Posted on 07/31/2004 5:58:49 PM PDT by cpforlife.org
Knights Battle . . .
To Expel Pro-Abort Politician Members
(Special to The Wanderer)
DALLAS — As the American Catholic Church hierarchy contends with notorious pro-abortion Catholic politicians — who publicly defy Church teaching in their political lives while flaunting their Catholicism by receiving Communion — state delegates of the Knights of Columbus are contending with a proposal to expel member Knights in politics who support abortion rights.
This issue has been simmering in the Knights of Columbus for decades. But this year, as delegates meet in Dallas from August 3 to 5 for their national convention, a determined group of Knights from California and other states was expected to force the issue at the national convention.
Resolution N. 48 was submitted by ten KC councils in California; it was passed at the California KC State Convention in May. The resolution requires ipso facto forfeiture of membership for any public official who promotes abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, or assisted suicide.
As The Wanderer went to press on July 29, proponents of the measure were planning to go public to the international media covering the conference, and even to engage in public demonstrations to denounce any efforts to suppress the measure.
In California, two examples that Knights focused on were Los Angeles Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez and Orange County Assemblyman Lou Correa, both of whom have long public voting records supporting abortion and even celebrating the Roe v. Wade decision in legislative acts.
Bermudez publicly lists on his web site that he is a member of the Norwalk Knights of Columbus as he compiles a nearly perfect pro-abortion voting record. He has been recognized by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California for his "unwavering 100% commitment to reproductive choice and family planning during the 2002 legislative year."
Correa, a member of the Garden Grove Council voted in four recent legislative sessions to give $200,000,000 to unrestricted Medi-Cal funding for abortion.
On a national level, the collaboration of Knight-politicians — who enjoy the privileges, honors, and benefits of the Knights of Columbus membership — in the "culture of death" machine is a scandal not only to all Knights, but to the entire Church in the United States.
For years, charges have flown that the Knights have an operative "house rule" on the matter of pro-abortion Knights who hold political office, which requires members not to raise the issue of a member’s personal or even public position on abortion.
Several years ago, a Massachusetts Knight obtained a tape recording featuring KC member Joe Mauro, now retired but then executive vice president of agencies and marketing for the national office, stating: "The house rule is anybody who writes you, or talks to you about it [abortion], I’d prefer you kept silent on the issue."
The tape surfaced after an outspoken pro-life insurance field agent, John O’Gorman, was forced out of the Knights following his pro-life activism.
One decisive action against a pro-abortion Catholic politician was taken by the late Bishop James McHugh, when he was bishop of Camden, N.J. He forced the state’s pro-abortion Gov. Jim Florio to resign from the Knights.
In 2001, when the Supreme Council of the International Knights of Columbus met in Toronto, with 2,000 members in attendance, a New York chapter called on the Knights to take more vigorous action against politicians who are pro-abortion. Ed McKee, co-chairman of this New York Council, said that they were getting nowhere with tactics employed at the time.
However, Canadian Phil Zakoor, chief administrative officer of the Ontario State Council, objected to the New York resolution calling for such things as advertisements at election times to encourage pro-life voting.
In a speech to the organization the next day, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson acknowledged that the order has the resources to do more to defend life than it has done; the Knights of Columbus would continue its "defense of human life at all stages, from conception to natural death."
The battle likely to be waged in Dallas is closely related to the hierarchy’s own stance, since the Knights and the hierarchy have appeared to be passing the buck back and forth on this matter for years, and now the buck seems to be stopped in both camps.
Supreme Knight Anderson, on his way to Dallas, was unavailable for comment, as was his spokesman Paul McGlinchey.
The K of C is one of the MOST Pro Life organizations I know of. They do NOT have a policy of accepting Pro Aborts, esp. since they are 100% loyal to the Mother Church.
My dad has been a Knight ever since I can remember, and they are just an awesome organization. I can't wait for my hubby to convert so that he can join, too. :)
I have been to a meeting/dinner. It was an award dinner that was held annually at my dad's old council in NJ. They started with a prayer, said the Pledge, had dinner, then gave out awards for community service that was done with the Knights. The only reason I was there was because I thought my dad was getting an award, but it turned out to be me. (blush) I helped that year with the Tootsie Roll drive the Knights have annually, which is to help retarded citizens (various charities, all local).
The K of C supports life at every age and stage. A really awesome organization. Plus, the life insurance benefits are GREAT for their members. They really take care of their own (along with everyone else). :)
We Knights have been fighting this fight for years. Decades. Now we're finally getting somewhere. At our convention 3 years ago the rule was promulgated that no politician or public figure who endorsed and public policy that was at odds with Canon Law would be welcome at any KofC sponsored event and would not have recourse to our property. It fell far short of kicking them out but it was a good first step in that it prevented guys like Teddy Kennedy (who has reisgned his membership) from showing up at KofC meetings befroe elections and using his membership to engage the Knights politically.
I nearly responded, but then read further down. :) It's true that the Scripture is feminine, and is seen to refer to Mary.
Welcome home, BTW.
Then why is there a dispute amongst Hibernians regarding the continued membership of Jim McGreavey, Governor of NJ?
A priest appreciation dinner! What a nice idea!! :)
Anybody who's attended meetings in my Council prior to our state convention, when resolutions are considered and debated, would know that we've been fighting this fight hard for years. The membership of the KofC is profoundly pro-life! There are several prominent democrat politicians who still hold membership. 99.9% of all Knights want them to either recant their pro abortion views or resign their membership.
I sent off for information twice about joining. Once through snail mail and once by the KofC website and they never bothered to send the information, or anything for that matter. No contact, nothing. Would have liked to join. From what I've seen and read, it looks like a great organization, but apparently they aren't very good at replying to inquiries or aren't interested.
I am sending you a Freepmail with particular info regarding contact info. for the state listed on your profile page.
McGreevey snuck in under the radar? How can we prove what is in a man's heart?
Anyway, the National Org. is going to address the McGreevey problem at its convention.
I'll take odds that Gov. McG. gets booted.
That is actually pretty funny. I just want to be sure nobody takes you seriously. I've been a 4th Degree Knight for 4 years, don't have a sword, and hate brandy.
Exactly the Knight's problem. Our pro-abort politician members don't meet out criteria for membership and lied when they joined. Our membership criteria has always been that a man must be a practical Catholic in union with the Holy See. If they had any honor they'd just quit.
Excellent!!! I do recall the K of C giving Mario Coumo the boot in NY for this same reason, so its not unprecedented.
AH!! That's the Knight's problem. You must be a practical Catholic in union with the Holy See to be eligible for membership.
I agree. I am glad the Knights have become so vocal about this.
A good friend in Philly, a Knight, was arrested with other prolifers for protesting outside a clinic. They were kept in jail overnight. The Philly mob boss (was it Scarfo, in 1987?) was in the same jail. He sent his goombahs out for steak dinners for all the prolifers!
Even a convicted mob guy knows abortion is wrong.
Some Knights in my council are voting for kerry.
But I'll bet you have the cool cape and nifty hat with the plumage, right? I LOVED my dad's Fourth Degree stuff! :)
Sorry. I love being a 4th degree Knight, but don't go in for the fancy stuff. I just love what the Knights do and prefer to spend my time with them working than dressing up. For those who wear all the regalia . . . God bless you. It is just not for me.
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