Final answer:
Martin Luther King Jr. uses his personal connection to the church in his 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' to align the civil rights movement with moral and religious values, challenging religious leaders to uphold justice and equality as core Christian principles. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the seminal "Letter from Birmingham Jail", Martin Luther King Jr. adeptly employs his connection to the church to forward his civil rights agenda by aligning his cause with moral and religious values. King appeals to the white clergy, addressing the criticism from eight Alabama clergymen who advised incremental societal change, by invoking the urgency for righteous action reflected within Christian doctrine. In his poignant letter, King expresses deep disappointment with the church's passive stance and emphasizes the necessity for urgent moral action, chastising the church's lack of support and calling for it to live up to its spiritual obligations.
King makes a compelling case for why the church should be at the forefront of the battle for equality, imploring religious leaders to recognize integration as morally right and to embrace African Americans as their brethren. Much of the letter's potency comes from King's ability to intertwine his vision for civil rights with the church's professed commitment to justice, compassion, and brotherhood—pillars of the Christian faith. Furthermore, he criticizes the church for failing to act meaningfully during a pivotal moment in history, ultimately using his personal connection to the church to strengthen his case for action against racial injustices.