tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53238895336778389682024-03-13T09:01:43.922-04:00Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Parish, Dunn NCCOUNCIL 9001 HAS BEEN DISSOLVED IN PROTEST OF SUPREME COUNCIL'S INACTION ON BELOW DESCRIBED ACTIONS.Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-84541784804897182942012-01-24T10:50:00.002-05:002012-01-24T10:55:36.749-05:00Withdrawals VoluntaryFor those members who would like to voluntarily withdrawl the bylaws confirm that all you have to do is send a letter in to the Supreme Secretary at:<br /><br />Supreme Secretary<br />Knights Of Columbus Supreme Council Office,<br />1 Columbus Plaza,<br />New Haven, CT 06510-3326<br /><br />Forward a copy of this to your Financial Secretary and your Grand Knight; and they should also forward it up to the District and State Deputy.Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-34402448409803435072011-09-19T16:15:00.002-04:002011-09-19T16:20:01.470-04:00The Order of Saints Michael and Louis IXhttp://ordosctismichaelietlouisix.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Please visit the above link, whereas it will be replacing this blog.<br /><br />We the Knights of Sacred Heart parish wish to continue in service to our parish and to Holy Mother Church. We have instituted our own Chivalric Order of Knighthood under the patronage of Sts. Michael and Louis IX. We ask for your continued support and prayers.<br /><br />St. Michael, Defend us!<br />St. Louis IX, Pray for us!Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-63828166524130572612011-09-19T16:09:00.004-04:002011-09-19T16:14:18.776-04:00Note To Supreme Council of Knights of Columbus<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nUZ38C_WVEA/Tneh4Ro994I/AAAAAAAAAlA/DD8G5NIUrJM/s1600/mediev1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nUZ38C_WVEA/Tneh4Ro994I/AAAAAAAAAlA/DD8G5NIUrJM/s320/mediev1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654165845366929282" /></a><br /><br />We the undersigned being members of this Council, do hereby assemble ourselves in allegiance with Holy Mother Church, the Holy See, Holy Father, our Diocese and Bishop, our parish and Priest. We though laymen desire to conduct ourselves with a level of devoutness, purity, prowess and honor. We are disheartened and betrayed by the leadership or lack thereof of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus and State Council of North Carolina and we hereby articulate several grievances that have emerged through the course of inaction, cowardice and disgracefulness in the order.<br /> There have been several instances of inaction by commanding officials of this order. In specifically we are speaking first of the disgraceful memo that was sent to all Grand Knights whereby the Supreme Council did "refuse to allow suspension of members who promote abortion and gay marriage." Supreme Advocate John Marrella's example of bishops who do not "ex- communicate" Catholic politicians who vote in favor of abortion and same-sex marriage for why the K of C cannot "excommunicate" these men is a misnomer. As a Catholic fraternal organization the K of C does not have the authority to "excommunicate" from the Catholic Church any of its members; however, it does have the authority and duty to "discharge" any member whose behavior is a constant scandal to the Catholic faith. What happened to subsidiary? An individual priest would be within his rights to refuse communion to anyone guilty of public sin. Why should a local or state council be prevented from acting as their conscience dictates? Upon initiation, the Chaplain, which is generally the parish priest of the local council decides the “Catholicity” of the candidates the bishop is not consulted, nor is it a requisite. If the Candidate is not a practicing Catholic or is not in communion with the Church they are denied membership. This is the same for members as well, whereas he would have a more familiar involvement with member’s public stance and whether he has been resolved with Holy Mother Church. We are not speaking of an individual’s struggle with sin in general but the public display of support for such issues that are clearly not in line with the Catholic Church or the order. Which to us implies that one maintains not only a belief in but a support of it's tenets with regard to the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the Sacrament of Marriage. Nonetheless, laymen can be excommunicated on their own with out a Bishop’s pronouncement by way of their sinful actions and/ or failure to act when it is necessary to do so; such as against abortion or other political views that are contrary to the faith. Therefore public officials who need to be “excommunicated” already are due to their public display of support for such issues that are anti-catholic or go against the teachings of Holy Mother Church. This is referred to in Canon Law (915) as latæ sententiæ. When considered from a moral standpoint, the guilt requisite for the sentence of excommunication implies, first, the full use of reason; second sufficient moral liberty; finally, knowledge of the law and even of the penalty which in this case is Latae Sententiae. It is clear that a public official that continually supports issues that are contrary to Catholic teaching is not going to be in communion with Holy Mother Church whereas we are all Catechized so that we know what it is we are supposed to believe in. In cases such as these the politicians have no excuse; the Bishops who refuse to exercise their duty and right not to allow politicians who act against church teachings to receive communion have no excuse. We as an Order of Catholic Knights have no excuse to not admonish those who are against the very Church we are sworn to defend! By not allowing these self-excommunicated members who publicly support such sins as abortion and gay marriage to participate in council activities is not to be mean, harsh or judgmental but to preserve the very thing it is that we say we are dedicated to defend. No human is perfect but for a knight to say that they are in support of Catholic faith but then supports such things as that which is under discussion is deceitful, and not honorable. This type of action is dishonorable and disgraceful. A real-life slap in the face. By the inaction of Supreme Council or the lack of rescinding the memo and blaming Bishops for inaction on something that said self-excommunicated member is already outside of the normal and moral practice of his faith and has thereby distanced himself from the teachings of the Church and by proxy of the Order; is pure cowardice. We can not excommunicate but we can and should discipline, whether it be through temporary suspension or whatever course of action is necessary and just. Naturally praying for the member is a given and should be in practice; the extra step of discipline is a must. <br /> Another form of inaction experienced is that of the Council of this State in an issue that involved a Fourth Degree Knight publicly humiliating and disrespecting an Ordained priest of Holy Mother Church and even went so far as orchestrating a demonstration and pad locking the parish and not allowing said priest to enter “Church” property. This same knight has since served as Honor Guard at State Convention Masses. In this case the Bishop took action and placed an interdict on the parish and they were publicly admonished by the Bishop. The brother knight should know better, the church is not ours; it belongs to God; the priest is the caretaker of the building the same as of our souls. What blatant disrespect. Inexcusable! As knights we are called to be in solidarity with our priests. We must let it be known that we do not tolerate such behavior from our members. The State Council was asked that to speak out against this, just as His Excellency made his authority be known, so too must we let our courage and solidarity be known. In response we were informed that the official stance of the State Council is that "We will pray for Father". We were told as of now there is nothing that they can do, the Diocese has everything under control. They will support Father and will respond in case of an additional occurrence." Although the State Deputy agreed with us that this incident was the most humiliating thing that can happen to a priest, he assured us that if it gets out of hand then the State will step in and offer their assistance. The situation had already been out of hand and nothing was done to remedy the behavior of the “brother” who was not only a key figure in the act but a ring leader. Nothing was done. The message sent in effect was that it was ok to disrespect a priest of God and publicly humiliate him. Wow! What a chivalrous act indeed! We beg to differ! Failure to do so is in itself scandalous and an act of cowardice! Are we not to have a Catholic backbone? Are we to give in to liberal political agenda? The answer is a resounding NO! This stance will only perpetuate the problem and as stated turn the order into hypocritical cowards. <br /> The State Council has on several occasions employed the use of altar girls at state conventions. While this is a larger issue in which all Catholics should speak out against for obvious reasons, no one does. Without placing judgment on anyone and speaking out of charity; to continue to allow such liberalism at a state level is detrimental to our Catholic faith and to the order. It is the responsibility of the knights to defend every aspect of the faith and it is common sense that altar girls should not be in use and we will not try to argue the point here for this particular document. This would not be an issue if the entire order supported the Traditional Latin Mass. This is the Mass that inspired Catholic Warriors to defend Christendom at the Battle of Lepanto, the Battle of Vienna, during the Holy Crusades, etc. This is the Mass that strengthened centuries upon centuries of martyrs as they were led away to be beheaded, burned or have their guts slit open and their insides ripped out... all for the high crime of being Catholic." The Beauty and Graces offered by the Latin Mass should not be thrown to the way side. It is the Mass that has been used by the Catholic Church for almost 1500 years. One of the great strengths of the Latin Mass is its uniformity. Wherever Catholics go in the world the Latin Mass is exactly the same. The movements and gestures of the Mass are clearly prescribed, so there is no room for "personalization" of the liturgy. This factor alone works hand in hand with Holy Mother Church’s mission of Unity and establishes something for us Catholics to truly and humbly boast. And the time-honored Latin of the Mass reverently reflects the sacrificial nature of the celebration. Most importantly the Latin Mass secures the appropriate level of sanctity and reverence due Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is truly present in the Eucharist, and as such demands such level of respect and reverence by which the Latin Mass is founded. The Second Vatican Council was a true Church council however the massive destruction it has caused is not due to the misinterpretation of the Council's documents, but rather the documents themselves and at the present is grievously harmful to the Faith. The Novus Ordo mass is a valid Mass if done correctly, especially with the new translation and there is no qualm against its use, so long as it is done correctly. By correctly we mean within the proper legality of the mass, absent of such liberal abnormalities such as altar girls, clown masses, hippie masses, jazz dance masses and other abominations and desecrations to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. We as knights claim to be in support of our priests yet we as an order disobey the Holy Father when it comes to his Motu Proprio on Summorum Pontificum and the regular use of the Traditional Latin Mass. We refuse to be like the rest of those who have been led astray and take up the sword which is the Holy Mass and aim to defend the true teachings of Holy Mother Church. <br /> Lastly the order has become more institutionalized and has ventured away from the ideals laid down by the venerable Fr. McGivney. The KofC claims to stand for life & families, but clearly only stands for the bottom line & profit! In a recent publishing of the top fortune 500 companies, the order was highlighted. It was described as a fraternal benefit society, a company, charity organization and such business like language. Nothing was stated of Catholicity nor was the word Catholic ever utilized. It is apparently obvious that the Order is looking at each situation from a business standpoint and is fearful of losing money, gained by insurance we should look to the code of Chivalry that would not allow the order to act as it is in this instance. It is even more disheartening to hear a field agent propose that without the insurance side of things the order would not survive. The rule of Chivalry expressly requires knights to be a visible example of holiness and moderation. The Templars would not allow any member to remain among them if they went about contrary to the Rule of their order which was written by the Catholic Priest Bernard of Clairvoux. Nonetheless the original motivation of Huge de Payen (the founder of the order) sustained the Temple for a relatively short time. It may be the rapid institutionalization was sufficient in itself to modify the original concept beyond recognition. The order has become institutionalized and will share in the fate of the Templars: extinction, excommunication or censure. Not only because of what it has done; but what those in charge have failed to do just to add bodies to the Order. Every month we hear that we need to recruit more men, what good are new members if they are not worthy to be called a knight. Who would not want to serve in a council full of such hypocrites? We do not, nor will we ask any man to involve himself in such a shameful organization. It would appear that the order indeed has become anything but catholic. <br /> Outrageous cowardice! The Knights have been, and remain irrelevant to the process of restoring the laws and the culture of the United States to be in accord with Catholic moral teaching. Disgraceful! These are the fearless knights? Why can't a local council take courageous action in the face of the national copout and let the chips fall where they may?? <br />Profit is the answer! The order is just pushing itself further towards being just an irrelevant social club. If we cannot do what it is that we say we must do as knights, then we have failed our faith, Holy Mother Church, and God. This just makes us seem cowardly and defeats the purpose. <br /> We declare our intent to preserve Chivalric values of the purest form and to conduct ourselves in such a manner as to be warrior-brothers where the meekness and humility of Catholic life are united with the courage and noble intent of the virtuous knight and shall represent the perfect combination of physical force and inner strength so exalted in ages past but not forgotten. In doing so we must distance ourselves from the Knights of Columbus and hereby withdrawal our membership therein and aim to create and our own order of Chivalry. We shall also preserve, celebrate, promote and support the Traditional Mass and all the traditional teachings of Holy Mother Church. Above all we wish to defend our faith which has been revealed by God and made manifest in the One, Holy, Apostolic Roman Catholic Church through the life, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and through the guidance of the Holy Ghost; and to uphold her teachings and especially her Most Cherished traditions in the Latin Rite. We understand that indeed it is not against enemies in the flesh and blood that we have to fight, but against the Lords, the Powers, the Rulers of the world of darkness, against the evil spirits which inhabit the heavens, yet we stand ready and on guard as a Militia Dei in service and in defense against all enemies of the Church. <br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XTIzgrtQvrM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-36514522401811762092011-09-19T16:04:00.005-04:002011-09-19T16:08:46.463-04:00Dissolution of Charter; We will no longer serve under KofC.This DISSOLUTION OF CHARTER is entered into by and among the officers and members of the Father Michael Irwin Council 9001 (“Council 9001”) of the Knights of Columbus.<br /><br />W I T N E S S E T H<br /><br />WHEREAS, the Father Michael Irwin Council 9001 received its charter from the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus on June 4, 1985; <br /><br /> WHEREAS, Council 9001 was formed as a spin off council out of the Dr. John Carr Monk Council 7259 in Newton Grove, North Carolina;<br /><br />WHEREAS, Council 9001 has maintained good standing with the Supreme Council and the North Carolina State Council of the Knights of Columbus for more than twenty years;<br /><br />WHEREAS, it is now apparent to the members of Council 9001 that the Knights of Columbus as a national organization is no longer focused on its original mission and that Supreme Council is more concerned with promoting its insurance business and serving the interests of this world rather than being fully Catholic and serving the interests of the Kingdom of Heaven; <br /><br />WHEREAS, the members of Council 9001 are committed to serving the Catholic Church in true Christian Charity and cannot in good conscience continue to be connected with the lukewarm Catholicism manifested by the Supreme Council over the course of the last ten or more years; <br /><br />WHEREAS, Council 9001 desires to better utilize its limited resources separate and apart from the oversight and/or influence of Supreme Council and Council 9001 desires to separate itself from the needless frustrations and distractions of membership in the state and national organizations of the Knights of Columbus; <br /><br />WHEREAS, in order to position itself to better support and serve the salvific mission of the Catholic Church, Council 9001 shall dissolve its charter, sever all ties with Supreme Council and the North Carolina State Council, and shall continue on as a distinct, separate and independent Catholic lay organization. <br /><br />NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned council hereby submits the following Dissolution of Charter for the purpose of dissolving Father Michael Irwin Council 9001.<br /><br />1. The name of the council is the Father Michael Irwin Council 9001.<br /><br />2. The names and titles of the officers are:<br /><br />Fr. Paul Matthew Parkerson, Chaplain<br />Pepe Aguilar, Grand Knight<br />Jimmy Grace, Deputy Grand Knight<br />Shawn Sparrow, Financial Secretary<br />Edward C. Sopp, Jr., Chancellor/Recorder<br /><br />3. This Dissolution of Charter was authorized during that regular monthly business meeting of Council 9001 held on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.<br /><br />4. This Dissolution of Charter was approved by a majority vote of the members of Council 9001.<br /><br />5. This Dissolution of Charter is effective as of the first date written below.<br /><br /> This the 24th day of August, 2011.<br /><br />Signed, Officers and members of Fr. Michael Irwin Council 9001Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-12760742352485260592011-08-19T18:22:00.002-04:002011-08-19T18:59:25.936-04:00Fidelity Magazine; Knight Errant: The Knights of Columbus Finally Confront Their Biggest ProblemTo elaborate more on the Fidelity Magazine article that Mr. Voris is referencing below I posted a link to that article <a href="http://www.culturewars.com/CultureWars/Archives/Fidelity_archives/kc.html">HERE</a>
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<br />It is quite disturbing for that an issue had to be dragged out, it's even more disturbing that this problem has persisted without remedy! Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-90927164748453213422011-08-08T23:52:00.002-04:002011-08-08T23:55:51.335-04:0020 years of hypocrisy: The Knights of Columbus must be dissolvedAnother look at the knights of Columbus, where MR. Voris has acquired some more interesting information..... A must see new update on the disapointment of kofC.
<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8xjOQTe12Os" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-14715905665322421172011-07-29T22:22:00.002-04:002011-07-30T15:42:25.621-04:00Pope: Catholic politicians must protect lifeWww.breitbart.com/article.php?Id=d96e13500<br />VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development," the Vatican said. Pelosi is the first top Democrat to meet with Benedict since the election of Barack Obama, who won a majority of the Catholic vote despite differences with the Vatican on abortion. The Vatican released remarks by the pope to Pelosi, saying Benedict spoke of the church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion. Benedict said all Catholics—especially legislators, jurists and political leaders—should work to create "a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development." Pelosi could not immediately be reached after the 15-minute meeting, which was closed to reporters and photographers. The two met in a small room of a Vatican auditorium after the pope's weekly public audience. A number of the bishops in the United States have questioned Pelosi's stance on abortion, particularly her theological defense of her support for abortion rights.<br /><br />IMPORTANT<br />Pope declares Catholic politicians who support pro-abortion legislation cannot take Communion!<br />Other links<br />www.tldm.org/news7/ratzinger.htm<br />www.catholictradition.org/life/papa-benedetto.htmChief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-90431284150599367172011-07-26T21:43:00.004-04:002011-10-30T14:35:35.576-04:00Same Sex Marriage dependent on Knights who vote in favorIt is very discouraging to see the "premiere" Catholic Men's organization (the K of C's) helping destroy souls and the nation, by facilitating homosexual "marriage" (as if this was even a possible concept).<br /><br />The following shows how those in powerful positions in NY government, and also members of this fabulously wealthy organization (the K of C's), did the devil's bidding.<br /><br />K of C State Senators Joe Addabbo & David Carlucci cast crucial votes to pass "Gay Marriage" in NY (33-29) on 24/Jun/11. Gay Marriage is now in 5 North East states: CT, MA, NH, NY, VT; also DC, IA, (introduced, later defeated in CA, ME). MA State Deputy Dick Guerriero failed to suspend Pro-Abortion/Pro-Gay pols, but signed an Open Letter endorsing Mitt Romney (R), who introduced Gay Marriage on 17/May/2004, flipped on abortion! On 14/Jun/07, the heavily-Catholic MA Legislature, in Constitutional Convention, voted to defeat the efforts of 170,000 signatories to put traditional marriage on the 2008 ballot. (R) Republicans, others Dems. <br /><br />K of C claim to be Pro-Life and to be the “Strong right arm of the Church”! This was true when the late John McDevitt was Supreme Knight (1964-1977). Now, Carl Anderson ($1,216,524/yr), SK since 2000 fails to suspend/expel the many Pro-Abortion/Pro-Homosexual K of C pols. In his 2010 Supreme Knight Message to State Conventions video, Anderson never mentioned the Right to Life or marriage. This is grave given that he is a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Pontifical Council for the Family and is a USCCB Pro-Life Committee consultant.<br />SK Virgil Dechant (1977 to 2000. He received $2,164,805 on retirement!), and K of C Board of Directors “refused to capitulate” to Pro-Life Catholics who criticized the Order for not expelling “pro-choice” pols (K of C official history: Faith and Fraternalism, 1992, P451). As a Past SK, Dechant is a lifetime Supreme Director. In Aug 2005, he told Ken Fisher, President of Concerned Roman Catholics of America (CRCOA), that Pro-Abortion pols will “never” be expelled. Patrick Korten, VP for Communications, said that Pro-Abortion members are “few” and “irrelevant” (Boston Herald 11/Aug/07). Joe Mauro, Executive VP Agencies & Marketing ($386,321/yr, retired 2001), said on tape c. 1991, that Pro-Lifers who were writing “thousands and thousands of letters” to K of C HQ seeking to expel Pro-Abortion members, are “...real fanatics out there, radicals...this is the ‘House Rule’...I, I’d prefer you kept silent on the issue (abortion)”. <br />Supreme Advocate (lawyer) John Marrella ($400,055/yr), wrote on 15/Apr/10 that subordinate councils may not discipline public figures. This is contrary to the Charter Constitution and Laws SEC. 162., which specifies suspension by the State Deputy under SEC. 166. for Giving Scandal etc. No bishop is involved! On 13/Jan/10, w/o legal basis, he directed that members, state/local councils must not contact pols on matters of faith/morals, except as “private citizens”. Marrella & MA SD Michael Baldner got awards from Bp. Arthur Kennedy, Rector of St. John’s Seminary on 4/Dec/10. Fr. Bob Kickham, Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s Secy., is Assoc. K of C Chaplain. YouTube.com/user/RealCatholicTV?blend=1&ob=5#p/search/0/LdQw_PlC9QM <br />Cardinal O’Malley gave Pro-Abortion/Pro-Gay Sen. Ted Kennedy a hero's funeral on 29/Aug/09. He advertised “HOLY WEEK 2010” in Bay Windows, New England’s largest Gay (GLBT) paper. He wasn’t among the 83 US bishops who protested President Barack Obama as Notre Dame’s ’09 Commencement Speaker/Awardee (LifeSiteNews.com). In Dec ’05, he allowed Catholic Charities to award Boston Mayor Tom Menino, a Pro-Abortion Catholic who attends the Gay Pride Parade every June. Fr. Walter Cuenin, K of C, promoted the parade. Boston City Councilors Michael Flaherty & John Tobin, both K of C, marched. <br /><br /><em><strong>More Food for thought</strong></em><br /><a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2007/jul/07070605">Knights of Columbus Calls Pro-Gay “Marriage” Knights “Embarrassing”</a><br /><a href="http://lesfemmes-thetruth.blogspot.com/2011/07/same-sex-marriage-and-scandalous.html">Same Sex Marriage and Scandalous Knights of Columbus </a><br /><br />http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/communications/documents/poll_ct_409.pdf<br /><br />In an April 2011 article titled called to change the world Supreme Knight Anderson writes "As Christians, we can neither blindly accept nor run away from the way things are. In his most recent apostolic exhortation, Verbum Domini, Pope Benedict writes, "The word of God makes us change our concept of realism" (10). We are called to change lives and to transform the world. As Knights of Columbus, we are called to do so by living more completely our principles and by bringing them to life in the lives of others." He then wrote in a January article We Dare Not Forget "In my recent book Beyond a House Divided: The Moral Consensus Ignored by Washington, Wall Street and the Media, I have put forward statistical evidence showing that the American people by a large majority remain committed to the moral foundations of our country. These findings should give us confidence as we continue to promote the traditional moral values that offer the best hope for the future of our nation and the world."<br /><br />Yet he does not take the necessary steps to correct problems. No matter what is happening in the Church with liberals abound, we should be the last to have problems. We should set the example by being the "right arm" and disciplining members who publicly cause scandal like the above mentioned politicians. They talk about Fraternal correction and prayer. Use the fraternal correction "discipline". Instead They make up excuses and play with words to create the Hypocrisy that is the Knights of Columbus. Fr. McGivney would not be happy right now! We sure ain't!Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-24498810922253881942011-07-26T00:51:00.002-04:002011-07-26T00:54:31.270-04:00Knights of Columbus Supreme Council fail againWell, it has been said on this blog not once but a couple of times that Supreme Council is so weak. Its not just us who are seeing this. I urge you to watch Michael Voris' thoughts. If you can't see this then you are too nieve! <br /><br />If Supreme doesn't stand up and grow a pair of balls then whats the use of staying in the organization...........<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZZduFsbwN84" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-77572308946876560632011-07-13T00:02:00.003-04:002011-07-13T00:26:49.470-04:00Catholics cannot be Masons. KofC members Cannot be Masons!This has been an issue with some men who think that they can be both Mason's and Catholics. Then Cardinal Ratzinger, reaffirms that Catholics cannot be Mason's. There are numerous members of the KofC that are Mason's (I know its unimaginable!) There is even a whole local parish that is a safe haven for Mason's and the Council of said parish is engulfed with Mason's. Say it aint so! I wish I could! <br /><br />John Salza, a Catholic and former Mason explains why Catholics cannot be Masons. Worth watching them all. <br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Stu6rTacfAk&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Stu6rTacfAk&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zcPSTxbzxhs&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zcPSTxbzxhs&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YWeKg_iPGG8&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YWeKg_iPGG8&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSU0XqDpR48&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSU0XqDpR48&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0RdYEYl2avM&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0RdYEYl2avM&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VSnujCXW63E&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VSnujCXW63E&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-86406560972842381102011-07-02T03:27:00.006-04:002011-07-02T04:18:25.072-04:00WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A91Cv3Bj1lQ/Tg7Kgq5QQKI/AAAAAAAAAfU/yTBv-T4FcvA/s1600/knights-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 344px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A91Cv3Bj1lQ/Tg7Kgq5QQKI/AAAAAAAAAfU/yTBv-T4FcvA/s400/knights-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624655647251382434" /></a><br /><br />Council 9001 is not the only Traditional minded Council in the Order. Deo Gratias! As Fr. Z says "brick by brick". We will fight to undo all that those in higher leadership ignorantly destroys. I call for all those who are serious about knighthood, Catholicism and more importantly standing up for Holy Mother Church without hypocrisy and to do what it is we say we will do; to Unite! We must Unite for Truth. We must spread the Catholic Faith, but more importantly show the treasure of the Latin Mass which will unite the entire church as One, Holy and Catholic just like Christ intended. It will not be ignored, Vatican 2 can not save you from it, because Vatican 2 calls for it. More importantly Holy Father Benedict XVI calls for it. The Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum is real, it is legal and it is Catholic. Ignore it and you will perish. To disobey the Holy Father is sinful. To brush off the Traditional Latin Mass is probably sinful too. (I'm not a cannonist, nor judge of sins on the soul; just an opinion so don't start boo-hooing yet you nose bleeding liberal you [jk]!) Take up your armor, polish it off, get all that dust off of it that Supreme has coated with many layers and let's tell Supreme Knight Carl Anderson that we will not accept <a href="http://kofc9001dunn-nc.blogspot.com/2011/07/father-forgive-them-they-dont-realize.html">complacency, finger pointing and other weaknesses</a>. Are we Men? Are we Catholic? Are we Knights? If you can answer yes to all Three then act like it! Stand up for Truth! Be Courageous! <br /><br />We have the benefit of the Latin Mass daily. I challenge all knights that see this to do your part, initiate a Traditional Latin Mass. Encourage parishioners to learn about the Latin Mass and to attend one. It's not that hard. You use a Missal in the Novus Ordo mass, just like you use one int the Latin Mass. So what you will have to learn something new. That is the challenge and fun of it. You will learn so much about your Catholic faith that it will definitely be renewed and strengthened. What are you afraid of? Me personally, Hell! I'll take whatever tool I can get to fight off the Devil, the Father of Lies, the Ancient Serpent who is Satan. In the end the Latin Mass will bring Holy Mother Church back to Her Glory and with Her Treasure the Assaults of the Devil will be constantly repelled! Forever! Got Cajones (Huevos)? Put Christ where your mouth is: IN A STATE OF GRACE, on your knees at the altar rail during a Latin Mass. BE A REAL MAN, PRAY THE ROSARY AND GO TO THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mrf45MpgJgE/Tg7QboELgrI/AAAAAAAAAfc/MAQQr7PBFkI/s1600/Small%252BElevation.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mrf45MpgJgE/Tg7QboELgrI/AAAAAAAAAfc/MAQQr7PBFkI/s400/Small%252BElevation.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624662157662323378" /></a><br /><br />Visor lift to Fr. Z: post inserted below!<br /><br /><a href="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/06/traditional-knights-unite/">TRADITIONAL KNIGHTS UNITE!</a><br />I had a note from a good friend, and very active Knight, who is trying to put together an initiative for traditionally-minded Knights of Columbus.<br /><br />He pointed out that over the last year several posts here announced Masses in the Extraordinary Form sponsored by Knights of Columbus Councils.<br /><br />For example, in March there was the Mass for the Feast of the Annunciation sponsored by the Harvard Knights in Cambridge. There were also Masses for the First Friday All-Night Vigil sponsored by the Agnus Dei and Regina Coeli Knights in Manhattan. Also, for the Feast of the Annunciation/Incarnation a year ago also in Manhattan.<br /><br />I am a Knight myself, though I haven’t been very active as a Knight for some time. I am happy to see the Knights supporting the liturgical renewal Pope Benedict XVI has been trying to initiate, especially through the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. If we want to have a renewal of the life of the Church, we must first renew our liturgical worship. That renewal must include use of the provisions of Summorum Pontificum, which were intended for all the faithful (Universae Ecclesiae 8).<br /><br />But, this got me wondering … how many Councils of the Knights of Columbus are involved in supporting celebrations of Mass in the extraordinary form?<br /><br />Are any of these councils in touch with each other?<br /><br />My guess is that they are not networked<br /><br />So, having had conversation with a friend who is a Knight, and who is interested in carrying forward an initiative to get different Councils talking to each other, if you know of or are involved with a Knights of Columbus Council that supports or sponsors Mass in the extraordinary form, you might send your contact information to this e-mail address tradknight {at] gmail DOT com which my friend set up to put these councils into contact with each other.<br /><br />Perhaps a first project could be to set up a meeting of members of traditional Councils and organize, say, a Pontifical Mass.<br /><br />Just thinking out aloud.<br /><br />UPDATE: <br /><br />So far there is a good response.<br /><br />Be sure to write to the email address I indicated above. I am not creating a link, so as to avoid spammers sending to that address. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjaoEIsswXc/Tg7TAe9mXwI/AAAAAAAAAfk/LPCx20kPHLk/s1600/I%2BWANT%2BYOU.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjaoEIsswXc/Tg7TAe9mXwI/AAAAAAAAAfk/LPCx20kPHLk/s400/I%2BWANT%2BYOU.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624664989897219842" /></a>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-69161889562300309852011-07-02T02:00:00.014-04:002011-10-30T16:07:15.346-04:00Father Forgive Them, They Don't Realize What They Do<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IS588GVP-U/Tg7DhcgmBoI/AAAAAAAAAfM/vFveHV1tt_Y/s1600/tarnished%2Barmor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 60px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IS588GVP-U/Tg7DhcgmBoI/AAAAAAAAAfM/vFveHV1tt_Y/s400/tarnished%2Barmor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624647963988330114" /></a><br />The following are articles that are of grievous concern:<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100511-news-5110397">Clergy leave KOFC over pro-choice event</a><br /><a href="http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/brown/100525">Knights in tarnished armor</a><br /><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=650">of Knights and bishops... and getting rooked </a><br /><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/articles.cfm?id=443">The Knights of Columbus: Forgetting What it Means to be a Man?</a><br /><a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2010/may/10052013">Knights of Columbus Rejection of Request to Expel Pro-Abort Knights Receives Criticism</a><br /><a href="http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/8462917479.html">CRCOA Condemn K of C Inaction on Abortion, Gay Marriage</a><br /><a href="http://www.nhinsider.com/letters-to-the-editor/2011/8/3/john-ogorman-k-of-c-bring-gay-marriage-to-ny-betray-unborn-2.html">John O'Gorman - K OF C BRING GAY MARRIAGE TO NY, BETRAY UNBORN, 2/AUG/2011 </a><br /><a href="http://lifeandliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/knights_scandal_executive_summary3.pdf">Knights of Columbus Scandal of Keeping Public Pro-Abortion and Pro-HomosexualKnights</a><br /><br />In essence what happened is Supreme Council sent a memo to all local Councils that forbids any action to be taken against members who support legalized abortion or same-sex marriage. This memo was sent after a Massachusetts council sent in a resolution to suspend members who are politicians who gave public support to abortion and same-sex marriage. This was declared inappropriate by Supreme Advocate John Marrella.<br />Marrella declared that "a subordinate council may not impose fraternal discipline with respect to a public figure's official actions on matters pertaining to faith and morals. Rather, any such discipline must be made by or at the direction of the Supreme Board of Directors. We recognize that some of our members who are public figures may use their public position to advocate or support policy positions that are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals," Marrella conceded in his letter. He went on to admit that such public advocacy "contradicts the Catholic identity and mission of the Order". Marrella went on to say that the K of C would not go further than the American bishops in taking public action against members whose public stands conflict with Church moral teachings. "If the public figure's bishop has not excommunicated him for his public positions on issues relating to matters of faith and morals, it would be highly inappropriate for the Knights of Columbus to do so,"<br />Supreme will never oust a member because of his support for abortion. If the local councils are forbidden to act, and the national leadership is unwilling to act, then the disgrace will continue: prominent men who support the killing of the unborn, and go against the Teaching of Holy Mother Church as well as disrespecting clergy will be allowed to parade around in the guise of Catholic knighthood. In reality this is happening even still, on a daily basis. Supreme has allowed the Order to become a business institution, not a Catholic Fraternity. I think Fr. McGivney is rolling in his grave.<br /><br /><strong>I, Grand Knight P. Aguilar sent the following Memo to Supreme, without response...:</strong><br />[Worthy Supreme Knight,<br />As it concerns the memorandum in reference to protocol involving public officials, their counter-faith stance and their membership in the order I must inquire further, as at this point it appears to be unethical, and thereby unlawful. As such I am duty bound by the rules of Chivalry; the annals of knights, crusaders and martyrs who came before me and my faith as a Catholic layman to disobey such a request<br />Upon initiation, the Chaplain, which is generally the parish priest of the local council decides the “Catholicity” of the candidates the bishop is not consulted, nor is it a requisite. If the Candidate is not a practicing Catholic or is not in communion with the Church they are denied membership. This is the same for members as well, whereas he would have a more familiar involvement with member’s public stance and whether he has been resolved with Holy Mother Church. I am not speaking of an individual’s struggle with sin in general but the public display of support for such issues that are clearly not in line with the Catholic Church. Which to me implies that one maintains not only a belief in but a support of it's tenets with regard to the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the Sacrament of Marriage. Nonetheless, laymen can be excommunicated own their own with out a Bishop’s pronouncement by way of their sinful actions and/ or failure to act when it is necessary to do so; such as against abortion or other political views that are contrary to the faith. Therefore public officials who need to be “excommunicated” already are due to their public display of support for such issues that are anti-catholic or go against the teachings of Holy Mother Church. This is referred to in Canon Law as latæ sententiæ. When considered from a moral standpoint, the guilt requisite for the sentence of excommunication implies, first, the full use of reason; second sufficient moral liberty; finally, knowledge of the law and even of the penalty which in this case is Latae Sententiae. It is clear that a public official that continually supports issues that are contrary to Catholic teaching is not going to be in communion with Holy Mother Church whereas we are all Catechized so that we know what it is we are supposed to believe in. In cases such as these the politicians have no excuse; the Bishops who refuse to exercise their duty and right not to allow politicians who act against church teachings to receive communion have no excuse. We as an Order of Christian Knights have no excuse to not admonish those who are against the very Church we are sworn to defend!<br />I do not intend that the Order judge members’ souls; for that is the place of the Church: not just the bishop, but the priest has that authority to refuse communion. The Order has the responsibility to suspend or ultimately expel members if they are not publicly living up to the ideals of the Church or of the Order and are continually showing public display contrary to same. Again Canon law states: One is not only excommunicated by action of a Bishop. When one PUBLICLY opposes fundamental Church teaching and commits heresy, that person removes himself from the Church and "self-excommunicates." Supreme Advocate John Marrella's example of bishops who do not "ex- communicate" Catholic politicians who vote in favor of abortion and same-sex marriage for why the Order can not "excommunicate" these men is not only a misnomer but a shame to us as Catholic Knights to become so complacent when we are fighting to end abortion. This just makes us seem cowardly and defeats the purpose. As a Catholic fraternal organization the K of C does not have the authority to "excommunicate" from the Catholic Church any of its members; however, it does have the authority and duty to "discharge" any member whose behavior is a constant scandal to the Catholic faith. Failure to do so is in itself scandalous and an act of cowardice! Are we not to have a Catholic backbone? Are we to give in to liberal political agenda? The answer is a resounding NO! This stance will only perpetuate the problem and as stated turn the order into hypocritical cowards. Gerald du Aurillac, a Templar used his social station in a Christian way, that is, by using his power, even military power, no to plunder and pillage but to defend the defenseless people of Christ. These so-called Catholic Politicians have a duty to do the same, even if they are not knights, but especially if they are.<br />An individual priest would be within his rights to refuse communion to anyone guilty of public sin. Why should a local or state council be prevented from acting as their conscience dictates? I am well in favor for praying for them and even teaching them, however they are grown and should be well aware of their actions and how it jeopardizes their souls. Just like I know my personal sins jeopardize my own soul, but I take measures to frequently correct myself. As a Grand Knight and layperson I am not perfect nor do I purport myself to be without the stain of sin. I know that I am a sinner, however I go to confession on a regular basis, and I publicly uphold the teachings of the church and stand with the Church against such political issues that are contrary to our faith. Famed knight Ramon Lull wrote knights will by definition fail as they are human, but attain their grace in the striving for virtue, for the perseverance of seeking to overcome the vanities of the body and soul, to do what is 'right'. It is a striving for excellence even as we know that perfection is beyond our grasp, but that fact alone does not allow us to stop in our quest for it. Nonetheless, I do not and will not allow anyone who should bring such public shame and disgrace to the Catholic Church or the Order to participate in Council events or share an active roll within the council. What steps then are we to take to keep such shameful and blatant acts of irreverence, heresy and blasphemy from our midst if the Supreme Council decides to bind up the hands of local and state officers? Are we to allow them to continually claim membership and partake actively within our ranks and maintain their obstinacy to Holy Mother Church and those articles of faith, truths that She teaches to us? There must be some sort of consequence for such betrayal! I can only thank God that there are none within my Council (to my knowledge) that publicly support such anti-Catholic views.<br />Instead of the Order looking at this situation from a business standpoint and be fearful of losing money, gained by insurance we should look to the code of Chivalry that would not allow the order to act as it is in this instance. The rule of Chivalry expressly requires knights to be a visible example of holiness and moderation. The Templars would not allow any member to remain among them if they went about contrary to the Rule of their order which was written by the Catholic Priest Bernard of Clairvoux. Nonetheless the original motivation of Huge de Payen (the founder of the order) sustained the Temple for a relatively short time. It may be the rapid institutionalization was sufficient in itself to modify the original concept beyond recognition. If the leaders of this Order are not careful we too shall share in the fate of the Templars: extinction, excommunication or censure. Is it then the case that we are becoming too institutionalized? I would hope not but as it stands at this moment it would appear we have.<br />The famous knight Sir Geoffrey d’Charny wrote that piety and Chivalry do not occupy separate spaces in a knight’s consciousness; they are inseparable almost interchangeable qualities in men of war and insists that a good knight can wear his armor as purely and devoutly as any priest wears his vestments for Mass. Moreover, a knight must keep his conduct as thoroughly honest as any priest. He is certain that there can be no contradiction between a worthy knightly vocation and true religion. It is for these very reasons that I must disobey the Supreme Council’s memo. I have been a faithful knight, and a practicing Catholic and will remain so. However I can not sit back and allow anything or anyone to bring disgrace to my council or to this Order. I encourage you to rethink this strategy and will pray that St. Michael will guide us. However you should not bind our hands in doing what is right, just to add bodies to our Order if they are not worthy to be called a knight. I would not want to serve in a council full of such hypocrites, nor will I ask any man to involve himself in such shamefulness. As I stated my council has nothing to fear, nor do I for we are void of such dishonorableness. We have a Chaplain who stands by us and nourishes us in our Spiritual Warfare with Satan and his demons. Strengthened by the Traditional Latin Mass, we will continue to march into battle with our Armor fully polished, without tarnish of any sort. With the sincerest fraternal care I encourage you to do the same.]<br /><br /><strong>Irony indeed, from the horses mouth:<br />Guarding against false values (an article from KOFC website)<br />6/1/2005<br />Dominican Father Gabriel B. O’Donnell<br />The Knights of Columbus must always stand for the vision of faith commended to its first members by Father McGivney. The Knights of Columbus stands for the culture of life. The evils of abortion and euthanasia must be opposed and overcome. But the sanctity of life is also threatened by the false values that may pervade our homes.</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Has the KOFC lost its luster? Has the KOFC forgotten it's mission? Has the KOFC became too institutionalized?<br />YES!!!!!!!! The Only Thing I know to do is to Pray for Supreme Council, to fight for what is right and to let the voice of Truth be heard. We will effect the necessary change or we will let the cancer destroy what is evil and create something better. Which ever is best for Holy Mother Church. Holy Mother Church does not need the Order or its "knights" like they need Her!</span></strong><br /><strong>More Proof:</strong><br /><em>Knights of Columbus Climbs 29 Spots on Fortune’s® List of Top Companies 5/23/2011<br />The Knights of Columbus has moved up 29 places in Fortune’s® annual ranking of America’s 1000 largest companies this year according to the recently released<br />Fortune® list. Fortune’s® 2011 list ranks the Knights of Columbus – a fraternal benefit society – at 900 in total revenues. It ranked 929 last year. The organization also rose 21 spots on the list of most profitable companies, moving to 725 this year, up from 746 in 2010 on Fortune’s® list. Last month, the Knights surpassed $80 billion of life insurance in force – twice the amount of insurance in force slightly more than a decade ago, when CEO Carl Anderson took the helm. The organization also has more than $17 billion in assets under management.<br />“There is no more highly rated North American insurer than the Knights of Columbus. We have every confidence in our continued success because we have a fundamentally solid business model, which continues to serve us well,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “Despite the difficult economic conditions in the United States, the Knights of Columbus has maintained its strength, has enjoyed record years of growth, and has improved its standing relative to the insurance industry as a whole. We foresee similar success going forward.” The Knights of Columbus has enjoyed record growth during the last several years – despite the weakness of the overall economy – and is one of only five life insurers that holds the top rating from both A.M. Best (A++) and Standard and Poor’s (AAA). The Knights of Columbus was established in 1882 as a fraternal benefit society, with one of its primary aims to enable members to protect their families with life insurance. Today, the K of C has more than 1.8 million members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, the<br />Caribbean, Philippines and Poland. One of the most active charitable groups in the United States, Knights of Columbus members last year set records by providing nearly 69 million hours of charitable service and more than $151 million in donations to charitable causes. Cumulative figures show that, during the past decade, the K of C has donated more than $1.36 billion to charity, and provided nearly 640 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable initiatives.</em><br /><br /><strong>1. nothing stating we are a Catholic organization, the word Catholic doesn't even appear.<br />2. We are refereed to as a business company and fraternal benefit society<br />3. nothing stating that we are a Catholic organization; I know I already said that this time it was for effect!<br />4. we contribute to charities but nothing is said about service to Holy Mother Church.</strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">*News Flash * Guess it's true, they finally let the cat out of the bag; we are not a Catholic organization anymore!<br /></span><br />Why so hard? It's only out of Charity....<br /><br />Here is the Vortex's take on it:<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LdQw_PlC9QM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-103319605693695082011-02-25T12:24:00.002-05:002011-02-25T13:59:02.476-05:00US Bishops Decry Rejection of Marriage DefenseFinally the US Bishops grow a set and speak up for something, late though it may be.<br /><br /><strong>Obama's hair-brain scheme</strong><br />The Obama administration will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman, Attorney General Eric Holder has announced.<br /><br />He states While the President opposes DOMA and believes it should be repealed, the Department has defended it in court because we were able to advance reasonable arguments under that rational basis standard. The Justice Department traditionally defends all federal laws against court challenges. But Holder said that if no "reasonable" defense is available <span style="color:#ff0000;">(Guess they have not read the Book of Leviticus, or decided to ignore it since the almighty O'bama knows all),</span> his department does not offer such defense. In the case of the DOMA law, he said, no "reasonable" defense is possible.<br /><br />In his February 23 announcement, Holder said that President Obama had changed his views on DOMA, and "concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny." He said that the President concluded the DOMA legislation "fails to meet that standards and is therefore unconstitutional." <span style="color:#ff0000;">(Again, how about the documented history and instruction God reveals to us in the Bible? Not important?)</span><br /><br />Consequently, the Department will not defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA as applied to same-sex married couples in the two cases filed in the Second Circuit. We will, however, remain parties to the cases and continue to represent the interests of the United States throughout the litigation. I have informed Members of Congress of this decision, so Members who wish to defend the statute may pursue that option <span style="color:#ff0000;">(Must be their guilty conscience talking: hint to those with a moral backbone still intact, this can not slip quietly into the night)</span>. The Department will also work closely with the courts to ensure that Congress has a full and fair opportunity to participate in pending litigation.<br /><br />The Department has a longstanding practice of defending the constitutionality of duly-enacted statutes if reasonable arguments can be made in their defense. At the same time, the Department in the past has declined to defend statutes despite the availability of professionally responsible arguments, in part because – as here – the Department does not consider every such argument to be a “reasonable” one. Moreover, the Department has declined to defend a statute in cases, like this one, where the President has concluded that the statute is unconstitutional. <span style="color:#ff0000;">( Aren't we glad to have a president that is smarter and knows more than God. We american's sure did pick a winner this time. Oh what a change indeed!)</span><br /><br />Much of the legal landscape has changed in the 15 years since Congress passed DOMA. The Supreme Court has ruled that laws criminalizing homosexual conduct are unconstitutional. Congress has repealed the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Several lower courts have ruled DOMA itself to be unconstitutional. Section 3 of DOMA will continue to remain in effect unless Congress repeals it or there is a final judicial finding that strikes it down, and the President has informed me that the Executive Branch will continue to enforce the law. But while both the wisdom and the legality of Section 3 of DOMA will continue to be the subject of both extensive litigation and public debate, this Administration will no longer assert its constitutionality in court. <span style="color:#ff0000;">(So God, All the Jewish clergy, Jesus, All the Roman Catholic Clergy, your grandparents and parents (or parent for most of the US) were all incorrect when they said "two wrongs, don't make a right".) </span><br /><br /><strong>Bishops Denounce The Presidential Failure to Uphold Law</strong><br /><br />On Wednesday the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement from its Office of General Counsel noting:<br /><br />"Today, the president has instructed the Department of Justice to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act. Marriage has been understood for millennia and across cultures as the union of one man and one woman.A federal law reiterating that definition of marriage, was passed by a Republican congress and signed by a Democratic president just fifteen years ago. The principal basis for today's decision is that the president considers the law a form of impermissible sexual orientation discrimination.<strong> This decision represents an abdication of the responsibility of the executive branch to carry out its constitutional obligation to ensure that the laws of the United States are faithfully executed.</strong>. It is also a grave affront to the millions of Americans who both reject unjust discrimination and affirm the unique and inestimable value of marriage as between one man and one woman. Support for actual marriage is not bigotry, but instead an eminently reasonable, common judgment affirming the foundational institution of civil society. Any suggestion by the government that such a judgment represents 'discrimination' is a serious threat to the religious liberty of marriage supporters nationwide." <span style="color:#ff0000;">(I'll translate for the O' omniscient one: "Hey yo, playa! Check it, this <a href="mailto:s@#$">s@#$</a> right here is lame, yo. You betta check yoseowf fo you wreck yoseowf fool, heard. You coming wit some weak game like this. U trippn, best chill wit that; u 'sposed to be the Prez and be slippn'. O.G. Biggun' in Heaben gon' turn the heat up on the microwave when he come back 'round this way. And trus' me playa, it's gon' get hot in heer fo ya! Best believe dat!) </span><br /><br /><strong>God has already ruled on this issue<br /><br /></strong>God's definition of marriage is clearly defined in the account of His creation of this basic human relationship in Genesis 2: 22-24:<br /><br />"And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."<br /><br />A man and A woman are put together to make another human being. A man and a man can't; neither can a woman and a woman.<br /><br />Catechism 2357 states: Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, 141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." 142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved. (141 Cf. Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; I Cor 6:10; I Tim 1:10. 142 CDF, Persona humana 8.)<br /><br /><em>Scripture from Douay-Rheims version of the Holy Bible</em><br /><br />Leviticus 20<br />[13]If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them.<br />[22] Keep my laws and my judgments, and do them: lest the land into which you are to enter to dwell therein, vomit you also out.<br />[23] Walk not after the laws of the nations, which I will cast out before you. For they have done all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.<br /><br />Jude 1:7<br />As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but I'd rather trust in the Word of the Lord than take my chances with the whims of the world, which are the devil's deceits. I know I'm not perfect, I am a sinner. But this just beats all I've ever seen. Especially from said office. For those Catholics who voted for him just one question? Feeling like the Iscariot yet? Hope those thirty pieces of silver were a plenty!<br /><br />Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; Pray for this nation. That God does not destroy us, but rather show us the way to Him who is all powerful and reigns over all of the world. That we should come to our senses and take a stand for that which is right!<br /><br />Shame on Obama! Shame on America!Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-72592136857551455042011-02-21T12:26:00.002-05:002011-02-21T12:30:17.371-05:00Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Benedict for St. Joseph’s Day (19 March)<a href="http://www.wdtprs.com/blog/images/wdtprs_spiritual_bouquet_200.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.wdtprs.com/blog/images/wdtprs_spiritual_bouquet_200.png" /></a><br /><div>For those of you who follow Father Z's blog: What Does the Prayer Really Say? you may have already seen this. For those who have not yet discovered this blog, Father has enlisted the help of every able Catholic to offer some spiritual works up for His Holines Pope Benedict XVI. I have Provided a link to Father's post below. Please read and participate. I will! Wont you?</div><br /><div><a href="http://wdtprs.com/blog/wdtprs-spiritual-bouquet-for-pope-benedict-for-st-josephs-day-19-march/">http://wdtprs.com/blog/wdtprs-spiritual-bouquet-for-pope-benedict-for-st-josephs-day-19-march/</a></div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-84520755123665514762011-02-21T12:12:00.003-05:002011-02-21T12:18:49.425-05:00Polish Priest murdered in Tunisia<a href="http://www2.polskieradio.pl/_admin/cm/polonia/_Sekcja242/_images/2011021910491909_240.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www2.polskieradio.pl/_admin/cm/polonia/_Sekcja242/_images/2011021910491909_240.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www2.polskieradio.pl/_admin/cm/polonia/_Sekcja242/_images/2011021910491909_240.jpg"></a><br /><br />Shocking story found at:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zenit.org/article-31792?l=english">http://www.zenit.org/article-31792?l=english</a><br /><br /><p>Let us pray for the soul of God's beloved priest Father Rybinski.</p><br /><p>REQUIEM aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.<br /></p></div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-33995524631589704612010-12-31T23:24:00.002-05:002010-12-31T23:28:08.468-05:00Why on earth—I wonder, and ask myself—was a rite that has nurtured generations of the faithful banned in the name of an absurd modernism?Visor lift to Rorate Caeli:<br /><br />In all sincerity, do you find that the rite of St. Pius V ensures greater solemnity, spirituality, and mystery at Mass?<br />"I think, then, that the Mass of St. Pius V is one that really looks toward God, and, compared to the Novus Ordo, it seems to me more complete from the point of view of the prayers.”<br /><br /><a href="http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2010/12/mass-that-is-more-directed-toward-god.html">Read More</a>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-42746133917656416852010-12-31T23:08:00.000-05:002010-12-31T23:09:52.460-05:00The Pope's Warning<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ndWBbrLc4rM&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ndWBbrLc4rM&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-76288029379507136992010-12-20T12:36:00.002-05:002010-12-20T12:39:41.276-05:00Worthy to Receive the Lamb: Catholics in Political Life and the Reception of Holy Communionby <a class="list" href="http://www.catholicculture.org/search/resultslist.cfm?requesttype=docbrowseauth&resourcetype=1&catlabel=author&catid=1482" hasbox="2">Bishop Robert J. Baker</a>, <a class="list" href="http://www.catholicculture.org/search/resultslist.cfm?requesttype=docbrowseauth&resourcetype=1&catlabel=author&catid=1481" hasbox="2">Archbishop John F. Donoghue</a>, <a class="list" href="http://www.catholicculture.org/search/resultslist.cfm?requesttype=docbrowseauth&resourcetype=1&catlabel=author&catid=1483" hasbox="2">Bishop Peter J. Jugis</a>:<br /><br />As bishops, we have the obligation to teach and guide the Catholic Faithful whom we shepherd in the Body of Christ. A fundamental teaching of our Church is respect for the sacred gift of life. This teaching flows from the Natural Law and from Divine Revelation.<br />Life is a gift bestowed upon us by God, a truth underscored by the commandment: "You shall not kill" (Deut 5: 17). The Old Testament also teaches us that human life in the womb is precious to God: "...I formed you in the womb..." (Jer 1: 5). The right to life is a value "which no individual, no majority and no State can ever create, modify or destroy, but must only acknowledge, respect and promote" (Pope John Paul II, Evangelium vitae, 71a). A law, therefore, which legitimizes the direct killing of innocent human beings through abortion is intrinsically unjust, since it is directly opposed to the natural law, to God's revealed commandments, and to the consequent right of every individual to possess life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.<br />Catholics in political life have the responsibility to exemplify in their public service this teaching of the Church, and to work for the protection of all innocent life. There can be no contradiction between the values bestowed by Baptism and the Catholic Faith, and the public expression of those values. Catholic public officials who consistently support abortion on demand are cooperating with evil in a public manner. By supporting pro-abortion legislation they participate in manifest grave sin, a condition which excludes them from admission to Holy Communion as long as they persist in the pro-abortion stance (cf. Canon 915).<br />Holy Communion is where Catholics meet as a family in Christ, united by a common faith. Every Catholic is responsible for being properly prepared for this profound union with Christ. Participation in Holy Communion requires certain dispositions on the part of the communicant, namely, perseverance in the life of grace, and communion in the faith of the Church, in the sacraments, and in the hierarchical order of the Church (Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 35-38).<br />The Church also recognizes that there is a manifest lack of a proper disposition for Holy Communion in those whose outward conduct is "seriously, clearly, and steadfastly contrary" to the Church's moral teaching (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 37b). A manifest lack of proper disposition for Holy Communion is found to be present in those who consistently support pro-abortion legislation. Because support for pro-abortion legislation is gravely sinful, such persons should not be admitted to Holy Communion.<br />We also take this opportunity to address all Catholics whose beliefs and conduct do not correspond to the Gospel and to Church teaching. To receive the great gift of God - the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ - we must approach Holy Communion free from mortal sin. Those who are conscious of being in a state of grave sin should avail themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to Holy Communion. To partake of the Eucharist is to partake of Christ Himself, and to enter into sacramental communion with our Lord we must all be properly disposed.<br />Because of the influence that Catholics in public life have on the conduct of our daily lives and on the formation of our nation's future, we declare that Catholics serving in public life espousing positions contrary to the teaching of the Church on the sanctity and inviolability of human life, especially those running for or elected to public office are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in any Catholic church within our jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Dioceses of Charleston and Charlotte. Only after reconciliation with the Church has occurred, with the knowledge and consent of the local bishop, and public disavowal of former support for procured abortion, will the individual be permitted to approach the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.<br />We undertake this action to safeguard the sacred dignity of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, to reassure the faithful, and to save sinners.<br /><br />Most Reverend John F. Donoghue Archbishop of Atlanta<br />Most Reverend Robert J. Baker Bishop of Charleston<br />Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte<br /><br />This item 6095 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.orgChief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-36228290355460317882010-12-13T18:29:00.002-05:002010-12-13T18:30:25.647-05:00A Lifetime of Fraternal Devotion<a href="http://www.kofc.org/un/images/news/mclaughlin3x3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kofc.org/un/images/news/mclaughlin3x3.jpg" /></a><br />12/8/2010<br />The year 1933 saw the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, the continuation of the Great Depression, the start of construction on the Golden Gate Bridge, Adolph Hitler grabbing power in Germany, the premiere of King Kong, and FDR’s first fireside chat. Another item that occurred that year that you won’t find in history books, but that did lead to a lifetime of devoted fraternal service, was that John (Jack) A. McLoughlin Jr., a native of West Haven, Conn., became a member of San Salvador Council 1. That was the start of a remarkable 78 years of service to the Order until his passing on Dec. 3, 2010, at the age of 99.<br />Along with being a member of the Order, McLoughlin was an accountant at the Supreme Council office from 1941 until 1968 when he retired to take an administrative position at Quinnipiac College in Hamden, which was followed by a career at the Yale University Athletic Department. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II. He was predeceased by his wife Connie, and is survived by his three children and six grandchildren.<br />“Mr. McLoughlin’s experience stands as a true example of what it means to make membership in the Order an experience of a lifetime,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “His life also serves as an exemplary model of service to our Church and the community, something every Knight should strive toward.”<br />McLoughlin – who maintained his membership in Council 1 even after retiring to Arizona – was active with Ave Maria Council 9380 in Tucson, Ariz. Upon the occasion of his 75th anniversary as a Knight, the council (after finding that the years of active service pins did not go to that high of a level) had a pin especially designed for him.<br />“Jack moved to Tucson quite a few years ago, but kept his membership in San Salvador Council 1,” said former District Deputy Peter Karculias. “Up to the age of 95, Jack would be found out in front of the grocery store every year collecting money for people with intellectual disabilities campaign – all day long! Only when his health began to fail him and he had to use a wheelchair did he slow down. Still, he attended council functions as often as he could. His dedication and service to the Order and our Lord are an inspiration to us all.”<br /><div></div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-53017943589736284342010-12-13T13:38:00.001-05:002010-12-25T12:43:40.737-05:00Christ, Our Savior is Born!<a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8tDPQD8Qwfy-E2RXzMrxV-zGRpvR5rsKP31er2LQjYpktW1a3yQ"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8tDPQD8Qwfy-E2RXzMrxV-zGRpvR5rsKP31er2LQjYpktW1a3yQ" /></a><br /><br /><div>Merry Christmas to all!</div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-69266387670059894952010-12-07T10:53:00.002-05:002010-12-07T11:17:34.699-05:00The Pope inaugurates Advent by recalling that an embryo is not an accumulation of biological material but a living being<em></em><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrrOyz65KvaMOvweaH2PX76ZBZtbEeGb-7spTqsaSk8K8lwiaH"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 196px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrrOyz65KvaMOvweaH2PX76ZBZtbEeGb-7spTqsaSk8K8lwiaH" /></a><br /><div>From the L'Osservatore Romano,</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>On Saturday evening, 27 November, in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father presided at the celebration of First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent, on which the Liturgical Year of the Church begins. This year the celebration was preceded by a half-hour Prayer Vigil for unborn life and by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The celebration ended with the Pope's prayer for life and with adoration of the sacrament and the Eucharistic Blessing. The pro-life Prayer Vigil was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family and similar vigils were celebrated on the same day in Catholic Churches across the world. The following is a translation of the Holy Father's Homily, which was given in Italian.</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dear Brothers and Sisters,With this evening celebration the Lord gives us the grace and joy of opening the new Liturgical Year, starting with its first season: Advent, the period that commemorates the coming of God among us. Every beginning brings a special grace, because it is blessed by the Lord.In this Advent Season we shall be granted once again to experience the closeness of the One who created the world, who guides history and who cared for us to the point of deigning to become a man. This great and fascinating mystery of the God-with-us, indeed, of the God who becomes one of us, is what we shall celebrate in the coming weeks journeying towards holy Christmas. During the Season of Advent we shall feel the Church which takes us by the hand and - in the image of Mary Most Holy, expresses her motherhood, enabling us to experience the joyful expectation of the coming of the Lord, who embraces us all in his love that saves and consoles.While our hearts look forward to the annual celebration of Christ's Birth, the Church's Liturgy directs our gaze to the final goal: our encounter with the Lord who will come in the splendour of glory. For this reason in every Eucharist we "announce his death, proclaim his Resurrection until he comes again", we watch in prayer. The Liturgy does not cease to encourage and support us, putting on our lips, in the days of Advent, the cry with which the whole of Sacred Scripture ends, on the last page of the Revelation to St John: "Come, Lord Jesus" (22:20).Dear brothers and sisters, our gathering this evening for the beginning of the journey through Advent is enriched by another important reason: together with the whole Church we wish to celebrate a solemn prayer vigil for unborn life. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have accepted this invitation and to those who are specifically dedicated to welcoming and safeguarding human life in its various situations of frailty, especially when it is newly conceived and in its early stages. Precisely, the beginning of the Liturgical Year helps us live anew the expectation of God who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, God who makes himself little, who becomes a child; it speaks to us of the coming of a God who is close, who chose to experience human life from the very beginning in order to save it totally, in its fullness. And so the mystery of Lord's Incarnation and the beginning of human life are closely and harmoniously connected and in tune with each other in the one saving plan of God, the Lord of the life of each and everyone. The Incarnation reveals to us, with intense light and in a surprising way, that every human life has a very lofty and incomparable dignity.In comparison with all the other living beings that populate the earth man has an unmistakable originality. He is presented as the one unique being, endowed with intelligence and free will, as well as consisting of material reality. He lives simultaneously and inseparably in both the spiritual and the corporal dimension. This is also suggested in the text of the First Letter to the Thessalonians that has just been proclaimed: "May the God of peace himself", St Paul writes, "sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:23). We are therefore spirit, soul and body. We are part of this world, tied to the possibilities and limitations of our material condition, while at the same time we are open to an infinite horizon, able to converse with God and to welcome him within us. We are active in earthly realities and through them we are able to perceive God's presence and to reach out to him, Truth, Goodness and absolute Beauty. We savour fragments of life and happiness and yearn for complete fulfilment.God loves us deeply, totally and without making distinctions. He calls us to friendship with him, he makes us part of a reality beyond every imagination and every thought and word: his divine life itself. With feeling and gratitude, let us be aware of the value of every human person's incomparable dignity and of our great responsibility to all. "Christ, the final Adam", the Second Vatican Council states, "by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and his love, fully reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear… by his Incarnation, the Son of God has in a certain way united himself with each man". (Gaudium et Spes, n. 22).Believing in Jesus Christ also means seeing man in a new way, with trust and hope. Moreover, experience itself and right reason testify that the human being is capable of understanding and of wanting, conscious of himself and free, unrepeatable and irreplaceable, the summit of all earthly realities, and who demands to be recognized as a value in himself and deserves always to be accepted with respect and love. He is entitled not to be treated as an object to be possessed or a thing to be manipulated at will, and not to be exploited as a means for the benefit of others and their interests. The human person is a good in himself and his integral development must always be sought. Love for all, moreover, if it is sincere, tends spontaneously to become preferential attention to the weakest and poorest. This explains the Church's concern for the unborn, the frailest, those most threatened by the selfishness of adults and the clouding of consciences. The Church continually reasserts what the Second Vatican Council declared against abortion and against every violation of unborn life: "from the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care" (ibid., n. 51). Cultural trends exist that seek to anaesthetize consciences with spurious arguments. With regard to the embryo in the mother's womb, science itself highlights its autonomy, its capacity for interaction with the mother, the coordination of biological processes, the continuity of development, the growing complexity of the organism. It is not an accumulation of biological material but rather of a new living being, dynamic and marvelously ordered, a new individual of the human species. This is what Jesus was in Mary's womb; this is what we all were in our mother's womb. We may say with Tertullian, an ancient Christian writer: "the one who will be a man is one already" (Apologeticum IX, 8), there is no reason not to consider him a person from conception. Unfortunately, even after birth, the lives of children continue to be exposed to neglect, hunger, poverty, disease, abuse, violence and exploitation. The many violations of their rights sorrowfully wound the conscience of every person of good will. In the face of the sad view of injustices committed against human life, before and after birth, I make my own Pope John Paul II's passionate appeal to the responsibility of each and every individual: "respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life! Only in this direction will you find justice, development, true freedom, peace and happiness!" (Encyclical Evangelium vitae, n. 5). I urge politicians, leaders of the economy and of social communications to do everything in their power to promote a culture ever respectful of human life, to obtain favourable conditions and support networks for the acceptance and development of life. Let us entrust our prayers and our commitment to unborn life to the Virgin Mary, who welcomed the Son of God made man with her faith, with her maternal womb, with her attentive care, with her nurturing support, vibrant with love. Let us do so in the Liturgy - which is the place where we live the truth and where truth lives with us - adoring the divine Eucharist in which we contemplate Christ's Body, that Body which took flesh from Mary through the action of the Holy Spirit, and was born of her in Bethlehem for our salvation. Ave, verum Corpus, natum de Maria Virgine!</div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-51604175658998070042010-12-01T17:27:00.005-05:002010-12-01T17:47:07.393-05:00"Bishop Requests Novena for Seminarian Philip Johnson"<div align="center">As we approach the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Burbidge has requested that the entire Diocese of Raleigh participate in a novena for my healing through the intercession of Our Lady. Philip is a good friend of the council and of the parish. The novena will begin on November 29th, ending on Our Lady's Feast Day on December 8th.<br />Please pray for Philip!<br />The Novena is as follows:<br /><br />Father all-powerful and ever-living God,<br />You chose the Immaculate Virgin Mary,<br />the mother of Your Son, to be the mother and help of all Christians.<br /><br />As she endured her bitter agony at the cross of her Son,<br />she was consoled by You with the hope of His ressurection.<br /><br />Now, in heaven she consoles with a mother's love all who turn to her with faith,<br />until the day of the Lord dawns in glory.<br /><br />-Pray the Memorare-<br /><br />Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,<br />That never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,<br />implored thy help or sought thy intercession,<br />was left unaided.<br /><br />Inspired by this confidence,<br />I fly to thy, O Virgin of virgins, my mother;<br />to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.<br /><br />O Mother of the Word Incarnate,<br />despise not my petitions,<br />but in thy mercy hear and answer me.<br /><br />-We pray-<br />O Mother of the Word Incarnate,<br />we are filled with confidence that your prayers on our behalf<br />will be graciously heard before the throne of God.<br />Bring our seminarian, Philip Johnson healing, peace, courage, and strength<br />as he shares in the suffering of your Son.<br />O Glorious Mother of God,<br />in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception,<br />hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.</div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-69156378812203355862010-12-01T17:01:00.003-05:002010-12-07T11:18:42.072-05:00Keep Christ in Christmas<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Abh-aX75sGE/TP5eUn2bZQI/AAAAAAAAAes/xwPll7ivBoY/s1600/christmas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 152px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547975499354694914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Abh-aX75sGE/TP5eUn2bZQI/AAAAAAAAAes/xwPll7ivBoY/s400/christmas.jpg" /></a><br /><div>In a time when all things religious are being discouraged and swept away, it’s refreshing to know that the Order sponsors the “Keep Christ in Christmas” campaign to remind people that Christmas is above all a holy day celebrating the birth of Christ. Keeping Christ in Christmas is keeping the very heart and meaning of the Christmas celebration alive. At Christmas we honor the birth of Jesus Christ. At times our Savior is forgotten in the commercialization of the season and the rush to get ready for holiday festivities. Each year the Knights of Columbus takes a leading role in reminding society that Christmas is first and foremost a holy day. One of the best ways to do this is participating in the Order’s “Keep Christ in Christmas” campaign. Here are some of the things we are doing:<br />•Urge all members to display a nativity scene on their property or at their place of business if they can.<br />•Resist the temptation, even when you’re in a rush or short of space, to abbreviate “Christmas” as “Xmas.” Reducing Christ to an “X” trivializes the message of the season.<br /><strong>The Best Presents Can’t Be Wrapped</strong><br />This holiday season give the gift of yourself within your council, community and family. Give these or similar presents of friendship, understanding, kindness, love and compassion:<br /><br />•Serve or prepare meals at a soup kitchen.<br /><br />•Bring presents to children or elderly people in the hospital.<br /><br />Clean, repair and refurbish a church in a poor neighborhood.<br /><br />Visit someone who’s shut-in.<br /><br />•Send a Christmas card to someone you have not seen or talked to in years.<br /><br />Invite a friend or neighbor who will be alone to share your Christmas celebration.<br /><br />•Reconcile with a friend or relative with whom you have quarreled. Apologize if you were wrong.<br /><br />•Provide transportation to shelters for homeless people.<br /><br />•Wish people you meet a good day and a happy and holy Christmas.<br /><br />•Get the family together to clean out all the closets and dressers. Donate usable clothing, shoes, blankets and other items to a program for needy families.<br /><br />•Send care packages to military personnel stationed overseas.<br /><br />•Sing Christmas carols at nursing homes or hospitals.<br /><br />•Collect baby clothes, blankets, food, diapers or money and donate these items to an organization that helps needy people.<br /><br />•Supply car seats or cradles to underprivileged mothers.<br /><br />•Sponsor a drive for children to donate their old toys to youngsters.<br /><br />•Be a part of the holiday spirit by undertaking one or more of the items listed above and help make Christmas merry for someone else and yourself.<br /><br /><strong>Remember to keep Christ in Christmas: See video below!</strong><br /><br /><div><iframe height="265" src="http://www.kofc.org/eb/common/video/ev2.html?id=ad_christmasAd&w=400&h=225&t=0&l=null&bgC=0xffffff&ap=n" frameborder="0" width="400" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-37383110301214896032010-10-09T21:12:00.002-04:002010-10-09T21:14:57.053-04:00Archbishop Piacenza: Formation for Priests Is a Key PriorityVisor Lift to Zenit for this very good article. His Holiness is on the right track to ensuring the formation of the future priests of Christ's one true church. This time the proof is in the pudding.<br /><br />click <a href="http://www.zenit.org/article-30581?l=english">here</a>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323889533677838968.post-21327262244789190732010-10-09T20:49:00.004-04:002010-10-09T21:07:14.745-04:00October, the Month of the Rosary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTavx2hubPqsWLPHEBqzjeVhK7aZJb3NXQzVFMDZw03bhD0nw8&t=1&usg=__VziYd1GM9LIyse5AJjEl-eSvv4s="><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 264px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTavx2hubPqsWLPHEBqzjeVhK7aZJb3NXQzVFMDZw03bhD0nw8&t=1&usg=__VziYd1GM9LIyse5AJjEl-eSvv4s=" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />October is held in devotional honor to the Rosary by Holy Mother Church. As a result all Knights are asked to pray the Rosary daily with their families. Please join us in the Church-wide devotion to the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.<br /><br />To learn how to pray the Rosary visit the Latin Treasury of prayers under <a href="http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/BVM/Rosarium.html">Rosarium</a>.<br /><br /><br />REMEMBER, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, what ineffable power thy divine Son hath given thee over His own adorable Heart. Filled with confidence in thy merits, we come before thee and implore thy protection. O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus, that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces, which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure, in order that from it may flow forth upon mankind the riches of love and mercy, light and salvation, that are contained therein; grant unto us, we beseech thee, the favors which we seek ... We can never, never be refused by thee, and since thou art Mother, O our Lady of the Sacred Heart, graciously receive our prayers and grant our request. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MEMORARE, o Domina Nostra a Sacro Corde, quam ineffabilem tibi potentiam Filius tuus divinus contulerit in suum ipsius Cor adorabile. Pleni nos fiduciae in meritis tuis, accedimus implorantes tuum praesidium. O Cordis Iesu Thesauraria caelestis, illius Cordis, fontis inexhausti gratiarum omnium, quod potes ipsa pro tua voluntate recludere, ut defluant inde in homines divitiae amoris et misericordiae, luminis et salutis, quae in ipso continentur; concede nobis, obsecramus, beneficia quae petimus ... Nulla nobis, nulla a te erit repulsa, et, quoniam Mater Tu nostra es, o Domina Nostra a Sacro Corde, preces nostras benigne habe et benigne exaudi. Amen. </span>Chief Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409279200979174906noreply@blogger.com0