We also stand in solidarity with our Priests. The Knights of Columbus is composed of men who give unselfishly of their time and talents in service of God and country. Membership in the Knights of Columbus provides the opportunity for fellowship and association with other practical Catholics with the same beliefs, who recognize the same duty to God, family and neighbor. Knights stand side by side in defense of those beliefs.
Programs are supported that address local needs and are aligned with the council objectives as set by the council members. As a united body, the Knights are able to accomplish tasks and objectives together that can not be accomplished by individuals.
The Knights of Columbus has a proud heritage. The qualified Catholic man can share in that heritage, and build an even greater future by affiliating himself with this strong, dedicated organization. There are four degrees in the Knights of Columbus. They can be thought of as lessons in charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. They are meant to inspire knights to grow in their Catholic faith, and to think about these principles as they progress on their journey as knights.
The first degree is about charity and is required before a candidate can become a member. The second degree is about unity. The third degree is about fraternity and is required before a knight is considered a full knight with the privilege to become an officer, attend state meetings or attend supreme conventions.
First degree members are encouraged to progress through the second and third degrees of unity and fraternity, respectively. He does not seek to calm but to enflame. He does not seek to unite, but to divide. And at a crucial moment, the Knights of Columbus top brass came to his aid with a photo opportunity.
It is inexplicable unless they had decided at a crucial moment to endorse Trump. At the shrine, Trump made no speech, signed no document, met no dignitaries or delegation and attended no prayer service. While he toured the building briefly, he did nothing except bring a wreath to the statue of John Paul II. He stood there for an awkwardly long time and appeared to have to instruct the first lady to smile.
The existence of the St. It was built by the Archdiocese of Detroit at a time when archdiocese was closing many schools and parishes for lack of funds. Who could have approved this visit? Surely a presidential visit would be approved at the top echelons of the Knights, including Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and supreme chaplain Baltimore Archbishop William Lori.
By allowing the visit, the Supreme Council disrespected our local bishop and church and showed that they had a tin ear to the controversy over racism. It was a stick in the eye to the local church which is heavily African American. Because Trump countenances and encourages racism. I don't have space here to recount all the evidence from the last three years, including the campaign, Charlottesville, his statements about immigrants and refugees and his remarks about athletes "taking a knee" before football games to protest racism, calling any player who "disrespects our flag" a "son of a bitch" who should be fired.
As former Secretary of Defense James Mattis said , he is the first American president who seeks to divide Americans, not unite them. Racism is a sin. It has been condemned by the last three popes, and by the U.
Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Supreme Council knew this visit would amount to political support for Trump in a national controversy over racism.
Anderson is not a politically naive man. He has been a political operative in Washington for many years. He was a legislative assistant to Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, from Helms was well known as a segregationist and who opposed the effort to establish a national holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Bush to the U. Civil Rights Commission, where he gained a reputation for slow walking civil rights enforcement.
Anderson knew what he was doing in this controversy. In my opinion, the Knights of Columbus is no longer the small mutual aid society and fraternity founded by Fr. Michael McGivney in the 19th century. It is now a big, rich corporation that seeks to be a political player in the American scene.
Its nearly 2 million members, the vast majority of whom never go to a meeting, give it clout. Money and membership that give it power.
The Supreme Council are extremely well paid. All of the other top brass is paid in the hundreds of thousands per year. I will not be dragged into the political campaign on the side of Trump, whom I consider a racist who violates the U. Constitution and his oath of office by taking away the constitutional rights of American citizens. Therefore, I resign. The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society.
The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs , and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to 15, councils and 1. Our charitable activities encompass an almost infinite variety of local, national and international projects.
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