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KNIGHTS PASS PRO-LIFE RESOLUTIONS INCLUDING ON STEM CELL RESEARCH

TORONTO, Aug 15, 2001 (LSN.ca) - At their annual international meeting over the weekend, the Knights of Columbus passed several pro-life resolutions, including a resolution on the contentious issue of embryonic stem cell research, urging "researchers and physicians to reject experiments and treatments that destroy human embryos," and the U.S. government to "terminate all federal funding for such research."

Embryonic stem cell research remains controversial because despite the purely conjectural and often exaggerated claims of its therapeutic potential, it requires the deliberate destruction of human beings in their earliest, embryonic stage of life. "Destroying human life at any stage of development in order to improve the quality of human life is intrinsically evil," the resolution declares.

Among other resolutions adopted, the Order strongly reaffirmed its "Crusade for Life," declaring that "abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide are contrary to God's law and the common good of every nation." In reaffirming its historic commitment to be "unconditionally pro-life," the Order declared it would "oppose vigorously any governmental actions that in any way promote, legalize or finance the performance of abortion, infanticide, euthanasia or assisted suicide." The resolution further condemns abortifacients such as RU-486 and Preven, the use of aborted babies in research, and efforts by the United Nations' population fund to promote abortion internationally.

The pro-life resolution also reaffirms the Order's policy against providing a public forum, or bestowing honors and privileges of the Knights, on anyone - especially public officials and candidates for public office - who does not support legal protection of unborn children, or who advocates for euthanasia, assisted suicide and partial-birth abortion.

The Knights will also begin to declare March 25, (for Catholics the feast of the Annunciation), as "Knights of Columbus Day of the Unborn Child," adopting a practice begun by the Mexican Conference of Catholic Bishops. Moreover, a sculpted silver rose, symbol of the right to life, will travel from Toronto to Monterey, Mexico, over the next several months, carried by members of the Knights of Columbus, their families and Columbian Squires.

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