To Prohibit Pro-Abort Pols From KC-Sponsored Events

By ELIZABETH O’BRIEN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ( LifeSite­News) — At the Knights of Co­lumbus’ 125th annual conven­tion, the order officially resolved to forbid pro- abortion politicians from attending its events. The or­der also renewed its support for the traditional definition of mar­riage and called for the protection of conscience for people in the medical field.
During the final session of the Knights of Columbus convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on August 9, delegates passed the pro- life resolution, stating, “ We reaffirm our longstanding policy of not inviting to any Knights of Columbus event, persons, espe­cially public officials or candi­dates for public office, who do not support the legal protection of unborn children, or who advo­cate for the legalization of assist­ed suicide or euthanasia.”
In addition, they resolved to continue “ prohibiting such per­sons from renting or otherwise us­ing facilities over which we have control, or speaking at Knights of Columbus events, or bestowing on them honors or privileges of our order of any kind, or inviting them to serve as honorary chair­persons of events, celebrations, or committees, or hold any office in the Knights of Columbus.”
In the same resolution, the Knights stated their official oppo­sition to political moves toward allowing any scientific or clinical methods that jeopardize human life. They stated that “ we renew our deep commitment to oppose any governmental action or poli­cy that promotes abortion, embry­onic stem- cell research, human cloning, euthanasia, assisted sui­cide, and other offenses against life, and that we continue to speak out to our elected represen­tatives about the need to enact legislation to oppose these prac­tices and protect human life in all it stages.”
With this in mind, the Knights also called for laws protecting medical professionals and Catho­lic hospitals from acting against their conscience. They resolved to work for “ the adoption of laws that recognize and protect in law the right of conscience for doc­tors, nurses, pharmacists, and oth­er medical personnel, guarantee­ing that they may not be forced to provide medical services which violate their religious beliefs.” They also resolved to “ insist on similar protection for Catholic hospitals.”
Inspired by Pope John Paul II’s reminder ( in Evangelium Vitae) to grapple with modern culture by means of proper moral formation, the order committed itself to pro­viding solid pro-life education with­in society. The Knights affirmed, “We continue our efforts to inform, educate, and motivate, in a charita­ble manner, our elected officials, the public, and our own members about the importance of being consistent­ly and unequivocally pro-life.”
While condemning the evil of abortion, the Knights also compas­sionately supported the double vic­tims — the unborn child and post­abortive mother. The order resolved to “support programs that provide women facing crisis pregnancies with alternatives to abortion, includ­ing adoption,” and to “ support projects that provide spiritual sup­port to those women suffering from the traumatic emotional and psy­chological after-effects of abortion.” Finally, the Knights reaffirmed their commitment to “ building a ‘ culture of life’ by promoting pol­icies that favor the family, and by recognizing that it is within strong and healthy families that moral values are taught and that the spiritual and cultural heritage of the nation is transmitted.”
They concluded with a resolu­tion to pray the rosary and do pen­ance in reparation for the sins against life.
During the same convention, which marked the 125th anniversa­ry of the order which was founded in 1882, the Knights issued resolu­tions on “Support for Natural Mar­riage,” on “ Honoring Our Armed Forces,” on “Decency in the Media and on the Internet,” and a further commitment for the use of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The order awarded its highest honor, the Gaudium et Spes award, to keynote speaker Tarcisio Car­dinal Bertone, the Vatican secre­tary of state. During the confer­ence, the cardinal promised to support the canonization of the Knights of Columbus founder Fr. Michael McGivney, according to Catholic World News. He also challenged members of the order to remain faithful to Christ as lay­men in a secular world and to courageously spread the Gospel.