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A toast to your family, your faith & your financial security this new year.

LIFE INSURANCE • DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE • LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE • RETIREMENT ANNUITIES

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KNIGHTSOFCOLUMBUS

   ♦       ♦       COLUMBIA

FEATURES 10 Voices of the Pro-Life Generation Young leaders speak about the impact they are having in the preeminent human rights battle of our time. 16 A Passionate Pioneer Remembered Dr. Mildred Jefferson’s ardent witness on behalf of the unborn remains a powerful model and inspiration. BY MARY HALLAN FIORITO 19 An Enduring Consensus For more than 40 years, Americans have supported the Hyde Amendment’s ban on federal funding of . BY HELEN M. ALVARÉ 20 Canada’s Fight for Life An interview with Jeff Gunnarson, national president of the Campaign Life Coalition, about the Canadian pro-life movement today. 22 ‘Champions for the Unborn’ A young pro-life advocate rises above the crowd at the 2018 K of C councils are promoting pro-life legislation all across the United States. rally in Washington, D.C. BY KEVIN J. JONES

26 Standing Firm Before SPECIAL REPORT a Slippery Slope 6 ‘This Crisis Calls for Knights’ Religious leaders, doctors and disability advocates The Order will strengthen the Church by forging speak out against physician-assisted suicide. new paths that stay true to the founding vision BY PETER WOLFGANG of Father McGivney. BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

DEPARTMENTS 34Building a better world Learning the faith, 9 News Our works of charity, beginning living the faith New Book Illustrates K of C History with defense of the most defense- My parents have been faithful and • Order Honored for Service to Per- less, bear witness to the sacred dig- loving examples to me and others for sons with Disabilities • ‘Spread the nity of every human life. many decades. Light of Christ’ BY SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON BY SUPREME CHAPLAIN WILLIAM E. LORI 27 Knights in Action PLUS: Man of the Month   

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EDITORIAL COLUMBIA

PUBLISHER Knights of Columbus Abortion and the ‘Infinite Game’ ______SOME GAMES are finite: They have intimate relationships and made choices SUPREME OFFICERS Carl A. Anderson well-defined rules, objectives, opponents that define their views of themselves and SUPREME KNIGHT and endpoints. Baseball and bingo have their places in society, in reliance on the Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D. clear winners and losers — but as author availability of abortion in the event that SUPREME CHAPLAIN Patrick E. Kelly Simon Sinek observes in his bestselling contraception should fail.” DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT new book The Infinite Game, most From 1992 to 2017, the number of Michael J. O’Connor things in life are not so simple. In busi- surgical reported annually in SUPREME SECRETARY Ronald F. Schwarz ness, for instance, parameters and players the United States fell by nearly a half SUPREME TREASURER are constantly changing, and the “game” million, from 1,359,145 to 862,320. John A. Marrella SUPREME ADVOCATE doesn’t end. Effective and visionary lead- There are various reasons for this decline, ______ership, Sinek argues, requires an infinite including life-saving legislation, but one EDITORIAL mindset, looking beyond finite goals and key factor is infinite-minded leadership. Alton J. Pelowski staying focused on a “just cause,” even if Consider, for example, all of the life- EDITOR it may never be fully realized. affirming medical clinics and pregnancy Andrew J. Matt MANAGING EDITOR As I was reading Sinek’s book, the centers that today empower abortion- Cecilia Hadley pro-life movement came to mind almost vulnerable women to choose life — in SENIOR EDITOR immediately. For nearly five decades, many cases with help from ultrasound Margaret B. Kelly ASSOCIATE EDITOR one of the movement’s primary goals has machines funded by the Knights of been to reverse the 1973 U.S. Supreme Columbus. As many pro-life leaders have Court decision Roe v. Wade. To be sure, said, the goal is not simply to make abor- overturning Roe is a critical step that tion illegal, but to make it unthinkable. would save many lives — but to think In the end, the heart of the abortion

that the victory would then be won, debate is deeper than a question of sci- Venerable Michael McGivney (1852-90) and the mission complete, would be a ence (when life begins) or of law (a so- Apostle to the Young, Protector of Christian Family Life and grave mistake. In a “post-Roe world,” called right to abortion). Rather, it is a Founder of the Knights of Columbus, abortion would remain unrestricted in question about the very nature of free- Intercede for Us. ______many states. According to a July 2019 dom, sexuality and what it means to be study conducted at Middlebury Col- human. An adequate response requires HOW TO REACH US MAIL lege, the short-term effect would be the proclamation of the Gospel of Life COLUMBIA only a 12.8% reduction in the abortion in word and deed — a mission that is 1 Columbus Plaza rate nationwide. beautifully expressed in the work of the New Haven, CT 06510-3326 ADDRESS CHANGES It is important to remember that laws and others, but which is 203-752-4210, option #3 have an impact on culture, and they are also the responsibility of us all. There is [email protected] COLUMBIA INQUIRIES also a reflection of it. This was apparent no greater just cause than building an 203-752-4398

when Roe v. Wade was nearly overturned authentic — and even K OF C CUSTOMER SERVICE once before, with the Supreme Court when Roe is eventually overturned, our 1-800-380-9995 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey in work will have only just begun.♦ EMAIL [email protected] 1992. The court’s opinion noted that INTERNET “for two decades of economic and social ALTON J. PELOWSKI kofc.org/columbia ______developments, people have organized EDITOR Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the . This means that an Fatal Flaws: Legalizing Assisted Death applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, The gripping documentary Fatal Flaws: Legalizing Assisted and is in good standing in the Catholic Church. Death chronicles personal stories of assisted suicide in the ______United States, Canada and Europe. Directed by Kevin Dunn, Copyright © 2020 All rights reserved a member of St. Ann Council 10009 in Ancaster, Ontario, the ______56-minute film was produced in association with the Euthana- ON THE COVER sia Prevention Coalition and partially funded by the Knights A Knight witnesses to the amid the of Columbus in Canada. Fatal Flaws will make its world tele- massive crowd during the 2019 March for Life. Each January, the march follows Constitution Ave. vision premiere Jan. 15 on EWTN. Visit fatalflawsfilm.com. and ends at the U.S. Supreme Court building.       

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BUILDINGABETTERWORLD ‘Seek the Kingdom of God’

Our works of charity, beginning with defense of the most defenseless, bear witness to the sacred dignity of every human life

by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

LAST NOVEMBER, the U.S. Confer- for the unborn and ignore the plight of ence of Catholic Bishops reaffirmed and others. But Francis rightly opposed reissued its document on political re- this lie in Gaudete et Exsultate. sponsibility, titled Forming Consciences The Knights of Columbus likewise for Faithful Citizenship. Accompanying refutes this argument every day, by a sensitivity towards the acceptance of the it was a letter that read in part: “The thousand acts of charity that help new life is lost, then other forms of ac- threat of abortion remains our preemi- “the destitute, the abandoned and the ceptance that are valuable for society nent priority because it directly attacks underprivileged.” also wither away’” (120). life itself, because it takes place within The re- When speaking of these matters the sanctuary of the family, and because minded us that “the laity, by their very during our Supreme Convention in of the number of lives destroyed.” vocation, seek the kingdom of God by Minneapolis last August, I noted that, Our bishops are right: The ongoing engaging in temporal affairs and by or- for us, charity is a matter of principle, destruction of innocent human lives — dering them according to the plan of not politics. more than 50 million since Roe v. Wade God” (Lumen Gentium, 31). The In our pro-life efforts and in our acts — must be “our preeminent priority” if Knights of Columbus seeks to do this of charity, we must resist the tendency Catholic social justice teaching is to re- through our fraternal life insurance pro- to politicize every activity — a ten- tain its coherence. gram, our charitable activities, and our dency that leaves everything prey to the It has been suggested that more atten- advocacy of basic human rights. partisan question, “Who benefits polit- tion should be given to the words of St. John Paul II provided further ically?” We should not have to calculate in his apostolic exhortation guidance in his apostolic exhortation on political costs in our acts of charity and on the call to holiness in today’s world, the vocation and mission of the laity: defense of the vulnerable, for as Gaudete et Exsultate. “The inviolability of the person … finds Catholics, we are called to apply a cal- “Our defense of the innocent un- its primary and fundamental expression culus different than politics. born,” the pope writes, “needs to be in the inviolability of human life. Above That calculus was articulated by St. clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is all, the common outcry, which is justly John Paul II 25 years ago, when he the dignity of a human life, which is al- made on behalf of human rights — for wrote that the Gospel of Life “is the ways sacred and demands love for each example, the right to health, to home, proclamation that has a unique re- person, regardless of his or her stage of to work, to family, to culture — is false lationship with every person, which en- development.” He then adds, “Equally and illusory if the right to life, the most ables us to see in every human face the sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, basic and fundamental right and the face of Christ” (, 81). those already born, the destitute, the condition for all other personal rights, Pope Benedict XVI, during his abandoned and the underprivileged, the is not defended with maximum deter- 2008 visit to the United States, further vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to mination” (Christifideles Laici, 38). reminded us that praying for the com- covert euthanasia, the victims of human And Pope Francis affirmed this in his ing of Christ’s kingdom also means trafficking, new forms of slavery, and encyclical on human ecology, Laudato “working for its growth in every sector every form of rejection” (101). Si’: “How can we genuinely teach the of society.” The decision in Roe v. Wade mandates importance of concern for other vulner- As we begin 2020, let us continue to the opposite. It insists that unborn chil- able beings,” the pope asked, “if we fail build this kingdom “in every sector of dren be treated unequally. to protect a human embryo, even when society” by seeing Christ’s face in all In recent years, the abortion lobby has its presence is uncomfortable and cre- those we meet. argued that pro-life advocates care only ates difficulties? ‘If personal and social Vivat Jesus!

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LEARNING THE FAITH, LIVING THE FAITH

A Century of Life My parents have been faithful and loving examples to me and others for many decades

by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

THIS MONTH, my mom cele- They loved Frankie and faithfully brates her 100th birthday, and my cared for him until he died a few parents celebrate their 73rd wedding years ago. anniversary. Dad is much younger Because my younger came than Mom. He’s only 98! along 11 years after I was born, I was I’ve been asked many times if I in- also able to witness how my parents’ them, I offer Mass in their room at herited their hardy genes. I don’t love enveloped the newest member of the nursing home and anoint them. know about that, but I do know that our family. “What a gift!” Mom always says. Mom and Dad have given me an even Mom and Dad taught us the faith When asked if she’s proud of me, she more precious inheritance — the gifts — both by word and by example. astutely replies, “Not proud, but of life, faith and a good example. Back in the day, my classmates and I grateful to God.” Mom and Dad are part of what studied the Baltimore Catechism. We In addition to everything else, Tom Brokaw called “the great- Mom is artistically gifted. I est generation.” Dad is a have several of her paintings, World War II veteran and a and I cherish them. She and longstanding member of the Dad arrived to take Mom Dad were also good with Knights of Columbus. He power tools; for the most part, served in the Navy, near Oki- on a first date. Grandma looked they did their own home reno- nawa, and about a year after him over and asked, “Are you vations and repairs. That gene reentering civilian life, he met was definitely not handed on my mom. the man St. Joseph sent?” to me! My maternal grandmother In the midst of all their knew that my mother was work, Mom and Dad always looking for a good Catholic husband, had to memorize a certain number of had time for others in need. When I so she prayed a novena to St. Joseph. catechism questions and answers every was still in the seminary, my parents Sure enough, on March 19, 1946 (St. night, and Mom always made sure I started visiting the sick and elderly Joseph’s feast day), Dad arrived to take had the answers down pat. My parents in nursing homes and continued Mom on a first date. Grandma looked expected me to study hard and to be doing so until they were up in years him over and asked, “Are you the man respectful of the religious sisters who themselves. For much of their lives, St. Joseph sent?” Evidently, he was. taught us. Usually, I did OK. they were daily communicants and They were married Jan. 17, 1947. At an early age I had an inkling never went a day without praying My parents worked hard — Dad that God was calling me to be a the . for the telephone company and mom priest, and I solemnly announced this Soon, family members and friends at home, taking care of us three boys. to my parents. They surely knew that will gather to celebrate my mom’s We were a handful. In addition to I was way too young to be so certain, big birthday and parents’ anniver- dealing with my mischief, Mom also but they didn’t let on. Instead, they sary. I look forward to sharing in had the challenging responsibility of gently encouraged me. They didn’t that happy moment of celebration caring for my older brother with spe- push or pull. and thanksgiving. May the Lord cial needs. In accepting that heavy As ordination drew near, I sensed bless them in their love for each cross, my parents taught me a lot their joy in my priestly vocation — other and in the love they have about commitment and perseverance. and I still do. To this day, when I visit shared with so many.♦

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SUPREMECHAPLAIN’SCHALLENGE

A monthly reflection and prac- blessings we enjoy. Most of us are fortunate to have Jesus nearby, tical challenge from Supreme truly present in the tabernacle of our local church, but we take Chaplain Archbishop William his close presence for granted all too easily. The Wise Men em- E. Lori: barked on a difficult journey to encounter Jesus, but a five- minute drive can seem too far for us. May our daily familiarity And behold, the star that they with Jesus never result in indifference. May we instead, like the had seen at its rising preceded Wise Men, enter the Lord’s house to do him homage. them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were over- Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori: joyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw This month, I challenge you to take to heart the example of the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves the Wise Men and go out of your way occasionally to visit and did him homage. (Gospel for Jan. 5, Mt 2:9-12) the Blessed Sacrament in a local church. Second, I challenge Whenever I meet a refugee, immigrant or traveler, I am re- you to participate in the Faith in Action March for Life or minded of things I take for granted. Those who come great dis- Novena for Life programs or to personally support a local tances to find something often draw our attention to the pro-life initiative. ♦

HOLY FATHER’S CATHOLICMANOFTHEMONTH PRAYER INTENTION Blessed Nicholas Kitbamrung (1895-1944)

MANY EUROPEAN missionaries have preached the faith in Thailand in the last 400 years, but few as tirelessly and fearlessly as her native son and first martyred priest, Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung. His parents were both converts We pray that Christians, followers from Buddhism and raised their six of other religions, and all people children as Christians. At age 13, of goodwill may promote peace Nicholas entered the minor seminary. and justice in the world. He was ordained in 1926 by Bishop church bell for Sunday Mass on Jan. 12, René-Marie-Joseph Perros, the same 1941, he was arrested, prosecuted for French missionary who had baptized “promoting rebellion” and sentenced to LITURGICALCALENDAR him with the name “Benedictus.” 15 years in prison. Father Kitbamrung’s work as a dioce- Father Kitbamrung continued to Jan. 1 The Solemnity of Mary, san priest took him far and wide. From minister, catechizing his fellow prisoners Holy Mother of God a near Bangkok, he was sent and baptizing more than 60 of them. Jan. 2 Sts. Basil the Great and north to train a group of Salesian mis- Unable to celebrate Mass or pray the Gregory Nazianzen sionaries and teach them the Thai lan- breviary, he drew spiritual strength and Jan. 4 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton guage. He then traveled even further consolation from the rosary. After even- Jan. 12 The of the Lord north, along the border with Laos, re- tually contracting tuberculosis, he was Jan. 17 St. Anthony, evangelizing Catholic communities and denied care because he was Catholic. He Jan. 21 St. Agnes winning new converts. died Jan. 12, 1944, and his remains Jan. 22 Day of Prayer for the Legal The nationalist gove rnment that were later buried under the main altar Protection of Unborn Children came to power in 1938 viewed Christi- of the cathedral in Bangkok.  0.-+%1 10 (-) .1#0(+.-01 *0* 1&& 1 "' ,1 ',1$/./&-*%1#-(+)111! ,, 1' #",1 !" '1&$/./1/*(.01/1.$01"/./%+1'*)+-.*(01/1.$01#/%1,001+)1!-)/ (U.S.A.) anity with hostility. As tensions with Pope John Paul II beatified Father Jan. 24 St. Francis de Sales French forces in Indochina rose in Kitbamrung in 2000, recognizing him Jan. 25 The Conversion of St. Paul 1940, Father Kitbamrung’s efforts to as a martyr who died due to hatred of Jan. 28 St. Thomas Aquinas evangelize and promote religious free- the faith ex aerumnis carceris (from the dom made him a target. After ringing a hardships of incarceration).♦       Jan. 31 St. John Bosco &1

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‘This Crisis Calls for Knights’ The Order will strengthen the Church by forging new paths that stay true to the founding vision of Father McGivney

by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

On Nov. 23, I delivered the following address at the Order’s midyear or- our Church — usually measured by attendance at Mass — has been ganizational meeting of state deputies in Orlando, Fla. I encourage all declining for many decades. Knights to read and reflect on these remarks about the mission and future This is a crisis for our Church. This is a crisis for our Catholic of the Knights of Columbus and a historic moment in the life of our families. We are not talking about abstractions. We are talking Order — the introduction of a new, optional combined exemplification about our parishes, our communities, our councils, our families of our principles of charity, unity and fraternity. and our friends. And this is a crisis for our Order. The hard reality is that the EACH YEAR in November, we take stock of what we have done Knights of Columbus is not immune to these trends. You know as and what still remains to be done. Yet this year is different. Why? well as I do that we are finding it harder to recruit men — especially Because we’ve reached a turning point. younger men. And while many juris- We’ve reached a crossroads as an Order, dictions are still adding members and and in the Church itself. inspiring more good works, in other A rising tide lifts all boats, and there jurisdictions this is no longer the case. has been a rising tide since the Second This trend makes clear that our Vatican Council. The council opened long-term future is far from secure — the floodgates of lay involvement and both as a Church and as an Order. lay leadership in our Church. The We cannot expect someone else to Knights of Columbus has been there come in and make everything right. at every level of the Church in service The challenges are too great. All of us and in solidarity. In so many ways, we have a responsibility. We must step have been indispensable as the strong up and we must act now. This crisis right arm of our pastors, our bishops calls for Knights. and even, at times, our . As an Order, we have nearly doubled our OUR ESSENTIAL ROLE size since the middle of the 20th cen- Our popes have been calling our at- tury, and in recent years, we exponen- tention to this crisis for decades — tially increased our charity. most importantly when they speak But there is another tide — a tide about the Church’s mission of evan- that is no longer rising. In fact, it is a gelization, as did Pope St. Paul VI in tide that is receding, and it is receding Supreme Knight Carl Anderson addresses state deputies Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope St. John fast — and it’s pulling much of what during the midyear organizational meeting in November. Paul II in Redemptoris Missio and, we love out to sea. We all can see what most recently, Pope Francis in Evan- is happening; it’s impossible to ignore. gelii Gaudium. We can see why this Over the last 50 years, more than 26 million Americans have is a crisis of evangelization when we examine the reasons left the Catholic faith, along with millions more in Canada. In the Catholics themselves say they leave. past several decades alone, have fallen by more than 40%; First, large numbers of young adults rebel after years of catech- sacramental marriages have plummeted by two-thirds; and the per- esis and sacramental practice under their parents’ guidance. Many centage of Catholics who attend Mass every week has dropped of them find they were only going through the motions with their from more than half to just over 20%. parents; they never really internalized the Catholic faith and now Approximately four out of every 10 “born and raised” Catholics they find it boring. no longer identify as Catholics, and for every person in the United A second category is made up of Catholics who choose a lifestyle States who converts to the Catholic faith, seven leave. This year contrary to Catholic moral teaching and leave the Church. marked the first time that a majority of Hispanics in the United And a third group is made up of Catholics who faced a crisis States said they don’t identify as Catholic. Although the recent scan- and needed help, but did not receive support from their fellow dals have contributed to this trend, the involvement of Catholics in Catholics.      

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My brother Knights, this crisis in our Church is really a crisis A NEW CEREMONY FOR A NEW ERA of evangelization — or rather, it is a crisis of a failure to evangel- This historic new ceremonial is rooted in our past and tailored to ize. In a particular way, it is a failure to evangelize the Catholic our present. It will inspire more men to join us. Most of all, it is es- family and to evangelize within the Catholic family. Such a crisis sential to the sustainability of the Knights of Columbus, as it will cannot be adequately responded to without the action of empower us to advance our mission and grow in the years ahead. Catholic husbands and fathers. It is essential to our ability to meet the crisis we now face. Three decades ago, St. John Paul II told us that the lay faithful Before I explain what the new ceremony entails, let me first ad- have “an essential and irreplaceable role” in the Church’s mission of dress why it is necessary. The current degrees are products of the late evangelization (Christifideles Laici, 7). Today, I say to you that the 19th century. At that time, the Knights of Columbus competed Knights of Columbus has “an essential and irreplaceable role” in con- with other fraternal societies. In those days, men wanted secrecy fronting the crisis we now face as a Church. and the sense of progression that came with multiple degrees. That’s The Knights of Columbus will rise to meet this challenge. We will why our founder and first members initially created a system of two take up our essential and irreplaceable role. We must become again ceremonies. Over time, a third and then a fourth were added. a Church that evangelizes — a Church that evangelizes its children The idea of a journey through knighthood in which men pro- and families and at the same time reaches out to those who do not gressed from one degree to the next was meant to encourage greater yet know Christ who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” We can participation in the activities of the Order. It was meant to inspire and we must do this by our witness and our charity. men to seek leadership roles in our local councils — and for a time Today, the Knights of Columbus has the tools to meet this cri- it worked well. But the men of today are not the men of the 1880s, sis on two important levels. First, because of our Faith in Action or even the men of the 1980s. model we now have effective programs to meet the challenges we In recent decades, we have found it harder to bring men, es- face — programs to evangelize and strengthen Catholic family pecially young fathers, into the Order. When we ask them why, life with our men’s spirituality and mar- they tell us three ceremonies are too riage spirituality programs like Into the time-consuming and too difficult to at- Breach, Complete My Joy, and The Family tend. They also tell us that secrecy is un- Fully Alive. necessary, and sometimes, it is even an We are also inspiring a new generation JUST AS OUR FOREFATHERS impediment to joining. of Catholic men by the witness of brother Many local councils lack ceremonial Knights who are true Everyday Heroes RALLIED TO MEET THE teams or the manpower to organize de- through the video series with that title. Our CHALLENGES OF THEIR DAY, grees. This means many candidates wait Office of Youth Protection offers a robust far too long to fully join our ranks. Some program to enhance a safe environment for WE MUST INSPIRE THE MEN give up. Too many never take their Second our children, and the film Protecting Our and Third degrees. Last year, little more Children: A Family’s Response to Sexual OF OUR DAY. than half of the men who took their First Abuse offers families knowledge and con- Degree also took their Third Degree. crete steps to help keep their children safe. This situation will not improve during We continue in countless ways to bring the coming decade as the number of cer- Christ’s love and concern to millions who suffer and are in need. We emonial teams — especially Third Degree teams — decline. provide a charity that evangelizes because it sees in the face of all Today, our current system is too often a stumbling block, not a those who suffer the face of Christ. And this must be especially true gateway to membership. Today, our current system too often fails for our brothers and sisters in our parishes who face hardship and to promote a truly Catholic fraternal membership according to suffering. We must redouble all these efforts, and we must bring the the vision of Father McGivney. programs in our Faith in Action model to even greater heights. Our ceremonials have always been an essential way we teach the We must forge a new generation of Knights — men who see in principles of charity, unity and fraternity. But today, too many men our principles of charity, unity and fraternity a path to leading a never hear the lessons of unity and fraternity. The current inability Catholic way of life that can strengthen their families, their parishes of our system to reach so many brother Knights and teach them and their communities. Just as our forefathers rallied to meet the the lessons of unity and fraternity must have an impact on the char- challenges of their day, we must inspire the men of our day. acter and life of many local councils. All this threatens the future of We must reach out to meet these men where they are. And when our Order. We have the responsibility to act and to act now. we do, we must show them that they are called to be men of charity, We must find new ways to bring the men we need — and the unity and fraternity. Because of this, we are acting to make our Order men who need us — into our Order. We no longer need a journey more inviting and more accessible. Our online membership initiative through knighthood based upon a progression of degrees that nearly has already opened the door to membership where no local councils half our men are unwilling or unable to take. Today, we need an may be active. Early in the new year, we will begin offering a new exemplification of our principles that presents, in a clear and con- and groundbreaking combined exemplification of our principles of vincing way, how charity, unity and fraternity can come together charity, unity and fraternity. to form a Catholic way of life for today’s man and his family.

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Our most recent Supreme Convention adopted a resolution from Illinois to consider combining our current First, Second and Third degree ceremonies into one and removing the condition of secrecy. Following the Supreme Convention’s action, I directed an in-depth review of our ceremonials with an eye toward staying true to our roots while at the same time presenting our principles of charity, unity and fraternity in a more clear and convincing way. We undertook an inclusive process with supreme directors, state officers and ceremonialists with many decades of experience in the exemplification of our degrees. The result is a new ceremony that stays true to our traditions while addressing the needs of our times. Instead of having separate ceremonies, all three degrees can now be conferred in a single cer- emony. The new exemplification focuses on the history and prin- ciples of our Order. It presents a fuller and richer understanding of who we are, what we stand for and what we are called to be. It hearkens back to the simple ceremonies of unity and charity first approved by Father McGivney. Our new ceremony can be held in a council chamber or in a church with families and friends seated in the pews. They will see firsthand the organization that their husbands, fathers, brothers, Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard (left) and Supreme Council staff demon- sons and friends are joining — the principles and values they are strate the new combined ceremony for the exemplification of charity, unity committing to and why it matters. and fraternity during the midyear meeting of state deputies.

FOLLOWING OUR FOUNDER Now, I recognize that this is a significant change. Like so many of you, I have a special fondness for the old degree ceremonies. During his trip to the United States in 2008, Pope Benedict Yet, also like you, and every leader of our Order, I want to see XVI spoke of our founder. He said Father McGivney represented the Knights of Columbus thrive and grow. The Knights of “the secret of the impressive growth” of the Catholic Church in Columbus needs the men of today. In the 1880s, Father Mc- our continent. We should be inspired and humbled that a pope Givney oversaw reforms that were needed to allow his young or- should highlight Father McGivney in such a way as a model for ganization to flourish. Looking back on those changes, our our fellow Catholics. We continue to pray for his canonization founder proudly declared: “The Knights of Columbus is the — that through the example of his heroic virtue, his vision and same now as when first instituted.” his intercession, millions of Catholics will be inspired. My brother Knights, I say the same to you today. Together Father McGivney’s example and his vision can again be the with our online membership initiative, our new combined cer- reason for the “impressive growth” of our Church in the days emonial will form the two wings upon which membership ahead. Father McGivney saw that Catholic men united in charity growth can soar to new heights. All of this will be supported by could form a brotherhood that would enable them to fulfill their a new branding and marketing campaign that will be released mission to manifest Christ to others by their witness and in that early in the new year. It will focus on how we can more effec- way contribute to the sanctification of the world. For Father Mc- tively invite men to join us. And it will show that “one-on-one Givney, the path of charity, unity and fraternity was to be an en- recruiting” is most effective when it expresses our own personal during path of Christian discipleship. experiences in the Order. Then, Father McGivney did something that made all the dif- We are making a paradigm shift. Years ago, when each of us ac- ference — he entrusted this great task to the Catholic laymen he cepted the responsibilities of fraternal leadership, few of us called his brothers. He could have chosen to serve as the leader thought that those duties would one day include taking up pro- of the new organization that his vision and his determination grams to support the Church’s mission of evangelization. Yet, such had made a reality. Instead, he trusted laymen, in unity with their are the circumstances we face. Throughout our history, the clergy and with their guidance, to direct and carry out their own Knights of Columbus has been called to adapt to change. Now part in the mission of the Church. This is the great legacy that we are again taking bold steps. But boldness is what the times de- you and I have inherited. mand. We cannot shrink from the crisis around us. We must meet May the intercession of Father McGivney guide, sustain and it head-on, with firm reliance on our faith and in each other. enable us to fulfill our vocation as leaders of this great Order for Today, we face a great crisis throughout the Church in North the welfare of our brother Knights and the renewal of our America. We are at a crossroads we cannot avoid. At such times, Church. our thoughts turn to Father McGivney. Vivat Jesus!      

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KNIGHTSOFCOLUMBUSNEWS

New Book Illustrates Order Honored for Service K of C History to Persons with Disabilities MORE THAN 135 YEARS of faith, fraternity and charity are depicted in a new comprehensive history of the Knights being published this year. The Knights of Columbus: An Illustrated His- tory, by Andrew and Maureen Walther, is the first publication to take full advantage of the trove of photographs in the Order’s archives. Written in an approach- able and entertaining style, the book’s detailed research and more than 500 images bring to Order the full-color, hard- life both renowned and little- cover, 296-page book for known stories from Knights of $24.99 (including ship- THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC Partnership on Columbus history. ping) — almost 30% off Disability (NCPD) recognized the Knights of In addition to major Order- the cover price — at Columbus for its commitment to persons with dis- wide initiatives, the book high- knightsgear.com/history abilities — including its work to provide wheelchairs lights individual Knights and or at 855-432-7562. for those who lack the freedom of mobility. visionary council programs that The Longing for Belonging Partnership Award was continue to change lives. Throughout its pages, an illustrated presented to Supreme Knight Carl Anderson on be- timeline of national and international events shows how K of C half of the Order at the NCPD Celebration Dinner history intersects with that of the Church and the world. Nov. 8. Board member Michael Adamus (above This book is both our Order’s chronicle and its photo album, right), who is also the grand knight of Holy Cross Supreme Knight Carl Anderson writes in the foreword. “As Council 12235 in Orlando, Fla., conferred the award. Pope John Paul II observed when visiting Japan in 1981: ‘To “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of so remember the past is to commit oneself to the future,’” he adds. many of my brother Knights who selflessly serve peo- “In light of this idea, The Knights of Columbus: An Illustrated ple with disabilities,” Anderson said. “The gift of mo- History is not simply a record of yesterday’s harvest, but also bility provides new access to the simple and regular contains within it the seeds of a future filled with promise.”♦ activities of life that the rest of us take for granted.”♦

‘Spread the Light of Christ’

Archbishop Bashar Warda, the Chaldean Catholic bishop of Erbil, Iraq, joins Supreme Officers and Do- minican Father John Paul Walker, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Conn., for the annual “Spread the Light of Christ” Christmas tree lighting at the Order’s headquarters Dec. 3. After blessing the tree and praying the Our Father in Aramaic, Archbishop Warda flipped the switch to illumine the tree. In brief remarks, he said, “Because we have Christ we can make a change within this troubled Middle East, but that comes because of your prayer and your support and solidarity.”             

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VOICES OF THE PRO-LIFE GENERATION

Young leaders speak about the impact they are having in the preeminent human rights battle of our time

national leader of abortion advocacy ar- Fast-forward a decade, and the cause contin- A rived in downtown Washington, D.C., ues to attract passionate young people. during the 2010 March for Life and could Roughly a quarter of participants in the annual barely believe her eyes. March for Life are high school or college age, Nancy Keenan, then president of NARAL, and pro-life demonstrations throughout North later told a Newsweek reporter: “I just America are likewise filled with young faces. thought, my gosh, they are so young. There Meanwhile, some of the millennials repre- are so many of them, and they are so young.” sented in NARAL’s 2010 survey are now at As if confirming Keenan’s observation, a the forefront of the pro-life movement, advo- NARAL survey the same year revealed a cating in various ways for the unborn, abor- sharp “intensity gap” about abortion among tion-vulnerable women and those struggling millennials. While 51% of pro-life voters with the pain of past abortion. under the age of 30 considered abortion to Columbia spoke with five of these leaders, be a “very important” voting issue, only young Catholic men and women spanning 26% of pro-abortion voters under 30 felt the millennial generation, about their pro-life the same way. mission.

Above: A crowd of young people show their support during the rally preceding the 2017 March for Life in Washington, D.C.      

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Jorge Eduardo Mendoza Gonzalez, 22, is the founder widespread relativism within our culture, which promotes in- and president of Seminarians for a Culture of Life. A seminar- difference. We are called to counter this indifference with au- ian for the Diocese of Fresno, Calif., he is in his fourth year of thentic love. studies at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Ore., where he is a member of St. Benedict Council 15595. The pro-life message: It is my strong desire that pro-choice people would come to realize the deep love and hope we have I have been pro-life for as long as I can remember, but my for human life. We are not pro-life only because of our reli- passion to defend the dignity of life took stronger root during gious beliefs, but also because science and reason tell us that my senior year of high school. That was when I sought to start life begins at conception and each human being is unique. a student pro-life group at the high schools in Madera, Calif. Despite opposition from the administration, our efforts bore Signs of hope: Anyone who advocates for the dignity of life fruit and the groups took flight. This leap of faith fostered an is a sign of hope. Those who pray before abortion facilities, even deeper desire in me to spread the culture of life. march for life and witness publicly to the beauty and dignity of life ignite conviction for future generations. Through the How I’m involved: I founded SCL in 2017 because I wanted involvement of my peers and younger individuals, a ray of to unite all seminarians under one common mission and ban- hope shines amid the darkness of our culture. The tide is turn- ner. We focus on building a strong foundation of prayer, an ing, and hearts are changing. intellectual understanding of the life issues, and active support so that we may cultivate a profound love for life, especially in Advice to Knights: My brother Knights, persevere in your the heart of the seminarian. convictions to defend the sanctity of life through love and support for those in need. As St. John Paul II often said, “Be Pro-life challenges: Among the greatest challenges are polar- not afraid.” Be not afraid to show your support for the pro- izing divisions based on political, social and economic condi- life cause, to help those in need and to be a public witness for tions. Those divisions have no place in our movement; we life. Above all, pray without ceasing that the sanctity of life truly are a movement of all people. Another challenge is the may be respected.     

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Dr. Thomas Bouchard, 37, is president of the Calgary Pro-life challenges: The first step is building friendships with Catholic Medical Association, past president of the Canadian people with different opinions and learning to listen to their Federation of Catholic Physicians & Societies, and a past board perspectives in a sensitive way. When a one-on-one friendship member of Canadian Physicians for Life. As a family medicine of trust is established, more controversial subjects can be ap- doctor and the medical director at two nursing homes, his work proached. Careful listening is also key to building trust be- spans from delivering babies to geriatric care. He is a member of tween physicians and patients. St. Albert the Great Council 12446 in Calgary. The pro-life message: We cannot simply preach to the choir. As I was growing up in Red Deer, Alberta, my parents taught We have to “speak in tongues” — learning the best words to natural family planning and ensured that a culture of life reach all kinds of people, doing our best to understand was celebrated in our family. My formation at the Newman where they are coming from and respecting their freedom Centre at McGill University helped me to develop a deeper while still advocating for the littlest ones who don’t have a understanding of the philosophical foundations of the pro- voice in our society. life movement. While attending a Physicians for Life con- ference in med school, I met students from across the Signs of hope: Once we find fellowship, through our parishes country who wanted to practice medicine like me, with a and pro-life organizations, we must also provide a welcoming pro-life worldview. home for others. We need to mentor younger people to learn to speak with clarity and charity, and we need to share our How I’m involved: Despite the efforts of our Catholic med- testimony with them. This new generation is convinced by ical organizations to lobby the government to maintain a Hip- compelling stories. pocratic view of medicine, respecting life at all stages, euthanasia was legalized in Canada in 2016. We are now fo- Advice to Knights: True religion is to look after orphans and cused on upholding the dignity of our patients’ lives by de- widows in their distress (cf. Jas 1:27). The Knights are one of fending freedom of conscience in this new environment. For the best examples of this. People who, because of circum- the last five years, I have also been a medical consultant for stances and upbringing, have not understood the pro-life mes- the Marquette University Institute for Natural Family Plan- sage, are also “orphans and widows.” We have to open up new ning, and I’ve co-authored over 30 articles, mainly related to horizons to them so that they find in us fathers and brothers the science of NFP. who can bring them back home.     

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Andrea DeLee, 29, is director of operations for the March for efforts to build a culture of life must begin with offering up Life Education and Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. my own little crosses in the midst of daily life, and with pray- ing consistently for mothers and fathers to have the courage As the oldest of eight children, my childhood was filled with and support they need to choose life. the excitement and joy of getting ready to welcome new siblings into our Catholic family. This gave me a profound awareness The pro-life message: The March for Life chooses a theme that each person is infinitely precious from the moment of each year focusing on what is most needed at the present mo- coming into being. In a word, my desire to protect the lives of ment in our culture; the 2020 theme is “Life Empowers: Pro- little ones in the womb was ignited by my parents’ generous Life is Pro-Woman.” I wish all women could realize that far “yes” to life. Later, during my undergraduate studies in Indiana, from being something shameful or demeaning, saying “yes” I wrote my senior thesis about the impact of viewing ultrasound to motherhood is always an ennobling, empowering and images on the abortion decision-making process. heroic path.

How I’m involved: Eager to develop a deeper understanding Signs of hope: Growing up with ultrasound images on our of the human person and the nature of a culture of life and refrigerators, millennials are aware in a special way of the hu- civilization of love, I pursued graduate studies at the Pontifical manity and vulnerability of the child in the womb. They bring John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at a renewed fervor to the fight for life in our country. In a par- The Catholic University of America. A few years later, prayer ticular way, the hundreds of thousands of young people taking and discernment led me to an opportunity to work for the a stand to end abortion at the March for Life are an incredible March for Life, where we strive to end abortion by uniting, witness to hope. equipping and mobilizing pro-life America. Within the organ- ization, I act as the chief of staff, keeping our team in close Advice to Knights: The life-saving work of the March for collaboration and leading daily operations. Life would not be possible without your generous support. Thank you for persevering in the fight to protect the most Pro-life challenges: We live in a culture fixated on avoiding vulnerable among us. With the deepest gratitude, I ask you suffering at all costs, and this fixation can deter us from to remain dedicated to building a culture of life at work sacrificing for what is most beautiful and most precious. My and at home.          

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Sister Catherine Joy Marie, 26, joined the Sisters of Life in 2015 and professed her first vows in 2018. She cur- rently serves university students, preg- nant women, and women who have suffered after abortion at the sisters’ Cen- tre at St. Peter’s Church in Toronto.

My parents cultivated in me and my four sisters a deep love for life, espe- cially through our Catholic faith and our family’s tradition of military serv- ice. The first time I went to the March for Life, two Sisters of Life joined my high school’s bus from Connecticut to D.C. I was profoundly moved by wit- nessing their bridal and maternal love, reading St. John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae that one sister lent me, and being engulfed in a sea of joy- ful marchers on Capitol Hill. The great wounds of our culture and even greater beauty of human life pierced my heart and inflamed it with a desire to lay down my life so that others may live.

How I’m involved: I discovered in the Sisters of Life what my heart was deeply longing for — to be a bride and mother, giving myself fully for the pro- tection of all human life. As Sisters of Life, we have the great gift of serving vulnerable pregnant women and their unborn children, and inviting women wounded by abortion into the healing mercy of Jesus. We also foster a culture of life through evangelization and host weekend retreats for women and men.

Pro-life challenges: Every human person has been created for joy and communion, yet confusion and dis- couragement often hinder this desire and purpose God has planted in our hearts. One of the biggest challenges (and opportunities) in Signs of hope: I am always struck by the spirit of joy at the the pro-life movement today is to keep aflame our joy and March for Life. Countless millennials carry “We are the to strengthen our solidarity, not letting the storms around us Pro-Life Generation” signs with smiles on their faces as they dampen our hope. march. Without even saying a word, they witness to the world that the pro-life movement is young, joyful and full The pro-life message: Perfect love really does cast out fear of hope. (cf. 1 Jn 4:18); this is a reality that I have the privilege to watch unfold in people’s lives. Love is creative and will find Advice to Knights: Never underestimate the witness of a fam- a way. One of the most powerful things we can do to reach ily’s love to proclaim the sacredness of life! Others will be hearts and minds is to take time to listen and to accompany struck by your joy as a family, your unity with one another the other towards truth, in love. and your openness to life in all its blessings and challenges.        

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Billy Valentine, 32, is vice president of public policy at the American people handcuffed while the unborn are legally Susan B. Anthony List, an organization that seeks to end abortion slaughtered. Since 2016, we’ve been able to shift the balance by electing pro-life leaders and advocating for pro-life legislation. of the Supreme Court and transform the lower courts, which He is a member of St. John Bosco Council 12846 in Springfield, puts the erosion or even overturning of Roe within grasp. Va., and he and his wife, Natalie, have three children. The pro-life message: Advances in science and technology My parents met through the pro-life movement, so I grew up have proven beyond any doubt that it is a child in the womb. in it and have always been passionate about it. I really bene- We’ve won that argument. The next frontier is to communi- fited from doing sidewalk counseling for a year during college, cate how the pro-life movement loves and cares for the mother interacting with abortion’s victims or potential victims. That and the child beyond the womb. The reality is that we do ac- experience haunts me. It keeps me driven while working in tively care for both, but the perception is that we care only public policy, which sometimes can feel a step removed from about protecting the baby, and that mother and child are on the front lines of the abortion fight. their own after birth. We need to change that perception.

How I’m involved: I work in public policy because pro-life Signs of hope: At the federal and state levels, our government laws save lives. Research shows that the Hyde Amendment is currently passing a record-breaking number of pro-life laws. alone — which prevents our tax dollars from paying for abor- No longer does the pro-life movement settle for lip service tions under Medicaid — is directly responsible for 1 million from politicians — we require action. I think millennials es- people walking this planet today who otherwise would have pecially understand that: They are action-oriented. been aborted. Public policy is messy; we’re dealing with politi- cians, and there can be a lot of “gray” area. But there is Advice to Knights: Do what you feel called to do, and act. It tremendous opportunity to save children, and therefore we could be a commitment to private prayer, peaceful witness must engage. outside of abortion facilities, volunteering with a pregnancy care center, donating funds to pro-life causes, volunteering Pro-life challenges: The biggest challenge is that Roe v. Wade for pro-life politicians, or even running for office yourself. largely took away the power of the people to legislate on Whatever you do, just take action. Innocent unborn children abortion through their elected representatives. It leaves the pay the price when we don’t.♦       

JANUARY 2020 ♦ COLUMBIA ♦ 15 JAN 19E12_16FINAL.qxp_Mar1212/17/197:07PMPage16 esnlt ad htrcl bril- rhetorical and personality countered her, and her dynamic her and her, countered led led a all who en- life that inspired 1960s but 1960s into high kicked gear in when 1970, a fellow doctor surgical a complete to race any of woman first the came whose whose name is seldom mentioned Yet Rudolph. woman Wilma one a Jmsn n Olympian and Jemison astronaut Mae Parks, Rosa activist fia Aeia wmn who women American African sional accomplishments didn’t end there; Jefferson also be- also Jefferson there; end didn’t accomplishments sional to accepted be to woman American African first the become ways — women like civil rights civil like women — ways different in history made have highlight often stories news Millie, as she was known, to accompany him on some of his of some on him accompany to known, was she permitted as Millie, He carriage. drawn local segregated high school at age 15. She later went on to on went later She 15. age at school high segregated local Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1951. Her profes- Her 1951. in graduating School, Medical Harvard a horse- in calls house made who en- early by sparked was cine pr visits and encouraged her to keep up with her studies. her with up keep to her encouraged and visits doctor, local the with counters W ine hne te id f a of mind the changed liance iitr Hr neet n medi- in interest Her minister. Methodist a and schoolteacher is- contentious most the of one Mildred FayJefferson. Mildred sues of the day. Her name was Dr. Jefferson was the only child of a of child only the was Jefferson rotation at Boston City Hospital and the first female surgeon female first the and Hospital City Boston at rotation at the Boston University Medical Center. Medical University Boston the at 16 esident of the United States on States United the of esident Jefferson was an academic prodigy, graduating from her from graduating prodigy, academic an was Jefferson on n at ea i 1927, in Texas east in Born Jefferson’s involvement in pro-life work began in the late the in began work pro-life in involvement Jefferson’s ♦ A I B M U L O C hen Black History Month History hen Black is observed each is February,observed A Passionate Pioneer Passionate A Dr. Mildred Jefferson’s ardent witness on behalf of the unborn remains remains unborn the of behalf on witness ardent Jefferson’s Dr.Mildred ♦ 0 2 0 2 Y R A U N A J Remembered a powerful model and inspiration and model powerful a by Mary Hallan FioRito Hallan Mary by “speak truth to power,” and her work as a doctor gave her gave doctor a as work her and power,” to truth “speak healer to become the new social executioner.” social new the become to healer gave her a boldness of spirit to — in today in — to spirit of boldness a her gave by mincing words.” The sexism and racism she had endured had she racism and sexism The words.” mincing by a sound society, there are choices which we must agree not to not agree must we which choices are there society, sound a make and not to allow.” to not and make noted that the plain-talking Texan “didn’t get where she was she where Texan“didn’t get plain-talking the that noted the proposition that the doctor should relinquish the role of role the relinquish should doctor the that proposition the them,” Jefferson said in a 1978 interview. “I will not accept not will “I interview. 1978 a in said Jefferson them,” particular authority. particular A 1984 1984 A “I became a physician in order to save lives, not to destroy to not lives, save to order in physician a became “I hldlha Inquirer Philadelphia thr gave remarks at the 94th Knights 94th the at remarks gave mittee, serving as mittee, serving its president for the National Right to Life Com- Life to Right National the in ihs wud h sg a sign she would rights; tion ing a r a ing v. Wade called her with a question. The question. a with her called Medical Association was prepar- was American Association Medical the of chapter local rated rated four days after the 1973 on h brenn movement burgeoning the to join Jefferson led question That resolution? the against petition izens izens for Life, which was incorpo- She Cit- laws. Massachusetts found helped abortion oppose to of Columbus Supreme Conven- Supreme Columbus of and pay some doctor to do it. In it. do to doctor some pay and merely ‘the right to choose,’” she choose,’” to ‘the right merely in 1976. 1976. in in Boston was hosted which tion, said. “The demand is ‘the right ‘the is demand “The said. to choose’ to kill an unborn to child choose’ to an kill unborn hl NL peiet she president, NRLC While Aoto o dmn i not is demand on “Abortion ee terms (1975-1978). terms ee esolution in favor of abor- of favor in esolution etr o D. J Dr. on feature decision, and co-founded decision, ’s parlance — parlance ’s efferson Roe

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          and plain, religious and agnostic, politically committed and committed politically agnostic, and religious plain, and independent. We can only agree on our respect for life and life for respect our on agree only can We independent. and was quick to correct anyone who tried to portray it as it portray to tried who anyone correct to quick was and ple’s movement,” she said. “We come rich and poor, proud poor, and rich come “We said. she movement,” ple’s being led largely by men. “The pro-life movement is the peo- the is movement pro-life “The men. by largely led being our determination to defend the right to life.” life.” to right the defend to determination our orary degrees for her tireless defense of the unborn — includ- unborn the of defense tireless her for degrees orary n a hnrr dcoa dge i hmnte fo the from humanities in degree doctoral honorary an ing mrcn oa. ie ta wmn f oo aotd at aborted color of women that Given woman. American higher rates than white women, she saw racist motives in the in motives racist saw she women, white than rates higher sion, intellect and eloquence were able to change hearts and hearts change to able were eloquence and intellect sion, St. alongside received she which Cross, Holy the of College Teresa of Calcutta in 1976. in Calcutta Teresaof minds. push to publicly fund abortion, which she called a “class war “class a called she which abortion, fund publicly to push against the poor and genocide against blacks.” against genocide and poor the against Dr.MildredJefferson LanternreceivesAward the forPatriotism CardinalMassachusetts1979.picturedareHumbertoAlso thefromin StateCouncil Medeiros, archbishop Boston, of and Past Supreme Knight John McDevitt (seated far left). Dr. Jefferson received numerous awards and multiple hon- multiple and awards numerous received Dr.Jefferson Abortion was particularly distressing to her as an African an as her to distressing particularly was Abortion But she was most proud of moments in which her persua- her which in moments of proud most was she But One of Dr. Jefferson’s converts wrote her after seeing her seeing after her wrote converts Jefferson’s Dr. of One Jefferson personified the diversity of the pro-life movement pro-life the of diversity the personified Jefferson ily, but for the whole family of man.” of family whole the for ily,but leaving behind a legacy of caring not just “for one’s“for fam- own just not caring of legacy a behind leaving me to do so much study and soul-searching. … I wish I could … I wish soul-searching. and study much so do to me MARY HALLAN FIORITO is an attorney who currently who attorney an is FIORITO HALLAN MARY sign a California abortion bill. … I must confess to never hav- to never … confess I bill. must abortion a California sign 1972: in panel television a on human life. I’m grateful to you.” to I’mgrateful life. human serves as the Cardinal Francis George Fellow at the Ethics and Ethics Fellow at the George Francis Cardinal as the serves made it irrefutably clear that an abortion is the taking of a of taking the is abortion an that clear irrefutably it made that time. No time. that I since issue hav other judiciary and legislative landscape for years to come. to years for landscape legislative and judiciary ing given the matter of abortion any serious thought until thought serious any abortion of matter the given ing Notre Dame. Notre DeNicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of University the at Culture and Ethics for Center DeNicola the at as well as D.C., Washington, in Center Policy Public Reagan of California. H California. of Reagan have heard your views before our legislation was passed. You passed. was legislation our before views your heard have “Several years ago I was faced with the issue of whether to whether of issue the with faced was I ago years “Several These heartfelt words were written by then-Gov. Ronald then-Gov. by written were words heartfelt These Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson died Oct. 15, 2010, at age 84, age at 2010, 15, Oct. died Jefferson Fay Mildred Dr. is presidency would later shape the shape later would presidency is 0 2 0 2 Y R A U N A J e been in office e has in caused been office ♦ ♦ A I B M U L O C ♦ 17 JAN 19 E 12_16 FINAL.qxp_Mar E 12 12/17/19 7:07 PM Page 18

‘EUGENIC GOALS’ AND ABORTION

Last May, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, a two-part case in- volving an Indiana . In the first part, the Court upheld the state’s law regarding the dis- posal of aborted fetuses. Justice Clarence Thomas noted that the law “prohibits… treating the bodies of aborted children as ‘infectious waste’ and incinerating them alongside … laboratory-animal carcasses, and surgical byproducts.” The second question before the Court was whether the state could prohibit abortions based on the child’s race, sex, diagnosis of Down syndrome, disability or related characteristics. Though the Court de- clined to consider that part of the law, Justice Thomas took the oppor- tunity in his concurring opinion to address the topic of eugenics in relation to elective abortions. The following excerpt is drawn from his judicial opinion.

THIS CASE HIGHLIGHTS the fact that abortion is an act rife with the potential for eugenic manipulation. From the beginning, birth control and abortion were promoted as means of effectuating eugenics. Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was par- Justice Clarence Thomas, pictured here in 2000, is the longest-serving justice ticularly open about the fact that birth control could be used for among the current members of the Supreme Court. He was nominated by eugenic purposes. These arguments about the eugenic potential for President George H. W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1990. birth control apply with even greater force to abortion, which can be used to target specific children with unwanted characteristics. Even after World War II, future Planned Parenthood President a disturbingly effective tool for implementing the discriminatory Alan Guttmacher and other abortion advocates endorsed abortion preferences that undergird eugenics. for eugenic reasons and promoted it as a means of controlling the In Iceland, the abortion rate for children diagnosed with Down population and improving its quality. As explained below, a grow- syndrome in utero approaches 100%. Other European countries ing body of evidence suggests that eugenic goals are already being have similarly high rates (98% in Denmark, 90% in the United realized through abortion. Kingdom, 77% in France), and the rate in the United States is ap- Like many elites of her day, Sanger accepted that eugenics was proximately two-thirds. “the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of In Asia, widespread sex-selective abortions have led to as many racial, political and social problems.” … In her view, birth-con- as 160 million “missing” women — more than the entire female trol advocates and eugenicists were “seeking a single end” “to as- population of the United States. And recent evidence suggests that sist the race toward the elimination of the unfit.” … Sanger even sex-selective abortions of girls are common among certain popu- argued that “eugenists and others who are laboring for racial bet- lations in the United States as well. terment” could not “succeed” unless they “first clear[ed] the way Eight decades after Sanger’s “Negro Project,” abortion in the for Birth Control.” United States is also marked by a considerable racial disparity. The Sanger herself campaigned for birth control in black communi- reported nationwide abortion ratio — the number of abortions ties. In 1930, she opened a birth-control clinic in Harlem. Then, per 1,000 live births — among black women is nearly 3.5 times in 1939, Sanger initiated the “Negro Project,” an effort to promote the ratio for white women. And there are areas of New York City birth control in poor, Southern black communities. … in which black children are more likely to be aborted than they are To be sure, Sanger distinguished between birth control and abor- to be born alive — and are up to eight times more likely to be tion. … Sanger argued that “nothing short of contraceptives can aborted than white children in the same area. … put an end to the horrors of abortion and infanticide.” … Enshrining a constitutional right to an abortion based solely on Today, notwithstanding Sanger’s views on abortion, respon- the race, sex, or disability of an unborn child, as Planned Parent- dent Planned Parenthood promotes both birth control and abor- hood advocates, would constitutionalize the views of the twenti- tion as “reproductive health services” that can be used for family eth-century eugenics movement. In other contexts, the Court has planning. And with today’s prenatal screening tests and other been zealous in vindicating the rights of people even potentially technologies, abortion can easily be used to eliminate children subjected to race, sex, and disability discrimination. Although the with unwanted characteristics. … As petitioners and several am- Court declines to wade into these issues today, we cannot avoid icus curiae briefs point out, moreover, abortion has proved to be them forever. — Justice Clarence Thomas      

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An Enduring Consensus For more than 40 years, Americans have supported the Hyde Amendment’s ban on federal funding of abortion

by Helen M. Alvaré

egardless of political party, race, sex and even whether a per- is forbidden by the First Amendment. Opposition to abortion cor- R son identifies as “pro-life” or “pro-choice,” clear points of con- responds to the beliefs of many religions, but it is primarily a ques- sensus exist in the abortion debate. Polling by the Knights of tion of human rights, not of religion. Columbus and Marist College Institute for Public Opinion has Because the Hyde Amendment is a “rider” to the funding found year after year that a majority of Americans support substan- bill, it requires a vote every year. Hyde shouldered the annual tial restrictions on abortion. And one strong point of agreement is burden of getting his amendment passed through 2006. He re- that elective abortions should not be paid for by taxpayer dollars. tired in January 2007, after his 15th term, and died the follow- The Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for ing November at age 83. abortions except in rare circumstances, has Over the years, bipartisan support for the passed both houses of Congress since 1976 amendment inspired Congress to put abor- and secured the signatures of Presidents Rea- tion limits into other federal health care pro- gan, Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, grams beyond Medicaid, including those Obama and Trump. Numerous polls show covering the military and federal employees. that this bipartisan consensus persists among Despite demands by many Democratic U.S. voters today, despite high-profile defec- presidential candidates today to repeal the tions among presidential hopefuls. Hyde Amendment, a majority of Americans, The Hyde Amendment first passed in including many Democrats, continue to 1976 as an amendment or “rider” to the fed- support it. A June 2019 article in the left- eral spending law that funds Medicaid, the leaning magazine Slate summarized U.S. vot- low-income health insurance program. Ac- ers’ opinions: “In every poll, a plurality of cording to reliable estimates, Medicaid had Americans opposes public funding of abor- spent $300 million on abortions since the tions. In every poll but one, that plurality is Roe v. Wade decision three years earlier. a majority.” Efforts to pass a constitutional human life Slate cited numerous sources, including amendment were not succeeding, and first- the most recent Knights of Columbus/ term Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde, a Marist poll, which found that 54% op- longtime Knight of Columbus, concluded posed tax funding for abortions while only that one way to reduce abortion was to re- 39% support it. A 2019 Politico/Morning duce its funding. Proposing the legislation Consult poll showed that even among reg- in the House of Representatives in June U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde speaks to reporters in istered Democratic female voters, more 1976, he told lawmakers, “We seek to in- 1980, after the Supreme Court ruling that support (41%) than oppose (39%) the hibit the use of federal funds to pay for and allowed the ban on federal abortion funding to Hyde Amendment. The article noted, thus encourage abortion as an answer to the go into effect. “These polls aren’t close. The average gap human and compelling problem of an un- between the pro-funding and anti-funding wanted child.” positions is 19 percentage points.” He concluded his impassioned speech with these words: “An in- The Hyde Amendment is a reflection of — and excellent out- nocent, defenseless human life, in a caring and humane society, let for — Americans’ profound moral discomfort with abortion. deserves better than to be flushed down a toilet or burned in an Because of Roe v. Wade, citizens cannot effectively ban the abor- incinerator. The promise of America is that life is not just for the tion of unborn human lives, but thanks to Hyde, nor are they privileged, the planned or the perfect.” forced to pay for it. It is up to voters to hold elected officials ac- The amendment passed with strong bipartisan support by a vote countable and ensure this ban on federal funding of abortion of 207 to 167. It was immediately challenged but eventually went continues to be respected.♦ into effect in 1980, after the Supreme Court confirmed that it did not violate Roe v. Wade — since Roe didn’t promise to fund the HELEN M. ALVARÉ is professor of law at Antonin Scalia Law constitutional right it announced. The Court also held that the School, George Mason University, and co-founder of the move- amendment did not represent an “establishment of religion,” which ment Women Speak for Themselves.     

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Canada’s Fight for Life

An interview with Jeff Gunnarson, national president of the Campaign Life Coalition, about the Canadian pro-life movement today

eff Gunnarson remembers exactly when he joined the pro- All these issues are connected and are rooted in a rejection Jlife movement 32 years ago. of God and his plan for mankind. Canadians seem to be “My wife was pregnant with our first child when I hap- drunk with desire for humanism (seeing man as absolute). pened across a Life magazine showing the development of the This is the state religion now; we now worship at the altar of unborn child,” he recalled. “I saw a picture of what my son political correctness. would look like at three months’ gestation. Tears welled up Our greatest challenge is a spiritual one: to re-evangelize the in my eyes, and I became pro-life at Catholics in the pews and those that very moment.” Catholics who choose to not practice In 1997, Gunnarson entered the their religion. Catholic Church, and the next year, This is not the mandate of Cam- he joined the Knights of Columbus paign Life Coalition per se, but we as a member of Galt Council 2184 must do our part to include God in in Cambridge, Ontario. our work. All of our communica- Since 2006, he has worked for the tions and actions are steeped in Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) — prayer, hope and trust in God. Canada’s largest pro-life political or- ganization and the organizer of the COLUMBIA: What have been your annual National March for Life in biggest goals or priorities since be- Ottawa, among other events. In coming CLC president last year? 2018, Gunnarson succeeded Jim GUNNARSON: One of my top pri- Hughes as CLC’s national president. orities has been to keep Canadians Columbia spoke with Gunnarson engaged, regardless of the many set- about his role and the current pro- backs we face — especially now, life landscape in Canada. with a radically pro-abortion gov- ernment and opposition party lead- COLUMBIA: What are some of the ership that refuses to open the greatest challenges to restoring a abortion debate. culture of life in Canada today? For decades, CLC has been in the JEFF GUNNARSON: We have been business of informing Canadians facing major political challenges in and helping them get involved in Canada for decades, beginning with their local politics, schools and the deadly 1969 omnibus bill that churches. In order to restore a cul- opened the floodgates to abortion ture of life in Canada, it needs to be on demand. Over the years, even though the mission to over- a bottom-up approach. Our team is working at full throttle, turn that law hasn’t changed, we’ve had to face other chal- and we are making a significant mark in the sociopolitical lenges as well: delaying chemical abortions from entering the landscape in Canada. Canadian market; defending traditional marriage; opposing embryonic stem-cell research; opposing laws that would limit COLUMBIA: Have there been any notable pro-life victories? pro-life speech; opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide; What are the greatest signs of hope? promoting conscience rights laws; and defending parental GUNNARSON: We’ve had some pro-life victories in the po- rights and Catholic education from an aggressive effort to litical realm over the years, which include electing pro-life impose radical sex education and gender ideology on our members of Parliament, provincial legislatures, local coun- children. cilors and school board trustees. We have also had success in       

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Above: Thousands of Canadians protest their country’s abortion laws during the 2019 National March for Life in Ottawa. • Opposite page: Jeff Gunnarson, national president of the Campaign Life Coalition, speaks at the pre-march rally on Parliament Hill.

influencing policies at both federal and provincial levels. reenergized for the year ahead. At the end of the day, the Na- In the federal election in , 69% of our endorsed tional March for Life is crucial to the pro-life movement in candidates won. We are several election cycles away from see- Canada as it is a powerful witness of the truth to our govern- ing 170 pro-life MPs in the House — 170 are needed to attain ment, members of Parliament and all citizens. the 51% vote ratio to pass pro-life legislation. We work daily toward that goal, and with God’s blessing we will see a culture COLUMBIA: Have you seen the Knights of Columbus have of life return to our nation. an impact on building a culture of life in Canada? GUNNARSON: Most definitely. Beyond the Order’s support COLUMBIA: What has been the impact of the National of initiatives like the National March for Life, I have seen an March for Life in Ottawa? intensified effort in recent years on a state and local level. The GUNNARSON: The National March for Life is truly a beacon Ontario State Council, for example, has kicked up its efforts of light and hope in Canada. CLC has been organizing the a few notches and it has had an effect on the local councils. march since 1998, and every year we are truly amazed by the Many individual Knights have come forward and helped with thousands of people who show up and get involved, not just the March for Life, Life Chain and 40 Days for Life. in the rally and march, but in the candlelight vigil, the Rose The pro-life monuments that councils erect throughout Dinner and youth banquet and conference. Canada have also had a huge impact. I am very pleased, for The event does different things for different people. For example, with the stand that Knights in Belleville, Ontario, some, it’s a wake-up call to do something for life; for others, recently took when they ran into opposition for erecting a it’s an opportunity to network and spend time with like- memorial gravestone for the unborn. This is what we do, and minded people; for still others, it’s an opportunity to get when I see this, I feel proud to be a Knight.♦

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‘CHAMPIONS FOR THE UNBORN’

K of C councils are promoting pro-life legislation all across the United States

by Kevin J. Jones

group of Knights of Columbus gathered in a church last spring but was vetoed by the governor. Right to Life of A basement after Sunday Mass in rural Michigan. They Michigan has led an initiative to collect petition signatures posted some signs — “Love Life, Choose Life” — and laid out from at least 340,047 Michigan residents by Dec. 23. If the their weapons: pen and paper. Each signature collected was a petition effort is successful, the legislation will be reintro- step toward winning a legislative battle — to ban a grisly sec- duced and cannot be vetoed if passed. ond-trimester abortion procedure in their state. Barbara Listing, president of Right to Life of Michigan, said This recent effort in Michigan is just one example of how the organization always seeks out the Knights first. Knights at the state and local level are contributing to grass- “The Knights have been a great partner over the years,” roots pro-life work. From circulating petitions to meeting she said. “They have always been such faithful champions with legislators to participating in marches for life and other for the unborn.” demonstrations, Knights are a positive force for legislative ad- Shortly after the petition to ban dismemberment abortions vocacy throughout the nation. Members in many states, in- was announced late last spring, the Michigan State Council cluding Michigan, California and Virginia, have been a pledged to secure 40,000 signatures and provided financial unified voice for the right to life. support for printing the first petitions. The Knights mobilized “It’s important that Knights be leaders,” explained volunteers, and the first batches of petitions were distributed Richard Marciniak, the culture of life director for the Cali- at K of C meetings during the summer. fornia State Council. “It’s important that we work at both “It’s really at the local level that many of the Knights have the state level and in our community to protect life from been out there, collecting signatures,” said Listing. conception until death.” In Listing’s hometown of Shepherd, Mich., where her hus- band, Otto, is a longtime member of Shepherd Council 8554, MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD Knights collected signatures at local churches and went door Tim Donovan, who serves with his wife as pro-life chair cou- to door in the community. ple for the Michigan State Council, has a hard time describing On behalf of the Michigan Knights of Columbus, State the procedure he is working to stop. “It’s just gut-wrenching,” Deputy Bill Chasse received Right to Life of Michigan’s life he said. achievement award in September 2019, in recognition of the Medically known as a dilation and evacuation abortion, it Order’s active leadership. involves pulling off the limbs and crushing the skull of an un- Donovan, who helped coordinate the Order’s statewide par- born child in the second trimester of pregnancy. According ticipation in the petition drive, is proud of the response of to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Knights to pro-life initiatives near and far. 1,908 dilation and evacuation abortions were performed in “I truly believe that many of these different pro-life efforts the state in 2018. throughout the nation would not be happening if it were not for A ban on the procedure passed in the Michigan legislature the support and solidarity of all my brother Knights,” he said.

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Tim Donovan (left), state pro-life chairman, and members of St. John Council 3281 and Msgr. David M. Stotenbur Council 7237 collect petition signatures Dec. 1, after Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Johns, Mich. The petition, submitted to the state government in late December, aims to ban a grisly second-trimester abortion procedure.

LEVERAGING NUMBERS take notice, explained Richard Marciniak, the state culture of On the West Coast, the California State Council has also life director. been effective at mobilizing many of its 80,000 Knights to “Legislators are beginning to recognize that the Knights are pro-life action. numerous and have a real role in their community,” he said. California Knights have helped to organize and support the Robert Burnside, the state council’s legislative chairman, in San Francisco, OneLife LA and noted that the Knights’ political engagement is also motivated the San Diego Walk for Life, as well as many smaller events. by the principle of patriotism. The state council also communicates with local chapters, dis- “Participating in the system is important,” Burnside af- trict deputies and grand knights about pending legislation. firmed. “Prayer is always good, but sometimes you have to Through this network, individual Knights in different legisla- come out of the pews to tell legislators that something is to tive districts are encouraged to contact their representatives be done or not.” and sign petitions. Knights have a chance to do that in person during Catholic If even 10% of Knights sign and submit a petition, legislators Advocacy Day, an annual event organized by the California      

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Knights serve as marshals during the inaugural Virginia March for Life, held April 3, 2019, in Richmond.

Catholic Conference, the bishops’ official public policy voice. TAKE IT TO THE STREETS Some 40 Knights joined Marciniak in the capital of Sacra- In Virginia, Knights have been bringing the fight from the mento last spring to meet face-to-face with their representatives national capital to their state capital. and present the Church’s positions on important policy issues. Virginia Knights have long played an instrumental role in For example, in response to legislation that provides free the national March for Life, held in Washington, D.C., each abortion pills for students at state universities, Knights en- January since 1974. couraged legislators to instead consider provisions for hous- According to Thom Harrington, a board member of the ing, counseling, medical care and child care to help women March for Life Education and Defense Fund, March for Life choose life. president Jeannie Mancini has put it this way: “Without Vir- Marciniak is hoping to increase the K of C presence each year. ginia Knights of Columbus, there would be no March for Life.” While there has been some success in affecting public opin- Harrington, a member of George Brent Council 5332 in ion, he said, “It’s very important to keep members focused on Manassas, Va., leads operations and logistics for the march. legislative issues, because that’s where the battle is really being Knights — mainly from Virginia, but also other nearby juris- won or lost.” dictions — have served as marshals for the national march A focus on policy, not political affiliation, is also key, from the beginning. They help to keep things running he added. smoothly, as the event draws hundreds of thousands of par- “You can’t do this as a partisan thing,” Marciniak said. “You ticipants every year. have to focus on the issues, the ethics, the morality of the “A crowd that size can sometimes get a mind of its own,” issue. Otherwise you’re going to alienate a lot of people.” explained Virginia State Deputy Bob Szerszynski, who has Marciniak believes advocacy within each state is crucial, served as a marshal for many years. “Our job is to try to keep even in places where it seems like an uphill battle. people on the march route.” “Pro-life laws at the state level greatly affect life issues,” he Harrington noted that the event is the largest annual, said. “This is won or lost at the state level.” peaceful human rights protest in the world.      

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BE AN ADVOCATE FOR LIFE

Knights and other Catholics play an integral role in the political life of our nation. But our duty to engage in the political process may sometimes feel daunting. Here are three steps you can take to become an effec- tive advocate:

1. Connect with your state Catholic Conference. Most states have a Catholic Conference, which repre- sents the bishops of the state in public policy matters. Stay informed about the issues highlighted on the Catholic Conference’s website, and if your state does not have a Catholic Conference, connect with your diocesan pro-life office about how to get involved.

2. Subscribe to action alerts. Action alerts are messages concerning public policy and legislation, sent by organizations to mobilize members and influence the decisions of elected officials. Stay up to date with important legislation by subscribing to ac- tion alerts from your state Catholic Conference, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. When you receive an action alert, contact your elected officials using the form provided.

3. Personally contact your elected officials. There have never been more ways to contact your elected officials. Personal visits, letters, phone calls and social media posts are all effective ways to make the Knights meet with state legislator Adrin Nazarian (second from right) during Catholic voice heard in the public square. Find the con- last year’s Catholic Advocacy Day at the California State Capitol in Sacra- tact information for your elected officials by visiting mento. Richard Marciniak (right), the state council’s culture of life director, www.usa.gov/elected-officials. encourages Knights to advocate in person for pro-life policies.

“Our example has led to statewide and local marches across Virginia capital April 3. The Virginia Knights stepped up to the country,” Harrington said. This, in turn, has had an effect help, sponsoring more than dozen buses to Richmond and on pro-life legislation. serving as marshals for the event. “Pro-life witness changes the culture, and laws reflect the “Because the unborn cannot speak or march for themselves, culture,” he explained. “A large number of state laws have we must do so on their behalf,” Harrington affirmed. been enacted to place important limits on abortion, yet more Szerszynski agreed, noting that pro-life advocacy is integral needs to be done.” to the Knights’ mission. In early 2019, Virginia became a center of controversy after “If you think about it,” he said, “this is why Father Mc- a legislator acknowledged that a proposed bill — later with- Givney founded the Knights of Columbus: for the protec- drawn — would allow abortion for any reason until birth. To tion of widows and orphans — by extension, that means many observers, defenses of the bill appeared indistinguish- everyone.”♦ able from defenses of infanticide. As part of the response to the bill, the March for Life Edu- KEVIN J. JONES is a journalist living in Colorado. He is a cation and Defense Fund worked with state groups to organ- member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Council 13205 in ize a march that brought several thousand people to the Littleton.       

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Standing Firm Before a Slippery Slope

Religious leaders, doctors and disability advocates speak out against physician-assisted suicide

by Peter Wolfgang

hysician-assisted suicide is now legal in nine states and Wash- In a report titled “The Dangers of Assisted Suicide Laws,” the P ington, D.C. Maine is the most recent state to allow it, with independent U.S. federal agency warned that “if assisted suicide is the law going into effect Jan. 1. Advocates say such laws show legal, some people’s lives, particularly those of people with disabil- compassion for the dying. In reality, vulnerable populations are ities, will be ended without their fully informed and free consent, facing greater pressure to end their lives. The more assisted sui- through mistakes, abuse, insufficient knowledge and the unjust cide is accepted, the more “the right to die” will become, for lack of better options.” many, a duty to die. Following the report’s release Oct. 9, NCD Chairman Neil Ro- Despite the legal and cultural forces promoting acceptance of mano stated, “Assisted suicide laws are premised on the notion of assisted suicide, the Catholic Church additional choice for people at the end is holding fast to the dignity of the of their lives, however in practice, they human person and the integrity of often remove choices when the low- medicine. And the Church is not cost option is ending one’s life.” alone in condemning these laws; pro- Significantly, the study found that fessional medical associations, other unmet service and support needs — religious leaders and advocates for not pain — is the primary motivator people with disabilities — including of assisted suicide. the Knights of Columbus — have all The agency’s report was particularly vocally opposed physician-assisted critical of the failure of purported safe- suicide in recent months. guards. For example, it noted that in- Many professional medical organ- surers have denied treatment to izations, including the World Medical patients but offered to subsidize lethal Association and American Medical drugs instead — “potentially leading Association, oppose the killing of the patients to hasten their own deaths.” terminally ill or those thought to be In addition to noting the effects of terminally ill. On Oct. 26, the WMA misdiagnoses and “financial and emo- reaffirmed its long-held stance on tional pressures” on patient choice, physician-assisted suicide at its 70th the report also analyzed how often general assembly: “The WMA reiter- doctors referred patients seeking sui- ates its strong commitment to the cide for a psychological evaluation. principles of medical ethics and that Though depression often drives these utmost respect has to be maintained requests, only 3.5% of those who re- for human life. Therefore, the WMA is firmly opposed to euthana- portedly died under Oregon’s assisted suicide law in 2017 were re- sia and physician-assisted suicide.” ferred for an evaluation before a prescription for lethal drugs was The declaration went on to address physicians’ conscience rights: written. The next year, only 1.8% were referred. “No physician should be forced to participate in euthanasia or as- Protecting the weakest and most vulnerable among us defines sisted suicide, nor should any physician be obliged to make referral who we are as Catholics and as Knights of Columbus. We have decisions to this end.” historically served and defended the poor, persons with disabilities Two days later at the Vatican, representatives of the Catholic and and the sanctity of life, all of which are threatened by the effort to Orthodox churches issued a joint statement with Jewish and Mus- legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. lim leaders on “matters concerning the end of life.” While recog- In response, we must educate our neighbors and policymakers. nizing the difficult dilemmas of end-of-life decisions, the statement We must work across political lines with people who understand was unequivocal: “Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are that assisted suicide is bad public policy that puts vulnerable pop- inherently and consequentially morally and religiously wrong and ulations at risk.♦ should be forbidden with no exceptions.” These two declarations came a couple of weeks after the Na- PETER WOLFGANG is executive director of the Family Institute tional Council on Disability underscored the harmful effects of as- of Connecticut (ctfamily.org) and a member of Fathers Duggan- sisted suicide laws on people with disabilities. Zebris Council 13424 in Waterbury, Conn.        

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KNIGHTSACTIONIN REPORTS FROM COUNCILS & ASSEMBLIES

FAITH

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION RETREAT Catholics from across Ala- bama and Georgia gathered for a Spiritual Reflection Re- treat conducted by Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Council 4083. Partici- pants heard talks from Dr. Ray Guarendi, a psychologist and radio host who is also a Knight, and Father John Paul )'+)-)#&-() &-+$,-(*&)( -%'-!(*'+-*!-)- )+%%+ -& ,',-*#+&%",-#(- )" -*!-+$,- *&)( Mary of the Franciscan Mis- $#( $-%'- )(*(*#$-'+)(%*--"%!!,(,'+-,,(-*!-#(- )" -*!-+$,- *&)( -*#' % sionaries of the Eternal -) ,"-)'+)-,!*(,-)'"-)!+,(-)-#'") - )&&,&-,) $-,,-"#(%'-",'+-(,%'"%' Word. The event included )(%&$%*',(&-+*-,,-$(%&+-%'-$(%&+)& eucharistic adoration and culminated in Mass, at which a K of C honor guard com- prising Knights from several CHALICES HONOR about the priesthood and re- ST. NICK assemblies was present. KNIGHTS ligious life while enjoying PANCAKE BREAKFAST On a pilgrimage to Medju- food and fellowship with Crusaders Council 10151 in gorje in Bosnia and Herze- their Catholic community. Orland Park, Ill., involved govina, members of Holy families and youth in its an- Spirit Assembly 3385 in Ken- NEW WORSHIP SPACE nual St. Nicholas Pancake newick, Wash., donated two Members of St. Patrick’s Breakfast. The Knights con- chalices to a local parish in Council 11296 in Council tinued its tradition of plac- memory of deceased Knights Bluffs, Iowa, presented a ing treats in the shoes of and brothers Bill and John check for $21,000 to Father over 100 religious education Zilar. After presenting the Glen Wilwerding, pastor of students; worked with the engraved chalices, the pil- St. Patrick’s Parish and a Boy Scouts to serve food; grims were given a tour of member of the council. The promoted the youth min- the church by the pastor. money, raised through nu- istry’s wreath and poinsettia merous fundraisers, will go sale; and celebrated the MEET AND GREET toward the capital campaign birthday of retired Bishop FUTURE PRIESTS of the new parish church. John Gorman. Members of Good Shepherd Council 5573 in Plainfield, A SHINING LIGHT QUEEN OF PEACE Ill., joined seminarians of the Msgr. James H. Willett CRÈCHE Diocese of Joliet to prepare Council 7847 in Hop- Queen of Peace Council ,,(&-*!-+-*$'-  and serve breakfast for kinsville, Ky., purchased a 5296 in Elk River, Minn., *#' %--%'-$)(,&+*' parishioners of St. Mary Im- stained-glass window por- designed and built a new -&+)'"-%+$-*',-*!-+$, maculate Catholic Church at traying Venerable Father outdoor crèche for St. An- +)+%*'&-*!-+$,-(*&&-+$, a “Pancake Breakfast With Michael J. McGivney and drew Catholic Church with *'&+(# +,"- )+- )+%%+ Your Future Priests.” More had it installed at Sts. Peter statues and materials do-  $**-!*(-#&,- -&+#",'+& than 500 guests learned and Paul Church. nated by one of its members. )'"- *#+$-(*#&

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KNIGHTSINACTION

FAMILY

SAFE AND WARM Members of Milford (N.H.) Council 3035 removed dead and dangerously posi- tioned trees from the yard of a single mother in need and split them into firewood for her use.

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS PARTY Msgr. Edward J. Dodwell Council 6920 in Gainesville, Ga., hosted a parish Christ- mas party that brought to- gether families of St. Michael Catholic Church. /" /+)10#1,-%/+1*))1 0$.'*(11*.1/+(*.1*)1,.&1#,"*(1"/" /+)1!,'1$!1-%/ Children enjoyed Nativity ./,+(11'0,-)1-%/1'0$.'*(1&0.,-/&1-01,1'0,-1&+* /1)!0.)0+/&1 1-%/10)1,.&1*+()1 ($ crafts, music, snacks and the 0#1-%/1+*-,-/1+/, chance to meet St. Nicholas.

SPONSORING during the game between DO-SI-DO A SCOUT the Reitz Memorial High FOR ST. LEO’S Edmond (Okla.) Council School Tigers and the Nearly 150 guests partici- 6477 awarded a grant to Mater Dei Wildcats by pated in a family square Alex Littell to help him fund passing the bucket in the dance hosted by St. Lawrence his Eagle Scout service proj- stands and collecting dona- Council 2950 in Utica, ect: the construction of a tions at the gate. Mich. Ticket sales raised ap- grotto for a statue of the proximately $3,500 for St. Mary holding the SPECIAL Leo’s Soup Kitchen, a De- Baby Jesus. Littell installed DELIVERY troit nonprofit that offers free the grotto outside Sister Saugerties (N.Y.) Council medical and dental services as Barbara Joseph’s Pantry, a 4536 supplied almost 300 well as community meals. ministry in Oklahoma City food baskets for families in providing food, clothing need. Members packed the HAM IN EVERY HOME and transitional housing to food in boxes and delivered Rev. M. Ernest Wilson people in need. them to recipients’ homes Council 20 in Farmington, the next morning. Conn., worked with Farm- FAMILY FOOTBALL ington Community Services +,.&1.*%-1-/!%/.1 ,' COLLECTION FOR A HERO’S to provide Christmas food )0.1+*%-1,.&1//1*/+.,.110# Five Indiana councils spon- FAMILY boxes — each containing a &"0.-0.1 ( /+-,1 0$.'*( sored the third annual Fri- Msgr. Peter M. H. Wyn- complete ham dinner — for 1 *.)-,((1 ./ 1 #(00+ 0,+&) day Knights Hunger Bowl, a hoven Council 3091 in neighbors in need. The coun- ,)1!,+-10#1,1'0$.'*(1!+0/'-1-0 collection to benefit a St. Westwego, La., sponsored a cil purchased the food in '0. /+-1-%/10(&1'%0*+1(0#-1*. Vincent de Paul food bank, potluck dinner for the local bulk, packed each meal into -1.&+/ )1 ,-%0(*'1 %$+'% during a high school foot- police department and do- festively wrapped boxes and *.-01,1'%*(&+/. )1+/(**0$)1/& ball game in Evansville. nated $1,200 to the family delivered them to Commu- $',-*0.1'(,))+00" Members raised nearly $3,000 of a fallen officer. nity Services for distribution.

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COMMUNITY

SEEDS ON GOOD SOIL Members of several coun- cils in and near Davao City, led by Mantina Pangi of Davao City (Mindanao) Council 17168, planted ap- proximately 200 mahogany trees on a vacant stretch of river bank. As the planting ended, they had the oppor- tunity to perform several works of mercy. A man ap- proached them to request & $#&")(&)%(')$$#&(!) '') ' ))& $)!(%#'(&")& $)!$$%$ )!')(#&' their presence and prayers '"(!%')'#%))%#)!(#%)(&((#) '#)'& ) $)'#%) '#(&$ )(# ) %"&!%&$ at his father’s wake, and & $)'(&")(")(!&)') (%#'(&")'!)% " )() %%%#$)( (&(&%'#)')& $)! $!")'(&")')% " they also visited the widow !'!()&(%'!$ )&')& $)!(%#)"$("'#)'#)& $)%"(# " of a recently deceased council member and a Knight mourning the loss TAKING THE HISPANIC FOOD SALE Calif., and his wife, Loretta, of his mother. HIGH ROAD With the help of parish- led the project. The coats For 15 years, Sacred Heart ioners, members of San were distributed to 34 shel- Council 1340 in Ely, Nev., Óscar Arnulfo Romero ters and rescue missions. has participated in the Ne- Council 17192 in Hy- vada Adopt a Highway pro- attsville, Md., and their ALL SENIORS gram, adopting a portion of wives organized a sale of WELCOME, U.S. Highway 50, some- Hispanic food that raised EVERYTHING times described as the $4,000. The funds were do- FREE “loneliest road in America.” nated to Father Roberto Easton (Mass.) Council 238 Twice a year, a dozen or so Cortés, pastor of St. Mark served its annual free dinner Knights remove litter along the Evangelist Catholic for senior citizens at the hall a 2-mile stretch of the re- Church, to purchase a new where the council meets, mote roadway and then church sound system. carving up 300 pounds of enjoy a barbecue lunch. turkey for approximately JACKETS FOR 100 guests. All seniors in the COMMUNITY THE HOMELESS community were invited. CHRISTMAS The Jackets for the Home- South Plainfield (N.J.) less Drive, a collaboration of BREAKFAST Council 6203 held its annual six California councils, FOR HUNDREDS Christmas party for residents yielded approximately 5,000 Members of Padre Agapito Members of the Greater of Keystone Community jackets for people experienc- Iriberri Council 5014 in Austin Chapter in Texas un- Living, a group home for in- ing homelessness in Los An- Humacao, Puerto Rico, load some of the 21 wheel- dividuals with developmen- geles and San Bernardino prepared and served break- chairs they donated in tal disabilities. More than counties and beyond. Grand fast to hundreds of people partnership with the Ameri- 120 residents and staff en- Knight Zaki Mustafa of after Masses at local can Wheelchair Mission to joyed dinner, desserts and a Rancho Cucamonga Coun- chapels during the 10 days Park Valley Inn Nursing visit from Santa. cil 13403 in Alta Loma, before Christmas. Home in Round Rock.

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KNIGHTSINACTION

LIFE

TAKING UP THE CROSSES St. Joseph’s Council 3420 in Bode, Iowa, refurbished a pro-life memorial on the lawn next to St. Joseph Catholic Church, replacing worn wooden crosses with vinyl ones. Members assem- bled 61 new crosses to rep- resent the estimated 61 million children aborted in the United States since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Before in- stalling the crosses, Knights /)&,"1/'&.0(11 $* /%!01, 1*(/-!+,-1.1"*0)/%0)1.+1+&01*/ ,-'$++/-!1'0*0#,-1+,1,"0- and their families carried .1-01.*/.-1,#01 ,*1#0-1/+&1/-+0((0'+$.(1%/). /(/+/0)1+1.*1, 1,**,)1,$-'/(1  them in a procession to the /-1./* .1+.+/,-1 $-%0%1+&01"*, 0'+1"$*'&.)/-!1.-%1*0-,.+/-!1.1&,$)01/-1',#"(/.-'01/+& parish hall, where the coun- +&01#0*/'.-)1/+&1/). /(/+/0)1'+1/-'01 1+&01',$-'/(1&.)1,"0-0%1)/1.*/.-1,#0) cil chaplain, Father Merle &/'&10-. (01!*,$")1, 1$.(/ /-!1.%$(+)1+,1(/01). 0(1/-1',##$-/+ Kollasch, blessed them.

CHANGE FOR BABIES Catholic Church of the Holy SERVING Msgr. John J. Linnehan Family over two evenings, CANCER PATIENTS Council 3745 in Lynnfield, welcoming participants and A new initiative of St. Mass., collected more than handing out materials. Over Frances Cabrini Council $2,300 from parishioners of 140 people attended, learn- 9679 in Yucaipa, Calif., Our Lady of the Assump- ing more about signs and serves cancer patients at tion and St. Maria Goretti symptoms of mental illness chemotherapy clinics. The Churches during its annual and the resources available in council purchased copies of “Change for Baby” bottle their community. Eating Well Through Cancer campaign. The council do- in bulk and delivered them nated the funds to Catholic MEMORIAL to clinics for doctors to give Charities to support family BLOOD DRIVE their patients. and pro-life ministries. St. Thomas the Apostle Council 11684 in Provi- LIFE IN FOUR COMFORT dence, R.I., organized a DIMENSIONS .+&0*1/'&.0(110!(/'/1, THE AFFLICTED blood drive in partnership St. Margaret of York Coun- .'*0%10.*+1,$-'/(1 Council 11811 with the Rhode Island cil 13429 in Loveland, /-1,* /-11".)+,*1, 1. in Novi, Mich., and St. Blood Center, bringing in Ohio, raised funds with the '*0%10.*+1.+&,(/'1&$*'& James Catholic Church close to 100 donors and Respect Life Ministry at St. (0))0)1.1-01"*,(/ 01)/!- *(/-!+,-1.+&,(/'10*.(% sponsored two talks on sui- $600 to offset costs. The Margaret of York Catholic /-)+.((0%1 1',$-'/(1#0# 0*) cide prevention by Leon drive was conducted in Church to purchase a 4D ,-1".*/)&1!*,$-%) .)1#0# Judd, president of NAMI memory of a local baby, ultrasound machine for 0*)1.-%1,+&0*1".*/)&/,-0*) Metro, an affiliate of the Francesca, who required nu- Elizabeth’s New Life Center, (,,1,-1&01)/!-1*0"(.'0) National Alliance on Mental merous blood transfusions a network of pregnancy re- ,-01+&.+1&.%1 0',#01,*- Illness. Members organized after being born at 25 weeks source centers and pro-life .-%1+.++0*0%1)/-'01/+)1/-)+.( the presentations at the weighing just 13.4 ounces. ministries based in Dayton. (.+/,-110.*)1.!,    

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GIFTS FOR VETS St. Anna’s Council 14425 in Monroe, Ga., partnered with several community groups to provide personal care items PATRIOTISM to the Northeast Georgia Homeless Veterans Shelter in Winder. The toiletry items were collected, put ALMOST HOME into handmade pillow cases FOR THE HOLIDAYS and packed into backpacks Bishop England Assembly for each veteran living at 1072 in Columbia, S.C., the shelter. held its annual Christmas dinner for Army recruits in MOBILITY training at Fort Jackson. MISSION The dinner is held every Members of St. Theresa of year at Our Lady of the Avila Council 2657 in Hills Catholic Church for Gonzales, La., presented trainees who are unable to three new wheelchairs to go home for Christmas. the Southeast Louisiana More than 200 recruits were War Veterans Home in Re- served by members of the serve. The council donated assembly and their families. the chairs to residents in partnership with the Global Wheelchair Mission.

NEW CHAPTERS For the past 10 years, members of FOR VETS Assembly 3089 in Sarasota, Fla., have attended funerals Members of Father James at Sarasota National Cemetery for veterans who have no Wilmes Council 14087 in next of kin present. At least a dozen Knights are present at Andrews, N.C., collected most services. The assembly has paid its respects at more donated books from parish- than 500 such funerals since 2010. ioners at several local Catholic churches to share with veterans waiting for member of Assembly 3772, ADOPT A SOLDIER treatment at the Charles learned that fresh water was St. Dominic Council 5343 George VA Medical Center their greatest need, and in Blauvelt, N.Y., donated in Asheville. Parishioners do- local Knights responded $7,500 to Adopt-a-Soldier nated approximately 1,300 generously to the appeal. Platoon, a nonprofit that books, which members Houle and Faithful Navi- sends care packages to serv- dropped off in the waiting gator Terry Zehl from As- ice members and supports rooms and offered to pa- sembly 3772 received a wounded veterans with tients at their bedsides. Humanitarian Award from equipment and services. Veterans Village for the Members of Msgr. Lawrence FOR THOSE Knights’ efforts. L. Meyer Assembly 2267 WHO THIRST and Marshall Council 1422, Three Las Vegas units — COLUMBUS both in Marshall, Texas, re- Father John Kenny Assem- AT CHRISTMAS kofc.org place the U.S. flag outside bly 3772, Christ the King St. Agnes Assembly 3094 Marshall High School in re- and St. Agnes Council      Council 14144 and Holy exclusive  membrance of the attack on Spirit Council 14784 — 14202, both in Naples, See more “Knights in Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. donated more than 2,000 Fla., won first place at the Assembly 2267, continuing Action” reports and gallons of drinking water to Naples Florida Christmas photos at an annual tradition, donated Veterans Village Las Vegas, Parade for their float, a www.kofc.org/ funds for the new flag and a nonprofit serving home- replica of one of the ships knightsinaction respectfully retired the old. less veterans. Rick Houle, a of Christopher Columbus.      

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AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND LAWS PROMOTIONAL & GIFTITEMS GOVERNING THE SUPREME COUNCIL ENACTED AT MEETING HELD IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA AUGUST 6-7-8, 2019

RESOLUTION NO. 334

AMENDING SECTION 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the position of Supreme Physician be eliminated and Section 8 be amended as follows:

“SEC. 8. Annually, at its first meeting held on or after Septem- Navy & Gold T-Shirt ber first in 1955 and thereafter, the Board of Directors shall elect a Supreme Chaplain and a Supreme Warden and shall ap- This 100% cotton navy blue T-shirt, point, from their own number, a Supreme Knight, a Deputy printed with gold and white lettering, Supreme Knight, a Supreme Secretary, a Supreme Treasurer, and expresses your pride in the Order and a Supreme Advocate and a Supreme Physician, to serve for a term of one year, unless removed for cause. It shall fill any va- its core principles of charity, unity and cancies for the unexpired terms of Supreme Officers heretofore fraternity. or hereafter elected or appointed. It shall appoint an Insurance member to perform the duties of Supreme Advocate or M, L, XL: $21 each Supreme Physician if there is not a Supreme Director eligible, XL: $23, 3XL: $24, 4XL: $25 qualified and available for appointment to either such office.”

RESOLUTION NO. 335

REPEALING SECTION 34 OF THE LAWS OF THE ORDER

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Section 34 of the Laws of the Order be repealed, and that the term “Supreme Physician” in Sections 27.3, 36.14, 38, and 44 be deleted; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the term “Supreme Physician” in Sections 102, 109, 117, 121, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 153, Challenge Coin 154, 168.7, and 235 be replaced by the term “Medical Director.” This brass coin with antique finish is RESOLUTION NO. 336 1.75 inches in diameter and 3 mm thick. On one side — the emblem of AMENDING SECTION 60.5 OF THE LAWS OF THE ORDER the Order with the words “IN SERVICE TO ONE, IN SERVICE NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to facil- itate the appointment of successful District Deputies for more TO ALL.” On the other side — the than four one-year terms, Section 60.5 be amended as follows: U.S. and K of C flags encircled by the four principles of the Order in 5. … Except for unusual circumstances as determined by the Supreme Knight upon the recommendation of the State Deputy, capital letters. Keep one as a re- a member who has served four eight consecutive terms in the minder of the principles and give office of District Deputy shall be ineligible for appointment to others to brother Knights as a token that office.” of appreciation or recognition. $4.50 each OFFICIAL JANUARY 1, 2020: To owners of Knights of Columbus insurance policies and persons responsible for payment of premiums on such policies: Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Laws of the Order, payment of insurance premiums due on a monthly basis to the Knights of Columbus by check made payable to Knights of Columbus and mailed to same at PO Box 1492, NEW HAVEN, CT 06506-1492, before the expiration of the grace period set forth in the Navy Blue Full-Zip Sweatshirt policy. In Canada: Knights of Columbus, Place d’Armes Station, P.O. (Personalized) Box 220, Montreal, QC H2Y 3G7 ALL MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, EDITORIAL MAT- This versatile Sport-Tek® sweatshirt TER, AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MAILED TO: features rib cuffs and waistband, set-in COLUMBIA, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. RE- JECTED MATERIAL WILL BE RETURNED IF ACCOMPANIED BY A sleeves and front slash pockets. The SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AND RETURN POSTAGE. PUR- CHASED MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED. OPINIONS BY emblem of the Order or Fourth Degree WRITERS ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- — together with your council or SENT THE VIEWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. SUBSCRIPTION RATES — IN THE U.S.: 1 YEAR, $6; 2 YEARS, assembly name and number — is em- $11; 3 YEARS, $15. FOR OTHER COUNTRIES ADD $2 PER YEAR. broidered in full color on the left chest. EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENT IN U.S. CURRENCY ONLY. SEND ORDERS AND CHECKS TO: ACCOUNT- Please allow 10-12 business days for ING DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. the production of this custom item. S, M, L, XL: $50 each COLUMBIA (ISSN 0010-1869/USPS #123-740) IS PUBLISHED 2XL: $52, 3XL: $53, 4XL: $54 MONTHLY BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326. PHONE: 203-752-4000, www.kofc.org. PRODUCED IN USA. COPYRIGHT © 2020 BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRO- DUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW HAVEN, CT AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND AD- DRESS CHANGES TO COLUMBIA, MEMBERSHIP DEPART- MENT, PO BOX 1670, NEW HAVEN, CT 06507-0901. CANADIAN POSTMASTER — PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 1473549. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE knightsgear.com CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 50 MACINTOSH BOULEVARD, CONCORD, ONTARIO L4K 4P3. Questions? Call: 1-855-GEAR-KOC (855-432-7562) — FOR PHILIPPINES SECOND-CLASS MAIL AT THE CENTRAL POST OFFICE. SEND RETURN Additional shipping costs apply to all orders. Please call before mailing in an order. COPIES TO KCFAPI, FRATERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PO BOX 1511, MANILA.

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KNIGHTSOFCOLUMBUS

Knights Indiana Knights and friends finish a 170-mile bike ride across the state, from Illinois to Ohio, to raise funds for the Knights of Columbus of Charity Ultrasound Initiative. Indianapolis Mater Dei Council 437 sponsors the annual “Biking for Babies” event in cooperation with the Indiana State Council. At every break on the Every day, Knights all over the world are three-day trek, participants prayed a decade given opportunities to make a difference of the rosary for a stronger culture of life. In — whether through community service, the past three years, “Biking for Babies” has raising money or prayer. We celebrate raised approximately $12,000 to help place each and every Knight for his strength, ultrasound machines in Indiana pregnancy his compassion and his dedication to resource centers. building a better world.

TO BE FEATURED HERE, SENDYOURCOUNCIL’S “KNIGHTSIN ACTION” PHOTOASWELLASITSDESCRIPTIONTO: COLUMBIA, 1 COLUMBUS PLAZA, NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-3326 OREMAIL: [email protected].       

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PLEASE, DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PRIESTLY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

KEEP THE FAITH ALIVE

‘NOTHING WILL GIVE YOU GREATER JOY.’

As the son of Polish immigrants, I grew up in a good Catholic home. But it wasn’t until I began participating in our parish youth group that I embraced the faith as my own and fell in love with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. A girl I was dating went to daily Mass, and I began going with her. It didn’t take long for my focus to shift from her to what took place in the sanctuary — God coming down to be with his people! I found myself with thoughts like, “How would I preach on that Gospel?” At first, these thoughts terri- fied me. For the next several years, I wres- tled with the idea of becoming a priest, often in the parish adoration chapel — eventually gaining the trust to say “yes.” Following high school graduation, I en- tered seminary and eight years later was or- dained a priest. Though the vocation has been demanding, it has been infinitely more rewarding. I can say with confidence: If God calls you to the priesthood, nothing on earth will give you greater joy.

FATHER MICHAEL NIEMCZAK Archdiocese of Santa Fe, N.M. Nuestra Señora del Rosario Council 10517