Happy birthday, brother Knights!

March 29, 2007 — On this day in history, the Connecticut legislature granted a charter to the Knights of Columbus. The year was 1882.

The recent advent of the locomotive, electricity, the telegraph, and daily newspapers had changed life in so many ways. It was an incredible time, and New Haven, Conn., was on the cutting edge. Our first brother Knights must have imagined that they were living in the Golden Age of Communication.

James Mullen, John Kerrigan, Cornelius Driscoll, Bill Geary, Dan Colwell, and a bunch of other “regular guys” would get together with the tireless Fr. McGivney for their monthly meetings in the eerily lighted basement of the still-new St. Mary’s Church. (The polished wood floor reflected the harsh light from Thomas Edison’s recent incandescent invention.)

Attendance was great — maybe because someone always gave a reminder telephone call to each of the Knights who had one of those newfangled contraptions. (What an amazing communications tool that was turning out to be! Make a few calls, and practically the entire Order shows up.)

They were young — mostly in their thirties — and were involved in their parish and in their community. They were well-grounded in faith and tradition, but they also had ambition and vision. Our founders took advantage of all the modern technologies that New Haven offered them. These men were relevant and “with it” — and they established an enduring Catholic society that they would recognize still today.

We can’t imagine what the Church and the world will need from us in another century and a quarter. But we know that, in the year 2132, while observing our 250th anniversary, the Knights of Columbus will also be observing our traditions and will still be building on our vision.

How is it that our fraternity continues to stand the test of time?

Tradition and vision. We Knights of Columbus recognize that some things never change and that other things always change.

— Editor

Tell the governor what you think

March 6, 2007 — On Gov. Dave Freudenthal’s desk, there is a document awaiting his signature. This piece of paper would force the State of Wyoming to acknowledge that a person who murders a pregnant woman and knowingly causes the death of her unborn child has, in fact, killed two people. I am asking my brother Knights to call the governor, 307–777–7434, and tell him whether he should sign SF 118 or not.

Knights aren’t afraid of the truth, so do some research and look at what both sides are saying. Here is a link to one editorial opposing the legislation. Here is a link to some talking points supporting it.

It's not enough to simply state your position. Think about what you're going to say — how you're going to persuade — and then make the call.

Science and logic tell us that abortion causes a human life to end. It undeniably stops a beating heart. Why, in the 21st century, are we still even having this discussion?

A fetus is an unborn baby, a human being distinct from his or her mother. How can there be any doubt that we are talking about two people when we speak of a “woman who is with child”? The fetus’ sex and blood type may or may not be the same as the mother’s, and the unborn child has its own skeleton, organs, mind, and DNA. Quod erat demonstrandum.

Although SF 118 does not go so far as to outlaw abortion, it does imply that a woman’s unborn child is a separate human being — at least in those cases in which the mother is also killed with malice aforethought. It gives us a little more than we currently have on the books for protecting the unborn. This is a step in the right direction, and it is worthy of our support.

— Editor

Read an update to this post in the first comment, below.