IWKnights Corner For October 11, 2020

Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?

The following is another of the resolutions published at the recent Knights of Columbus 138th Supreme Convention.  Most of the resolutions are too long to fit into this column so each has been edited but a link to the location of the entire article can be found below.  This sixth resolution is entitled "Commemorating Knights of Columbus History of Racial Equality"".

WHEREAS, the Knights of Columbus was founded with a framework to support membership drawn from the broadest possible diversity of practicing Catholic men and was, at the time of its founding, the only American fraternal society that did not prohibit membership on the basis of race; and

WHEREAS, one of the Order’s original incorporators, Supreme Secretary Daniel Colwell, described a purpose of the Knights of Columbus to be a social and fraternal organization that would “unify American Catholic citizens of every national and racial origin…giving scope and purpose to their aims as Catholics and as Americans;” and

WHEREAS, in the early 1900s, the Knights of Columbus promoted missionary work among African American communities by supporting initiatives such as a college for African American Catholic catechists in Montgomery, Alabama; and

WHEREAS, the Order’s commitment to racial diversity was substantially expressed in 1905 with the establishment of the Knights of Columbus in Mexico—paving the way for expansion into the Philippines less than a decade later and continued growth throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, during World War I, the Knights of Columbus hospitality huts were the only integrated facilities available to troops advertising such with their well-known motto, “Everybody Welcome.  Everything Free;” and

WHEREAS, in the 1920s and 1930s, the Knights of Columbus banded together with African American, Jewish, and other minority communities to combat the evil actions and propaganda of the Ku Klux Klan leading the Klan to specifically cite the Order as “the organization most interested in [its] destruction;” and

WHEREAS, in 1921 the Knights of Columbus established its K of C Historical Commission to combat prejudice with education by addressing omissions in generally Anglo-centric histories of America and, as part of this initiative, commissioned NAACP Co-Founder W.E.B. DuBois who in turn authored The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America; and...

WHEREAS, in recognition of the important and historical nature of the 1963 March on Washington, the Knights of Columbus provided grants totaling $25,000 to provide for the lodging of clergy; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we pledge to answer the Gospel calling to build a civilization of love by committing ourselves to following Christ’s example of praying for unity among all people of goodwill; and. . .

You can link to the full article presented above via one of the following sites.  Also, find more about the Knights of Columbus at IWKnights9981.com/bulletin or in facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.

Links Related to this week’s column:

138TH SUPREME CONVENTION - RESOLUTIONS
	Resolutions passed  at the 138TH SUPREME CONVENTION.
		By Knights of Columbus  (7/31/2020)
			Resolution Of Appreciation To His Holiness Pope Francis Response To The COVID-19 Pandemic Celebrating The Miracle Attributed To The Intercession Of Venerable Michael McGivney In Support Of An Equitable Immigration Policy In Honor Of Christopher Columbus Abortion And The Eugenics Movement In Solidarity With Persecuted Christians In Africa And East Asia In Solidarity With Christians In The Middle East Commemorating Knights Of Columbus History Of Racial Equality Welcoming The French Republic As A Territorial Jurisdiction Of The Knights Of Columbus.........
			Click here for Article

Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic
	A Novena which seeks Our Lady’s Intercession for Protection in Time of Pandemic
		By His Holiness, Pope Francis (3/2020)
		A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION IN TIME OF PANDEMIC (PDF Version)
				Click here for the Prayer