KnightLine AUG. 22, 2007 VOL. 24 • NO. 11 www.kofc.org NEWS FOR LEADERS KNIGHTS CONVENE TO CELEBRATE 125 YEARS OF FAITH IN ACTION Vatican Secretary of State Honored Expresses Personal Interest in Founder’s Sainthood Cause SUPREME KNIGHT PLEDGES KNIGHTS WILL ‘NEVER GIVE IN’ ON ABORTION

ore than 2,700 vice to the Church and Knights of Col- the world. M umbus and fam- Cardinal Bertone ily members greeted with brought greetings from applause the statement Benedict XVI, saying from the Vatican’s second the pope was joined “in in command that he was spiritual closeness” with personally interested in the Knights during the the cause for sainthood of convention. “During this the Order’s founder, the celebration of the eucha- Servant of God Father Michael J. McGivney. Cardinal Tarcisio Ber- tone, the Vatican secre- tary of state, made his remarks during the homi- ly he preached at the opening Mass of the 125th Supreme Convention in Nashville, Aug. 7. The annual meeting Vatican Secretary of State was the among the largest Cardinal ever in the Order’s histo- speaking at the 125th ry, second in attendance Supreme Convention in front of a backdrop to the 100th anniversary depicting Knights of convention in 1982. The Columbus founder Father theme of this year’s meet- Michael J. McGivney. ing was “Celebrating 125 ristic sacrifice, let us join (Right) Supreme Knight Years of Faith in Action: our intentions to those of Carl A. Anderson deliver- ing his annual report to Witnessing to the ‘Yes’ of His Holiness, in prayerful convention delegates and Jesus Christ.” gratitude for the good guests. Later that day, at the works carried out by the States Dinner, Supreme Knights of Columbus and Knight Carl A. Anderson in humble supplication presented Cardinal Ber- for the success of your tone with the Order’s top convention and the fruit- honor, the Gaudium et SEE ‘CONVENTION,’ PAGE 2 Spes Award, for his ser- FROM SUPREME KNIGHT CARL A. ANDERSON

A Friend In High Places

veryone who had the opportu- nity to meet, visit with, listen E to or simply be in the presence of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone at our convention earlier this month could not help but be impressed by the joy and hope he radiated. The Vatican secretary of state surely felt among friends at our 125th Supreme Convention, and he demonstrated it. He brought personal greetings from Pope Benedict XVI to the conven- tion. He also expressed his personal interest in the cause for sainthood of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, accepts the Order’s Gaudium et Spes Father Michael J. McGivney, a priest medal from Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Supreme Bishop William E. Lori. Cardinal Bertone is only the seventh recipient of the award since 1992, when it was he called “prophetic” and “truly first presented to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. well ahead of his time.” As impor- tant, he spoke directly to what our FROM ‘CONVENTION,’ PAGE 1 Order needs to do during our said that the “key” to Father anniversary year — and beyond — fulness of your apostolate,” McGivney’s “apostolic vision” was to live out our convention theme Cardinal Bertone said. “helping others to recognize the call of “Witnessing to the ‘Yes’ of Jesus Cardinal Bertone noted that that Christ addressed to them, and Christ.” Father McGivney’s cause for canon- to respond generously.” Addressing the convention on ization is currently being investigat- Father McGivney, said Cardinal three different occasions, and at a ed by the Congregation for the Bertone, “knew that it is not only press conference for Catholic media, Causes of Saints. The Church, he priests and religious who have a Cardinal Bertone noted appreciative- said, is studying Father McGivney vocation, but that every Christian is ly the vital, active and “alive spirit” “as a model Christian, worthy of called by Christ to carry out a par- of the Church in America in general imitation.” The Archdiocese of ticular mission in the Church.” The and of our Order in particular. Hartford officially opened Father Knights of Columbus, he said, has Like any good pastor, he also McGivney’s cause in 1997, and all provided “opportunities for count- brought challenging words of coun- the paperwork pertaining to the less lay Catholics to play their part sel and advice. While the cardinal founder’s life and heroic virtue has in building up the kingdom of praised our Order’s charitable activi- been filed at the Vatican. A possible God.” ties, he reminded us that our good miracle attributed to Father Cardinal Bertone also likened works can lose their deeper meaning McGivney has also been reported to the Knights to the Gospel’s Good if they do not remain “rooted” in the Congregation for the Causes of Samaritan. “You bind the wounds of our faith. Saints. those you discover lying by the Cardinal Bertone also urged us to The cardinal said Father McGiv- wayside and help restore them to do more to reach out to young peo- ney founded the Knights during a health and strength. In so doing, ple, holding up Father McGivney, time when “the plight of Catholics you are following in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II and St. John Bosco, in America was far from easy.” The your founder, and with him imitat- founder of his own religious order, young priest, though, “found the ing Christ.” the Salesians, as models for this faith and the courage to walk stead- program of the new evangelization. fastly toward Christ and to inspire REPORT OF THE By inviting Cardinal Bertone to others by his leadership.” SUPREME KNIGHT our anniversary year convention and “Everyone who had the privilege In his annual report, Supreme presenting him with our Gaudium of knowing Father McGivney was Knight Anderson said the Order had et Spes (Joy and Hope) Award, we impressed by the dynamism of his experienced another record-break- knew we were honoring a great personality and his pastoral zeal,” ing year in both its fraternal and Church leader, statesman and pas- said Cardinal Bertone. insurance operations. Among the tor. The honor, it turns out, was all The cardinal called the founding accomplishments cited were: ours. Vivat Jesus! of the Knights “a noble goal” and SEE ‘CONVENTION,’ PAGE 3 2 have kept his promise.” The years to come will bring new tests, the supreme knight said, but Knights will respond to them by putting “our faith into action.”

RESOLUTIONS Delegates to the 125th Supreme Convention unanimously adopted a resolution on building a culture of life. It reaffirmed the Order’s “com- mitment to oppose any governmen- tal action or policy that promotes abortion, embryonic stem cell re- search, human cloning, euthanasia, assisted suicide and other offenses against life.” The resolution also reaffirmed the Knights’ longstand- ing policy of not inviting to K of C- sponsored events public officials or Supreme Knight Anderson was interviewed by EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo during the candidates for public office” who international Catholic network’s live coverage of the 125th Supreme Convention. The “do not support the legal protection Canadian Catholic network Salt and Light TV also reported live from Nashville, as did of unborn children, or who advo- the Catholic Channel of Sirius satellite radio. cate for the legalization of assisted suicide or euthanasia.” FROM ‘CONVENTION,’ PAGE 2 her continent for her.” Other resolutions voted on by I Membership as of June 30, The supreme knight also sound- the delegates expressed support for 2007, at an all-time high of ed a strong call for Knights to take a “natural marriage” between one 1,741,288. stand on public policy issues that SEE ‘CONVENTION,’ PAGE 4 I The institution of 250 new “directly affect our most fundamen- councils and the formation of tal values as Catholics.” He noted in MARIAN PRAYER approximately 3,800 round particular abortion, marriage and PROGRAM LAUNCHED tables. the public funding of embryonic I Insurance in force totaling stem cell research. nearly $62 billion, almost double A sustained standing ovation the amount from a decade ago. from Knights and family members I Dividends in 2006 of more greeted Supreme Knight Anderson’s remarks that on the issue of ‘WE WILL NEVER CEASE TO PERSEVERE abortion, the AGAINST THE EVIL OF ABORTION’ Order “will never give in.” than $345 million and total certifi- To those who say it is time to cates in force of nearly 79,100. put the issue of abortion behind us, I Total assets of more than $13 the supreme knight said, “We have billion, double the amount from 10 to ask: What kind of Catholics do years ago. they think we are? Is it possible that Supreme Knight Anderson also they do not realize that we will announced that in 2009 the Order never cease to persevere against the would host its first-ever interna- evil of abortion?” tional Marian Congress in Phoenix In the 125-year history of the State deputies Leonardo P. Pulizzi of at the conclusion of the 127th Knights, Anderson said, the Order Virginia and Michael T. Gilliam of had faced “prejudice, war, hardship, process with their images of Our Lady of Supreme Convention. “This is Charity. The Order begins a yearlong Marian Mary’s continent,” he said. “No turmoil in society and turmoil in Hour of Prayer program Sept. 8 in honor of other place on earth has as many our Church.” The Knights has Our Lady of Charity, patroness of Cuba. practicing Catholics as the remained strong, he said, because Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino of Havana Americas. It is up to us — in our members “have helped one another blessed the images and commissioned the respond to the ‘yes’ of Jesus Christ. Knights to spread devotion to Our Lady of lives, in our homes and in our fami- Charity. The program will be offered for the lies — to put our faith into action. … We have kept faith with the intentions of Pope Benedict XVI. It is time Mary’s Knights reclaim vision of Father McGivney, and we 3 Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW HAVEN CT KnightLine PERMIT No. 400

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man and one woman, honored U.S. R. Choby of Nashville was host The board of directors hosted a and Canadian armed forces, and bishop and celebrated the conven- special dinner held in Cardinal called for continued use of the tion Mass on Aug. 8. Bertone’s honor the evening of words “under God” in the Pledge of Aug. 8. In his key- Allegiance. note address, he urged the Knights to CHURCH LEADERS follow the example Nearly 100 cardinals, of Father McGivney. and bishops attended the conven- According to tion. Among those taking part were: Cardinal Bertone, Cardinals Francis E. George of Father McGivney Visit Chicago, Edward M. Egan of New made it his goal to www.kofc.org for additional York, Seán P. O’Malley of Boston, “develop practical coverage of the of , Adam ways of ensuring 125th Supreme J. Maida of Detroit, Jaime Ortega that faith could be Convention. Alamino of Havana and Juan San- put into concrete action.” doval Iñiguez of Guadalajara, Mexi- Cardinal Bertone praised the co. Other Vatican officials included Knights for their “enthusiasm and U.S. Cardinals Edmund C. Szoka, boldness, filled with hope.” He former president of the commission encouraged members to “deepen governing State, and J. their cohesion” with bishops, Francis Stafford, head of the Vati- Cardinal Bertone, an avid soccer fan who priests and pastors, and to be occasionally provides commentary for can’s Apostolic Penitentiary. Italian soccer matches, was presented with courageous as Catholics. “We Also in attendance were Car- a K of C soccer ball by Supreme Knight should be proud to belong to this dinal Theodore E. McCarrick, re- Anderson at the conclusion of a dinner in church,” he said. O tired of Washington, his honor. Coadjutor Archbishop Fouad Twal PUBLISHED 18 TIMES A YEAR BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SUPREME COUNCIL of the Patriarchate of Jerusa- 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 lem and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, 203-752-4303 N [email protected] U.S. apostolic . Bishop David