catholic Church's involvement in the movement.

Ahmann's grandfather, Mathew Hall, was a German-American immigrant and St Cloud businessman.

Mathew Ahmann was the oldest of three brothers; religion was a large part of everyday life as they attended Catholic school and religious retreats.

Mathew Ahmann grew up a Boy Scout and playing music in a band.

Mathew Ahmann studied social science at Saint John's University for three years.

Mathew Ahmann's intent was to finish his master's program but he left to focus on his work with the civil rights movement.

Mathew Ahmann worked in Chicago for several years as director of the Chicago Catholic Interracial Council.

Mathew Ahmann scheduled it to coincide with the Emancipation Proclamation's 100th anniversary.

Mathew Ahmann explained that after the conference it was expected that committees of the three religions would form on local and regional levels but in order to be successful they needed to be more unanimous in action, not independent.

Mathew Ahmann was asked by organizers of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to find a Catholic bishop who would serve as a Catholic chairman for the march.

In 1965, Mathew Ahmann urged all United States diocese clergy to attend the Selma to Montgomery marches, in response to King's call for participation.

Mathew Ahmann continued to show his support to King and the movement in 1967 when he sent him a telegram on the 10-year anniversary of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to congratulate them on all of the work they had done and continued to do for human rights.

Mathew Ahmann worked with the National Catholic Council for Interracial Justice until 1968.

Mathew Ahmann then worked for 16 years as the associate director of government relations for Catholic Charities USA in Washington, DC Mathew Ahmann was an executive committee member of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Mathew Ahmann died of cancer on December 31,2001, at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC A memorial Mass was held at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC, on January 12,2002.