TORONTO, Aug 7, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The Knights of Columbus’ Annual Supreme Council Meeting began today in Toronto with an expected 2000 members attending from around the world.
A resolution put forward by the New York state chapter calls on local Knights’ councils to take out newspaper, radio and TV ads publicizing elected officials’ statements and voting records on abortion. According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen, the ads should be timed for “maximum impact, in terms of educating the public and influencing the actions of elected officials” to encourage pro-life voting.
Phil Zakoor, chief administrative officer of the Ontario State Council, objected to the measure stating, “We take a softer approach . We’re not backing down on it, but I guess we’re more subtle about what we do.” Zakoor noted that the sale of rose stickers has raised about $500,000 for the pro-life cause since 1978.
However, in a speech to the annual meeting, the international head of the organization called for “new initiatives and new boldness.” According to a press release, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said, “the Order today has the resources to do more to defend life, promote vocations, preserve marriage and family life, support Catholic schools and participate in evangelization.” He said promoting marriage and family life according to the teaching of the Church was a “central tenet of the Order’s work.” He also said the Knights would continue its “defense of human life at all stages, from conception to natural death.”
A greeting from Pope John Paul II to the assembled Knights thanked the Knights for “its public witness to the Church’s teaching, especially with regard to the dignity and sanctity of human life.” The pope noted especially what he called “your tireless efforts to defend the life of he unborn” and support of the “Church’s proclamation of the Gospel of Life.” The pope said, “It is my hope that, as the evil fruits of the culture of death become more and more apparent, the Order will continue to makes its voice heard.”
See the coverage from the Ottawa Citizen and KofC releases: https://www.ottawacitizen.com/national/010807/5048739.html https://www.kofc.org/announce.cfm?thisrecord=99 https://www.kofc.org/announce.cfm?thisrecord=98