MEDIA ADVISORY, July 30 /Christian Newswire -
Concerned Roman Catholics of America (CRCOA) condemn the Knights of Columbus for their continuing failure to expel pro- abortion and pro-homosexual politicians. The K of C meet at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona, for their 127th Supreme Convention on August 4-6, 2009.
Ken Fisher, President of CRCOA, said: "With 51 million abortions since Roe V. Wade in 1973, the Knights of Columbus has failed the unborn children miserably. Founded by Venerable Fr. Michael McGivney as a Catholic fraternal organization, the K of C ought to be a major force in the pro-life, pro-family movement. Instead, by sheltering pro-abortion politicians in its ranks, it has joined 'the culture of death', as the late Pope John Paul II called it.
Perversely, the K of C has welcomed to its ranks a great number of pro-abortion and pro-homosexual politicians in exchange for a charitable tax-free status on its life insurance business. The charitable work is done, and most of the money is raised, by volunteer K of C members at local and state level -- while Supreme Knight Carl Anderson received $1,146,183 in K of C compensation last year.
Fisher continued: "Every year, at state and national level, the K of C pass resolutions denouncing pro- abortion politicians. These resolutions are just hot air put on paper. We hear rhetorical speeches from Supreme Knight Carl Anderson telling us that the K of C will no longer tolerate pro-abortion politicians in their ranks, but have yet to see Anderson expel any pro-abortion or pro-homosexual politicians from the Order. The bishops, many of whom are K of C members, have not excommunicated a single pro- abortion or pro-homosexual politician!
"The K of C have long boasted that they are 'the strong right arm of the Catholic Church.' This claim is clearly false. In his nine years as Supreme Knight, Anderson has failed the unborn children repeatedly. He must resign now, concluded Fisher!"
Given what the Knights of Columbus now stand for, perhaps they should undergo a name change as well; how about the "Knights of Cleveland," or the "Knights of Cincinnati?"
In general, the work of the Knights of Columbus must be admired. My brother-in-law was a Chapter president in California years ago. He worked hard for the Knights, and their great charities; he was small in stature, great in character, and an exemplary soldier for Christ. I had the experience of working through the night helping him and his crew with the Chatsworth barbecue for the local boy's home. Yet, in spite of my admiration, I never joined the Knights because I had come to believe that they operated far below their level of responsibility, and their potential, in the fight against the abortion horror that has plagued our nation for decades. When Catholic institutions are complicit in sending mixed messages to the faithful on this most foundational pro-life issue, they must shoulder the burden of resolving the confusion they have created. If a “Catholic” claims to be pro-choice, and stays unrepentant, he or she has stepped outside the body of the Church. The question that follows is why haven’t the Knights purged from their ranks members who actively support abortion in direct opposition to the Church? Writers for Life
Is the Knights of Columbus just a throwback to kingdoms and secret societies of the past ages?
They do some financial good for the churches they are connected to but based on the above story, I don't believe you can have your feet standing on two divergent beliefs without getting the crouch mighty sore and being torn in two!!!
Just like everything else in today's modern society, what began as an extremely noble and just cause has now degenerated into an international society of back-slapping drunks and "good-old-boys" doing the old "wink, wink" ...!!!!