KnightsLifeline 3_11_KLL Feb2011 3/24/11 3:03 PM Page 1

MARCH 2011

A people of Life KNIGHT’S LIFELINE and for Life Published by the Knights of Columbus Office of Pro-life, Marriage and Family Values

MARCH FOR LIFE - CANADA The National March for Life and associated separate letters to Congress in support of three pro-life events will be held in Ottawa May 11-13. pending pro-life bills. This annual event begins on Wednesday, May The first bill, the Protect Life Act, H.R. 358, 11th, with a noon pro-life would apply longstanding restrictions on prayer service at Christ funding and add conscience protections for health the Saviour Orthodox care workers to the new national health care Church and a 7:30 PM program. The cardinal wrote that the Protect Life Mass at St. Theresa of Act would bring the new federal health care the Child Jesus Parish. program “into line with policies on abortion and At 9:00 PM there will be conscience rights that have long prevailed in other a Candlelight Vigil at federal health programs.” The House Energy and the Canadian Tribute to Commerce Committee approved the bill 33-19 Human Rights February 15. The full House could vote soon. Monument followed at The second bill is the No Taxpayer Funding of 10 PM by all-night Abortion Act, H.R. 3, which would permanently Adoration of the Blessed ban taxpayer funding of on all spending Sacrament at St. bills throughout the federal government. Cardinal Patrick’s Basilica. DiNardo wrote that this bill would “write into law a On May 12th, there will be Masses at both Notre policy on which there has been strong popular and Dame Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Basilica at 10 congressional agreement for over 35 years…” The AM. Marchers will gather for a rally at noon on bill would also codify the Hyde/Weldon amendment Parliament Hill and the March will begin there at that has ensured that federal agencies and state and 1:30 PM. The Silent No More Awareness Campaign local governments that receive federal funds do not will make a presentation on the Hill about 2:45 PM. discriminate against health care providers because At 4 PM the Eastern Catholic Chaplaincy of Ottawa they do not perform or provide abortions. will lead a closing Prayer Service. The Rose The third bill, Abortion Non-Discrimination Dinner, at 6 PM, will feature David Beriet, national Act (ANDA), H.R. 361, would strengthen existing director of 40 Days for Life, as the keynote speaker. federal conscience protection laws. Cardinal On Friday, May 13th, a Mass for Pro-Life DiNardo wrote, “No health care entity should be Youth will begin at 7:30 AM at the Hampton Inn forced by government to perform or participate in and Conference Center, followed by the Pro-life abortions.” He continued, “Passage of ANDA is Youth Conference from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. Go to urgently needed to protect the civil rights of health www.marchforlife.ca or call 613-729-0379 or 800- professionals and other health care entities.” 730-5358 for more information. Religious freedom/Same sex marriage bills – Councils can help subsidize seminarians and Bills seeking to allow same sex marriage in students who want to attend the march, can charter a Maryland and Rhode Island have run into heavy bus so Knights and others can attend, and could opposition. The Maryland bill has been withdrawn. provide breakfast and a place to stay overnight in a These attempts to redefine marriage pose a threat to council or parish hall for marchers traveling long the religious liberty and conscience of those who distances to attend the march! see marriage as being the life-long union of one Canadian Knights – “Defend Life!” man and one woman. If passed, Catholic groups or individuals in business, education or other LEGISLATIVE UPDATE institutions could be legally required to treat same- U.S. Congress – Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, sex couples the same as married couples of one man bishop of Galveston-Houston and chairman of the and one woman. Children could be adopted by two Committee on Pro-life Activities of the United people of the same sex, rather than be raised by a States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has written father and a mother. In states where same-sex KnightsLifeline 3_11_KLL Feb2011 3/24/11 3:03 PM Page 2

marriage becomes legal, school children will be “gender identity” and “sexual orientation,” along taught that same-sex marriage is the same as with promoting population control measures aimed marriage between a man and a woman. Similar bills at lowering the population growth rate of the threatening religious freedom and attacking Philippines. Although the bill does not explicitly marriage have been introduced in Pennsylvania and mandate a certain number of children per family, Wyoming and a bill is expected in . the explanatory note of one version of the bill Civil union bills, which same-sex couples see as would promote the government’s preference for the the equivalent to marriage, except in name, have “ideal” two-child family. been introduced in Pennsylvania and Wyoming. The bill would have the government fund Hawaii approved a civil union bill in February, and widespread distribution of contraceptives, including the Colorado legislature is considering a civil union the pill and the IUD, which can cause abortions, and bill. Civil union bills have preceded recognition of would require “all” health facilities, including same-sex marriage in several states. Catholic ones, to provide them. Though the bill says “Gender Identity” and “Gender Expression” it respects the conscientious objection of a health In June, 2010, the U.S. State Department ruled care service provider’s religious beliefs, it would that passport applicants may list their sex on their nevertheless require a health care worker to refer a passport differently from their biological gender, patient to another provider. Moreover, there appears whether or not they have had surgery. to be no religious exception for Catholic The Canadian military’s administrative manual, institutions, which could be required to not only in a recent addendum, now defines a “transsexual” provide contraceptives, including those that act as as a person born with the physical characteristics of , but also perform vasectomies, tubal one sex who emotionally and psychologically feels ligations, sex change operations, in vitro they belong to the opposite sex, whether or not they fertilization, and other procedures that violate have undergone sex-change surgery. The manual Catholic teaching. advises that military personnel who change their The bill could also alter the legal framework for sexual identity must conform to the dress code of marriage between one man and one woman, for their “target” gender. Thus, male soldiers who parental rights and the rights of children. identify themselves as women must wear women’s The bill would mandate “gender equality” by apparel, and vice versa. prohibiting discrimination based on “sexual On December 8, 2010, the Canadian House of orientation” and “gender identity.” Recognizing a Commons passed C-389, a transsexual rights bill, person’s “gender identity” would mean accepting 143-131. Since C-389 is a private member’s bill, it and treating a male as female, or vice versa, based now needs a sponsor to be considered in the Senate. on that person’s perceived identity, rather than Dubbed the “bathroom bill,” because it could actual biology. These sections of the bill could allow men who say they are women to use women’s prepare the way for future recognition of same-sex washrooms and locker rooms, Bill C-389 would marriage, since the bill also automatically repeals also have ramifications in housing, employment and any other laws on the books, without specifying for those providing services. which ones, which are not consistent with this bill. Similar bills are pending in Alaska (S.B.11), Presumably, this could include a challenge to the Connecticut (H.B. 5901, H.B. 6599), Florida (H.B. current laws concerning marriage. 346, H.B. 361), Idaho (S.B. 1033), Kansas (S.B. The bill would require mandatory sex education 53), Kentucky (S.B. 98), Maryland (H.B. 235), in all schools, public and private, and for home- Massachusetts (HO 0502, HO 0764), New York school children, from fifth grade through high (S.B. 2873), Tennessee (S.B. 313), Virginia school. The sex education curriculum would not be (H.B. 1755, H.B. 2046), and Wyoming (H.B. 142). provided by the Church but would be mandated by Philippines - Legislation the government, with no provision for parents to The “Responsible Parenthood (RP), Reproductive have their children opt-out. Health (RH) and Population Development Act of The bill further proclaims a right to 2011” is pending in the Philippine House of “reproductive health,” defined as having a Representatives. This bill incorporates many of the “satisfying and safe sex life,” for adults and rights sought by homosexual and transgender rights adolescents, defined in the bill as aged 10-19, and activists by promoting recognition of self-described children, provided that these are not against the law. KnightsLifeline 3_11_KLL Feb2011 3/24/11 3:03 PM Page 3

K OF C “DAY OF THE UNBORN CHILD” PREGNANCY CARE CENTERS If your council holds a special pro-life activity for There are over 2,300 pregnancy care centers this year’s observance of the annual Knights of (PCCs) throughout the , and about 160 Columbus “Day of the Unborn Child” on in Canada, that help pregnant women choose life for Thursday, March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, their unborn children. PCCs usually offer free be sure to submit information about it, with photos, pregnancy tests, education and counseling, low or to Columbia magazine. Whether your council no-cost baby clothes and supplies, diapers, referrals conducts a special Mass on behalf of the unborn, a for medical care or adoption, post-abortive support, Rosary for Life, or other spiritual and service training in natural family planning, and in many programs on behalf of unborn children and their cases, free sonograms of the unborn child. mothers, you can help publicize new pro-life PCCs are often located very close to an activities throughout the Order. Also, see the “Pro- , a college or a military base so young life” pages in the “Service Programs” section of the women considering abortion can easily find a website at www.kofc.org for pro-life program ideas. convenient and life-saving alternative. If your community has a PCC, the PCC probably has many ULTRASOUND INITIATIVE needs that your council may be able to meet. If your State and local councils that have recently helped community doesn’t have a PCC, a council could pregnancy care centers obtain ultrasound machines provide support to help start one. with matching funds from the Supreme Council are: Even in countries where abortion is illegal, Washington State Council such as the Philippines, PCCs could play a vital role Tri-Cities Pregnancy Network – Pasco Center (Pasco, WA) by helping pregnant women who may be scared, in denial, alone, too embarrassed or afraid to tell their New Jersey State Council parents, and ready to get an illegal abortion. Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center (Hawthorne, NJ) A friendly, compassionate volunteer at a PCC Delaware State Council can often help her sort out her feelings, offer her A Door of Hope (Wilmington, DE) life-giving options, and help her to choose life.

Minnesota State Council RESPECT LIFE MATERIALS Woodbury Life Center (Woodbury, MN) Item No. Title St. John CO 3281 Shared Pregnancy Women’s Center (Lansing, MI) 1757 - Pregnant? Need Help? - Birthright flyer Georgia State Council/St. Georges CO 6622 1938 - Defend Life - billboard use only (10’ x 20’) Holy Innocents Center/Missionaries of the Poor 2072 - Pray the Rosary to End Abortion-prayer card (Kingston, Jamaica) 2073 - Pray the Rosary to End Abortion - poster 4237 - Celebrate the Gospel of Life - prayer card Ashland CO 13407 4238 - Celebrate the Gospel of Life - poster Rogue Valley Pregnancy Resource Center (Medford, OR) 4665 - Prayer for Life - prayer card Councils in District #60 4795 - People of Life – flyer Community Pregnancy Center (Defiance, OH) 4804 - People of Life – poster 4863 - Culture of Life Fund – flyer Alabama State Council 9856 – On Our Knees - National Prayer for Life Women’s Hope Medical Clinic (Auburn, AL) prayer card – ($3 per 100 cards)

St. Stephen CO 9282 To order (no charge, unless indicated, except for Grace Pregnancy Resource Center (Nashville, TN) shipping), send a Requisition Form (#1), signed by St. Peter CO 10940 the grand knight or financial secretary, to: Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center (Boerne, TX) Knights of Columbus, Supply Department PO Box 1670, New Haven, CT 06507-0901 Gaylord Diocese Councils Or, from the U.S. or Canada, fax it to 1-800-266- Pregnancy Care Center of Traverse Bay Area (MI) 6340. Allow four weeks to ensure delivery. Supply order questions? Call 203-752-4214. For additional information: www.kofc.org/ultrasound KnightsLifeline 3_11_KLL Feb2011 3/24/11 3:03 PM Page 4

KNIGHT’S LIFELINE 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326

“WINNING WORDS OF LIFE” FLYER “Winning Words of Life” (#2275), a new four- tells how disabled children, such as those with page, full-color flyer, suggests how to build a Down syndrome, can bring joy to a family as they “Culture of Life” by offering responses to common learn to love without limit. It also holds up adoption pro-abortion arguments. as a loving option to help a woman make a good life The flyer describes for both herself and her child. how the pro-life Finally, the flyer tells how Project Rachel offers movement today is post-abortive women, and men, compassionate distinctly “women- assistance to aid in healing and invites them to centered,” recognizing return home to the Church by telling them of the the unbreakable bond good news of God’s mercy and forgiveness. between mother and The flyer may be ordered from the Supply child. Department in reasonable quantities, at no charge, The flyer tells except for shipping. about recent national polls that show the “DEFEND LIFE” SIGNS majority of the respondents now consider themselves “pro-life.” It These signs measure 13”x 20” and are for also tells how over 2,300 pregnancy care centers are carrying in a march or in a walk for life, while open nationwide to not only save unborn lives but sidewalk counseling, or during similar public to help new mothers make moral, informed choices demonstrations or displays. Call 203-752-4403 to based on medical facts and real alternatives to order signs. abortion. The flyer addresses why abortion is never the LEGISLATIVE ALERTS!!! answer, even in the so-called “hard” cases, where Would you like to be included in Knights of the violence of rape and incest can never be undone Columbus emails concerning communications from or healed by the additional violence of abortion, and the Supreme Council office and alerts concerning how in every pregnancy a doctor has at least two public policy issues in Congress and in your own patients under his care and that he must always try jurisdiction’s legislature? to save the life of the mother and the life of her Sign up today on the Knights of Columbus unborn child. homepage at www.kofc.org. Near the top of the Another section of the flyer describes how the homepage, at “E-mail Updates,” enter your contact Order’s Ultrasound Initiative provides women with information. a “window to the womb” to see the developing You will be alerted when you need to know child and to hear the baby’s heartbeat. The flyer about public policy issues affecting you!