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Knights pass resolutions in support of building pro-life culture

By Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Knights of Columbus renewed the fraternal organization's support for traditional marriage, religious liberty and the culture of life in a series of resolutions approved during the final business session of the organization's Aug. 3-5 convention in Washington.

The Knights' 128th annual supreme convention drew thousands of participants.

Members reiterated their "deep and historic commitment to oppose any governmental action or policy that promotes abortion, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and other offenses against life" and pledged to "continue to speak out to our elected representatives about the need to enact legislation to oppose these practices and to protect human life in all its stages."

In resolving to build a culture of life, the Knights said they would continue to support programs for women facing crisis pregnancies. They also called for laws that protect the conscience of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical personnel, "guaranteeing that they may not be forced to provide medical services which violate their religious beliefs."

The Knights said they would "continue to uphold the traditional teaching of the church concerning the death penalty" as explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in Pope John Paul II's 1995 encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life").

They also reaffirmed a "long-standing policy" that no event sponsored by the Knights would feature speakers or grant honors to those who favor laws supporting abortion or who advocate the legalization of assisted suicide or euthanasia.

The resolution stated: "We reaffirm our long-standing policy of not inviting to any Knights of Columbus event, persons, especially public officials or candidates for public office, who do not support the legal protection of unborn children, or who advocate the legalization of assisted suicide or euthanasia, and of prohibiting such persons from renting or otherwise using facilities over which we have control, or speaking at Knights of Columbus events, or bestowing on them honors or privileges of our order of any kind, or inviting them to serve as honorary chairpersons of events, celebrations, or committees, or hold any office in the Knights of Columbus."

In the resolution on religious liberty, the Knights stressed that they will "never waver" in their efforts to promote religious freedom as an inherent right of all and pledged support for fellow believers around the world, especially those who suffer religious persecution.

They pledged to "resist any trend to treat religion as a purely private matter" and offered support for those who have been "intimidated or harassed as a result of expressing their opinions on public policy matters based upon their understanding of the Catholic faith."

They also urged elected officials and judges to adopt laws and make judicial decisions that will protect the religious liberty rights of all citizens.

The Knights also recommitted themselves to promoting the church's understanding of marriage and pledged to support efforts by church leaders to obtain "legal and constitutional protection for the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others."

They paid tribute to Brother Andre Bessette, who will be canonized by Pope Benedict Oct. 17 and pledged to continue his commitment to care for those who are sick or in need. He founded St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, the largest shrine dedicated to St. Joseph in the world.

They similarly honored Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta; various events around the world, including a tour of her relics, are under way to commemorate the centennial of her birth, Aug. 26. Saying they were inspired by the example of Mother Teresa, the Knights vowed to increase their charitable programs and outreach to the poor, assisting the work of the Missionaries of Charity, or serving at local soup kitchens and food pantries.

They also expressed solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI and said they would continually pray for his protection and that he would have the "courage and wisdom to guide the church in these turbulent times."

The Knights also re-affirmed their support for the armed forces and thanked them for their contributions.

Another resolution was an announcement of the Knights' co-sponsorship of an event called "Universal Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe" Sept. 8 in Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where a special rosary will be said not only at the church but by Knights and their families throughout the world.