The
Knights of Columbus is the world's largest
CatholicThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
fraternal service organizationA "fraternal organization" or "fraternity," is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. This list is for "general fraternities", please list college fraternities and sororities at List of fraternities and sororities....
. Founded in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1882, it is named in honor of
Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus was a navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere...
.
There are more than 1.7 million members in 14,000 councils, with nearly 200 councils on college campuses. Membership is limited to "practical Catholic" men aged 18 or older.
Councils have been chartered in the United States,
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
,
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the
CaribbeanThe Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts...
,
GuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Its size is just under 110,000 km² with an estimated population...
,
PanamaPanama, officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of both Central America and, in turn, North America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the...
,
Dominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries...
, the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
,
GuamGuam is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. The island's capital is Hagåtña...
,
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
,
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
, and most recently in
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The Knights' official junior organization, the
Columbian SquiresThe Columbian Squires is an international youth fraternity run by the Knights of Columbus for Catholic boys between the ages of 10 and 18.-History:...
, has over 5,000 Circles. All the Order's
ceremonialsthumb|right|250px|Part of the ceremony of the Changing of the Guard in Whitehall, London.A ceremony is an activity, infused with ritual significance, performed on a special occasion.-Celebration of life:...
and business meetings are restricted to members though all other events are open to the public. A promise not to reveal any details of the ceremonials except to an equally qualified Knight is required to ensure their impact and meaning for new members; an additional clause subordinates the promise to that Knight's civil and religious duties.
In the 2007 fraternal year the Order gave US$144,911,781 directly to charity (1.1 billion in charitable contributions in the last 10 years) and performed over 68,695,768
man hourA man-hour is the amount of work performed by an average worker in one hour. It is used in written "estimates" for estimation of the total amount of uninterrupted labour required to perform a task. For example, researching and writing a college paper might require twenty man-hours...
s of voluntary service. For their support for the Church and local communities, as well as for their philanthropic efforts, the Order often refers to itself as the "strong right arm of the Church" . The Order's insurance program has more than $60 billion of life insurance policies in force and holds the highest insurance ratings given by A. M. Best,
Standard & Poor'sStandard & Poor's is a division of McGraw-Hill that publishes financial research and analysison stocks and bonds. It is well known for the stock market indexes, the US-based S&P 500, the Australian S&P/ASX 200, the Canadian S&P/TSX, the Italian S&P/MIB and India's S&P CNX Nifty.-Business...
, and the
Insurance Marketplace Standards Association.
History
The Knights of Columbus was founded by an Irish-American Catholic priest, The
VenerableThe Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. It is also the common English language translation of a number of Buddhist titles.-Roman Catholic:...
Father
Michael J. McGivneyThe Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney was a Roman Catholic priest and founder of the Knights of Columbus. He was the son of Irish immigrants.-Studies:...
in
New HavenNew Haven is the second-largest municipality in Connecticut, after Bridgeport and just ahead of Hartford, with a core population of about 124,000 people. "New Haven" may also refer to the wider Greater New Haven area, which has nearly 600,000 inhabitants in the immediate area...
,
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
. He gathered a group of men from St. Mary's parish for an organizational meeting on October 2, 1881 and the Order was incorporated under the laws of the U.S. state of
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
on March 29, 1882. Though the first councils were all in that state, the Order spread throughout
New EnglandNew England is a region of the United States. It is located at the northeastern corner of the US, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and the state of New York, consisting of the modern U.S...
and the United States in subsequent years.
The primary motivation for the Order was to be a
mutual benefit societyA friendly society is a mutual association for insurance, pensions or savings and loan-like purposes, or cooperative banking. Some friendly societies, especially in the past, served ceremonial and friendship purposes also, while others did not...
. As a parish priest in an immigrant community, McGivney saw what could happen to a family when the breadwinner died and wanted to provide insurance to care for the
widowA widow is a woman whose spouse has died. A man whose spouse has died is a widower. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or viduity. The adjective is widowed.-Economic position of widows:...
s and
orphanAn orphan is a child permanently bereaved of his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan....
s left behind. He himself had to temporarily leave his seminary studies to care for his family when his father died. In the late 19th century, Catholics were regularly excluded from labor unions and other organizations that provided social services. In addition, Catholics were either barred from many of the popular fraternal organizations, or, as in the case of
FreemasonryFreemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, including just under two million in the United States and around 480,000 in...
, forbidden from joining by the Catholic Church itself. McGivney wished to provide them an alternative. He also believed that Catholicism and fraternalism were not incompatible and wished to found a society that would encourage men to be proud of their American-Catholic heritage.
McGivney traveled to Boston to examine the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters and to
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
to learn about the recently established Catholic Benevolent League, both of which offered insurance benefits. He found the latter to be lacking the excitement he thought was needed if his organization were to compete with the secret societies of the day. He expressed an interest in establishing a New Haven Court of the Foresters, but the charter of Massachusetts Foresters prevented them from operating outside their Commonwealth. The committee of St. Mary's parishioners McGivney had assembled then decided to form a club that was entirely original.
McGivney had originally conceived of the name "Sons of Columbus" but
James T. MullenJames T. Mullen was the first Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from February 2, 1882 to May 17, 1886....
, who would become the first Supreme Knight, successfully suggested that "Knights of Columbus" would better capture the ritualistic nature of the new organization. The Order was founded 10 years before the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the New World and in a time of renewed interest in him. Columbus was a hero to many American Catholics, and the naming him as
patronPatrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave, Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos...
was partly an attempt to bridge the division between the Irish-Catholic founders of the Order and Catholic immigrants of other nationalities living in Connecticut.
The
Connecticut CatholicThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford is a particular church of the Latin Rite in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons...
ran an editorial in 1878 that illustrated the esteem in which American Catholics held Columbus. "As American Catholics we do not know of anyone who more deserves our grateful remembrance than the great and noble man - the pious, zealous, faithful Catholic, the enterprising navigator, and the large-hearted and generous sailor: Christopher Columbus."
The name of Columbus was also partially intended as a mild rebuke to
Anglo-Saxon ProtestantWhite Anglo-Saxon Protestant, commonly abbreviated to the acronym WASP, is a sociological and cultural ethnonym that originated in the United States and Canada ....
leaders, who upheld the explorer (a Catholic
GenoveseGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
Italian working for Catholic
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
) as an American hero, yet simultaneously sought to marginalize recent Catholic immigrants. In taking Columbus as their patron, they were sending the message that not only could Catholics be full members of American society, but were, in fact, instrumental in its foundation.
By the time of the first annual convention in 1884, the Order was prospering. In the five councils throughout Connecticut were 459 members. Groups from other states were requesting information. The Charter of 1899 included four statements of purpose, including "to promote such social and intellectual intercourse among its members as shall be desirable and proper, and by such lawful means as to them shall seem best." The new charter showed members' desire to grow the organization beyond a simple mutual benefit insurance society.
The original insurance system devised by McGivney gave a deceased Knight's widow a $1,000 death benefit. Each member was assessed $1 upon a death and when the number of Knights grew beyond 1,000 the assessment decreased according to the rate of increase. Each member, regardless of age, was assessed equally. As a result, younger, healthier members could expect to pay more over the course of their lifetimes than those men who joined when they were older. There was also a Sick Benefit Deposit for members who fell ill and could not work. Each sick Knight was entitled to draw up to $5 a week for 13 weeks (roughly equivalent to $125.75 in 2009 dollars). If he remained sick after that the council to which he belonged regulated the sum of money given to him.
Around 1912 it was claimed that fourth degree Knights had to swear an oath to exterminate Freemasons and Protestants. Despite the fact that it was denied, and the real oath published, this was read into the congressional record by
Thomas S. ButlerThomas Stalker Butler was a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, serving from March 4, 1897 until his death, having been elected to the House sixteen times. Thomas S. Butler was also the father of the famous Marine Corps General Smedley D...
. In the 1928 Presidential election a million copies were printed to hurt the campaign of the Catholic Democratic candidate
Al SmithAlfred Emanuel Smith, Jr. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American politician who was elected Governor of New York four times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928. He was the first Roman Catholic and Irish-American to run for President as a major party...
.
Today there are more than 14,000 councils around the world and the Knights of Columbus is a multi-billion dollar non-profit charitable organization. Knights may be seen distributing
Tootsie RollTootsie Rolls are chewy candies, manufactured from an ersatz form of chocolate, that have been manufactured in the United States since 1896. They are one of the best-selling candies in the world...
s to raise funds to fight developmental disabilities, volunteering for the
Special OlympicsSpecial Olympics is an international organization created to two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games. There are also local, national and regional competitons in over 150 countries worldwide.-History:...
and other charitable organizations, erecting
pro-lifeThe pro-life movement is a political and social movement focused chiefly around opposition to abortion, and especially support for the criminalization of abortion. Those involved in the movement generally maintain that human fetuses and embryos are persons, and that therefore they have a right to...
billboards and "
Keep Christ in ChristmasChristmas controversy refers to controversy or disagreement surrounding the celebration or acknowledgment of the Christmas holiday in government, media, advertising and various secular environments...
" signs, conducting blood drives and raising funds for disaster victims, or parading at patriotic events with their bright capes, feathered chapeaux, and ceremonial swords. The cause for McGivney's
canonizationCanonization is the act by which a particular Christian church or group declares a deceased person to be a saint and is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints...
is currently before the
Congregation for the Causes of SaintsThe Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process which leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
and a
guild has been formed to promote his cause. On March 15, 2008,
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI is the 265th and reigning Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic Church and, as such, Sovereign of the Vatican City State...
approved a decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. The pope's declaration significantly advances the priest's process toward sainthood and gives the parish priest the distinction of "Venerable Servant of God." If his cause is successful, he will be the first priest born in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to be canonized as a
SaintSaints, individuals of exceptional holiness, are significant in many religions, particularly Christianity.-General characteristics :Though the term is mostly used for Christians considered holy or virtuous, many religions use similar concepts to elevate people worthy of respect, e.g. see Hindu...
.
Organization
| Supreme Knight |
Supreme Chaplain |
| Carl A. Anderson Carl Albert Anderson is the thirteenth and current Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Anderson is vice president of the Washington session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family....
|
Bishop William E. Lori William E. Lori is the 4th Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Before succeeding Edward Cardinal Egan in 2001 he was an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington....
|
| Deputy Supreme Knight |
Dennis SavoieDennis Savoie is the Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a position he has held since 2006. In 1995, he was elected a Supreme Director, and became Assistant Supreme Treasurer and assistant to the Supreme Knight for Canadian affairs in 2004, and then Supreme Treasurer in 2006.For...
|
| Supreme Secretary |
Donald Kehoe |
| Supreme Treasurer |
Emilio B. Moure Emilio B. Moure is the supreme treasurer of the Knights of Columbus and has oversight of the Order's financial affairs. He was elected to the position on October 9, 2009....
|
| Supreme Advocate |
John Marrella |
| Supreme Warden |
Meclea “Mickey” Casavant |
| Supreme Master |
Lawrence G. Costanzo Lawrence G. Costanzo is the Supreme master of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree. Previously he was State Deputy of Arizona....
|
The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Order and is composed of elected representatives from each jurisdiction. The Supreme Council acts in similar manner to
shareholderA mutual shareholder or stockholder is an individual or company that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a joint stock company. A company's shareholders collectively own that company. Thus, the typical goal of such companies is to enhance shareholder value.Stockholders are granted...
s at an annual meeting and each year elects seven members to the Supreme
Board of DirectorsA board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. The body sometimes has a different name, such as board of trustees, board of governors, board of managers, or executive board...
for three year terms. The twenty-one member board then chooses from its own membership the senior operating officials of the Order, including the
Supreme KnightThe Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus is the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization, which has more than 1.7 million members.Carl A...
.
State Councils in each of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, each province in Canada, and other jurisdictions carved out of member countries are led by State Deputies and other officers elected at state conventions. Territorial Deputies are appointed by the Supreme Knight and lead areas not yet incorporated into State Councils.
District Deputies are appointed by the Supreme Knight upon the recommendation of the State Deputy and oversee several local councils, each of which is led by a Grand Knight. Other elected council officers include the Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Warden, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Guards and Trustees. A Chaplain is appointed by the Grand Knight and a Financial Secretary by the Supreme Knight. Council officers are properly addressed by using the title "worthy" (e.g. Worthy Grand Knight). Councils are numbered in the order in which they chartered into the Order and are named by the local membership. San Salvador Council #1 was named for the
first islandGuanahani was the name the natives gave to the island that Columbus called San Salvador when he arrived at the Americas. Columbus reached the island on 12 October 1492, the first island he sighted and visited in the Americas. Guanahani is one of the islands of the Lucayan archipelago in the...
Columbus landed on in the
New WorldThe New World is one of the names used for the non-Afro-Eurasian parts of the Earth, specifically the Americas and possibly Australia. When the term originated in the late 15th century, the Americas were new to the Europeans, who previously thought of the world as consisting only of Europe, Asia,...
.
The title "Knight" is purely fraternal and is not the equivalent to a sovereign accolade. Therefore
Knights of Columbus do not rank with Chevaliers and Commanders of the
Order of the Holy SepulchreThe Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a prestigious Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood that traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade. In 1496, Pope Alexander VI created the office of Grand Master of the Order, and the office...
, the Order of Malta, the
Order of St. Gregory the GreatThe Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five pontifical orders of knighthood in the Catholic Church...
, or members of any other historic
militaryA military order is a Christian order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i.e. propagating and/or defending the faith , either in the Holy Land or against Islam or pagans in Europe, but many became secularized later.-History:Catholic military orders appeared following the...
or
chivalric orderChivalric orders are orders of knights that were created by European monarchs in imitation of the military orders of the Crusades. After the crusades, the memory of these crusading military orders became idealised and romanticised, resulting in the late medieval notion of chivalry, and is...
s.
Degrees and principles
The Order is dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. A First Degree exemplification ceremony, by which a man joins the Order, explicates the virtue of charity. He is then said to be a First Degree Knight of Columbus and after participating the subsequent degrees, each of which focuses on another virtue, rises to that status. Upon reaching the Third Degree a gentleman is considered a full member. Priests do not participate directly in Degree exemplifications as
laymenIn religious organizations, the laity comprises all persons who are not clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the term lay priest...
do, but rather take the degree by observation.
The first ritual handbook was printed in 1885 but contained only sections teaching Unity and Charity. Supreme Knight Mullen, along with primary ritual author Daniel Colwell, believed that the initiation ceremony should be held in three sections "in accord with the 'Trinity of Virtues, Charity, Unity, and Brotherly love.'" The third section, expounding Fraternity, was officially adopted in 1891.
Fourth degree
| Color |
| Supreme Master |
Dark Blue Cape and Chapeau |
| Vice Supreme Master |
Light Blue Cape and Chapeau |
| Master |
Gold Cape and Chapeau |
| District Marshall |
Green Cape and Chapeau |
| Faithful Navigator |
White Cape and Chapeau |
| Assembly Commander |
Purple Cape and Chapeau |
| Color Corps Members |
Red Cape and White Chapeau |
The Fourth Degree is the highest degree of the order. Members of this degree are addressed as "Sir Knight". The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of
patriotismPatriotism is love of and/or devotion to one's country. The word comes from the Greek patris, meaning fatherland. However, patriotism has had different meanings over time, and its meaning is highly dependent upon context, geography and philosophy....
and to encourage active Catholic
citizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, or national community.Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
. Fewer than 18% of Knights join the Fourth Degree, which is optional; of a total 1,703,307 Knights there were 292,289 Fourth Degree Knights. A Knight is eligible to join the Fourth Degree after six months from the date of his First Degree, providing he has completed the 2nd and 3rd degrees beforehand.
Assemblies are distinct from councils and are led by a separate set of elected officers. The Supreme Board of Directors appoints a Supreme Master, currently
Lawrence G. CostanzoLawrence G. Costanzo is the Supreme master of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree. Previously he was State Deputy of Arizona....
, and twenty Vice Supreme Masters to govern the Fourth Degree. Each Vice Supreme Master oversees a Province which is then broken up into Districts. The Supreme Master appoints District Masters to supervise several assemblies.
Each assembly is led by a Navigator. Other elected assembly officers include the Captain, Admiral, Pilot, Scribe, Purser, Comptroller, Sentinels and Trustees. A Friar and Color Corps Commander are appointed by the Navigator. Assembly officers are properly addressed by using the title "faithful" (e.g. Faithful Navigator). Assemblies are numbered in the order in which they chartered into the Order and are named by the local membership.
Only Fourth Degree Knights may optionally purchase the full regalia and join the Assembly’s Color Corps. The Color Corps is the most visible arm of the Knights as they are often seen in parades and other local events wearing their colorful regalia. Official dress for the Color Corps is a black tuxedo,
baldricA baldric is a belt worn over one shoulder that is typically used to carry a weapon or other implement such as a bugle or drum...
, white gloves,
capeCape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening about the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
and naval
chapeau"Chapeau" is a French term signifying a hat or other covering for the head. In heraldry, it is used as a mark of ecclesiastical dignity, especially that of cardinals, which is called the red chapeau...
. In warm climates and during warm months a white dinner jacket may be worn, if done as a unit Baldrics are worn from the right shoulder to left hip and are color specific by nation. In the United States, Panama and the Philippines, baldrics are red, white and blue. Red and white baldrics are used in Canada; red, white and green in Mexico; and blue and white in Guatemala. Service baldrics include a scabbard for a
swordA sword is a long, edged piece of metal, used in many civilizations throughout the world, primarily as a cutting or thrusting weapon and occasionally for clubbing...
and are worn over the coat while social baldrics are worn under the coat. The colors on a Fourth Degree Knight's cape, and chapeau, denote the office he holds within the Degree. Faithful Navigators and Past Faithful Navigators are permitted to carry a white handled silver sword. Masters and Vice Supreme Masters, as well as Former Masters and Former Vice Supreme Masters, are also denoted by their gold swords.
The need for a patriotic degree was first considered in 1886 and a special plea was made at the National Meeting of 1899. The first Fourth Degree exemplification followed in 1900 with 1,100 Knights participating at the Lenox Lyceum in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
. Today there are more than 2,500 Assemblies.
Insurance program
Many early members were recent immigrants who often lived in unsanitary conditions and performed hazardous jobs for poor pay. Since its founding, a primary mission of the Knights of Columbus has been to protect families against the financial ruin caused by the death of the breadwinner. While this method originally was intended to provide a core group of people who would support a widow and her children after the death of their husband and father, it has expanded into much more.
Today the Order offers a modern, professional insurance operation with more than $70 billion of life insurance policies in force as of 2009. Products include
permanentPermanent life insurance is a form of life insurance such as whole life or endowment, where the policy is for the life of the insured, the payout is assured at the end of the policy and the policy accrues cash value....
and
term life insuranceTerm life insurance or term assurance is life insurance which provides coverage at a fixed rate of payments for a limited period of time, the relevant term. After that period expires coverage at the previous rate of premiums is no longer guaranteed and the client must either forgo coverage or...
as well as
annuitiesIn the U.S. an annuity contract is created when an individual gives a life insurance company money which may grow on a tax-deferred basis and then can be distributed back to the owner in several ways. The defining characteristic of all annuity contracts is the option for a guaranteed distribution...
and
long term care insuranceLong-term care insurance , an insurance product sold in the United States and United Kingdom, helps provide for the cost of long-term care beyond a predetermined period...
. Insurance sales grew 19% in 2004, more than three times the rate of industry at large. The Order holds $13 billion in assets and had $1.5 billion in revenue and $71 million in profits in 2005. This is large enough to rank 72nd on the A.M. Best list of all life insurance companies in North America and places it on the
Fortune 1000Fortune 1000 is a reference to a list maintained by the American business magazine Fortune. The list is of the 1000 largest American companies, ranked on revenues alone...
list of top companies. Only three other insurers in
North AmericaNorth America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...
have received the highest ratings from both A. M. Best and
Standard & Poor'sStandard & Poor's is a division of McGraw-Hill that publishes financial research and analysison stocks and bonds. It is well known for the stock market indexes, the US-based S&P 500, the Australian S&P/ASX 200, the Canadian S&P/TSX, the Italian S&P/MIB and India's S&P CNX Nifty.-Business...
. The Order is certified by the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association for ethical sales practices.
Charitable giving
Charity is the foremost principle of the Knights of Columbus. In the 2005 fraternal year the Order gave $136 million directly to charity and performed over 63.2 million man hours in voluntary service. Endowed funds of over $54 million support a number of Church related causes. A Knight's highest duty is to assist the widow or orphan of a fallen brother Knight.
The Knights have a tradition of supporting those with physical and developmental disabilities. More than $382 million has been given over the past three decades to groups and programs that support the intellectually and physically disabled. One of the largest recipients of funds in this area is the
Special OlympicsSpecial Olympics is an international organization created to two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games. There are also local, national and regional competitons in over 150 countries worldwide.-History:...
. In addition, the Order's highest honor, the
Gaudium et SpesGaudium et Spes , the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, was one of the four Apostolic Constitutions resulting from the Second Vatican Council...
Award, was given with its $100,000 honorarium to
Jean VanierJean Vanier, CC, GOQ is the founder of L'Arche, an international organization which creates communities where people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them share life together. He is the son of the 19th Governor General of Canada, Major-General Georges Vanier and was born in...
, the founder of
l'ArcheL'Arche is an international network of faith-based communities centered around people who have developmental disabilities . L'Arche communities typically include homes and day programs...
, in 2005. L'Arche is a faith-based network that provides care, in a community setting, for people with severe developmental disabilities.
The
Vicarius Christi Fund has a
corpusCorpus is Latin for body. It can refer to:* Corpus Christi * Corpus linguistics...
of $20 million and has earned more than $35 million, since its establishment in 1981, for the
PopeThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
's personal charities. The multimillion dollar
Pacem in TerrisPacem in Terris was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It remains one of the most famous of 20th century encyclicals and established principles that featured in some of the documents of the Second Vatican Council and of later popes...
Fund aids the Catholic Church's efforts for peace in the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The Order also has eleven separate funds totaling $18 million to assist men and women who are discerning religious vocations pay tuition and other expenses.
Days after the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001The September 11 attacks were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners...
the Order established the $1 million Heroes Fund. Immediate assistance was given to the families of all full-time professional law enforcement personnel, firefighters and emergency medical workers who lost their lives in the rescue and recovery efforts. Orderwide, more than $10 million has been raised for
Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States...
relief efforts. On May 6, 2006, $3 million was disbursed to the
Archdiocese of New OrleansThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the second-oldest diocese in the present-day United States, having been elevated to the rank...
and the dioceses of
Lafayette, LAThe Catholic Diocese of Lafayette is an ecclesiastical division of the Catholic Church in the United States. The oldest church in the diocese is the parish church of St. Martinville, dating back to 1756. The diocese was created on January 11, 1918 from the western part of the Archdiocese of New...
,
Houma-Thibodaux, LAThe Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is a Roman Catholic diocese in southeastern Louisiana. It comprises Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, the eastern part of St. Mary Parish including Morgan City, and Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish. The diocese was created on June 5, 1977, and was previously part of...
,
Lake Charles, LAThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles , is a particular church located in southwest Louisiana . It is a fairly new diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, being founded on January 29, 1980...
,
Biloxi, MSThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Biloxi encompasses the southern 17 counties of Mississippi. It was erected on March 1, 1977, when it was split from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson...
and
Beaumont, TXThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirteen counties and portions of two others in Texas. The diocese was founded in September 29, 1966; the first bishop was Most Rev. Vincent M. Harris, D.D....
. The Order also donated more than $500,000 to the
Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
relief efforts and $50,000 to help victims of Typhoon Durian in the Philippines.
At the 2006
American Cardinals DinnerThe American Cardinals Dinner is an annual fundraiser that benefits The Catholic University of America . Each year, a different U.S. archdiocese hosts the Cardinals Dinner, a black-tie event which traditionally features all or most of the cardinals who serve as residential or emeritus archbishops...
, it was announced that the Knights would be giving a gift of $8 million to
The Catholic University of AmericaThe Catholic University of America , located in Northeast Washington, D.C., is the national university of the Roman Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops...
. The gift is to renovate Kean Hall, an unused building, and rename it McGivney Hall, after Fr. McGivney. The new McGivney Hall will house the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, a
graduate schoolA graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
of
theologyChristian theology is discourse concerning Christian faith. Christian theologians use Biblical exegesis, rational analysis and argument to understand, explain, test, critique, defend or promote Christianity...
affiliated with the Pontifical Lateran University in
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
as well as CUA. Supreme Knight Anderson serves on CUA's
board of trusteesAs of September 2008, the Board of Trustees at The Catholic University of America was composed of:*Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus*Richard D. Banziger, B.A. 1981, Managing Director, Salomon Smith Barney...
and is the vice president of the John Paul II Institute. The Knights have a
long historyThe Knights of Columbus and The Catholic University of America have a history of working together that dates back almost to the founding of the university. Today, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson serves on the Board of CUA's Trustees. Bishop William E...
of donating to CUA.
The Knights' Satellite Uplink Program has provided funding to broadcast a number of papal events including the annual
EasterEaster is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day from his crucifixion...
and
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
Masses, as well as the World Day of Peace in
AssisiAssisi is a town of Italy in province of Perugia, in the Umbria region and on the western flank of Monte Subasio.It was the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208, and St. Clare , the founder of the Poor Clares...
, the Peace Summit in Assisi,
World Youth DayWorld Youth Day is a youth-oriented Roman Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, invitation to attend is non-denominational....
s, the opening of the
Holy DoorEach of the four patriarchal basilicas in Rome has a Holy door . The doors are normally sealed shut from the inside so that they cannot be opened...
at
St. Peter's BasilicaThe Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as the ' and commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica, is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is the symbolic "Mother church" of...
's for the
Millennial JubileeThe Great Jubilee in 2000 was a major event in the Roman Catholic Church, held from December 24, 1999 to January 6, 2001. Like other previous Jubilee years, it was a celebration of the mercy of God and forgiveness of sins...
,
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła served as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death almost 27 years later. His was the second-longest pontificate; only Pope Pius IX served longer...
's visit to
NazarethNazareth is the capital and largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
and several other events. In missionary territories the Order also pays for the satellite downlink.
United in Charity, a general, unrestricted endowment fund, was introduced at the 2004 Supreme Council meeting to support and ensure the overall long-term charitable and philanthropic goals of the Order. The fund is wholly managed, maintained and operated by Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Before United in Charity was formed all requests for funds were met with the general funds of the Order or in combination with specific appeals. Requests from the Church and organizations closely aligned with the mission of the Order often far exceeded the amount available and it is hoped that eventually United in Charity's earnings will be sufficient to completely fund the Order's charitable priorities.
Ever since its founding the Knights of Columbus has been involved in
evangelizationEvangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
. In 1948, the Knights started the Catholic Information Service (CIS) to provide low-cost Catholic publications for the general public as well as for parishes, schools, retreat houses, military installations, correctional facilities, legislatures, the medical community, and for individuals who request them. Since then, CIS has printed millions of booklets, and thousands of people have enrolled in CIS correspondence and on-line courses.
College councils
While most Knights of Columbus Councils are located at parishes or near multiple parish communities, many men first join the Knights while in college. Over 14,000 Knights are members of 200+ College Councils worldwide. College Knights are full members of the Order.
The first College Council was at
The Catholic University of AmericaThe Catholic University of America , located in Northeast Washington, D.C., is the national university of the Roman Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by U.S. Roman Catholic bishops...
, Keane Council 353 (it has since moved off-campus). Today, the
University of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA....
Knights of Columbus Council 1477, founded in 1910, is the oldest college council in the country, followed by the councils at St. Louis University and
Benedictine CollegeBenedictine College is a small co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded on July 1, 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women...
. In 1919, Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary council 1965 became the first council attached to a seminary, at what is now Mount St. Mary's University. In 1937, the
University of IllinoisThe University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Illinois system....
became the first public university with a Knights of Columbus Council, The Illini Council Number 2782.
Some College Councils hold a unique form of the Knights Membership Blitz styled "Go Roman Week". The name is a play on the fact that most fraternities on college campuses are given Greek alphabet designations, while the Knights of Columbus is a Roman Catholic organization. At some Catholic universities, such as the University of St. Thomas, Notre Dame, and
Benedictine CollegeBenedictine College is a small co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded on July 1, 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women...
, the Knights are the only fraternity permitted on campus. However, councils at some other colleges have difficulty attaining official college recognition because of their all-male composition.
Each September, the Supreme Council hosts a College Council Conference at their headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut. Awards are given for the greatest increases in membership, the best Youth, Community, Council, Family and Church activities and the overall Outstanding College Council of the year. Belmont College and
Benedictine CollegeBenedictine College is a small co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded on July 1, 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women...
lead the nation winning the most titles of Outstanding College Council. In the recent past, councils from Southern schools, specifically Texas, have demonstrated tremendous effort, with Texas A&M and the
University of St. ThomasUniversity of St. Thomas can refer to:*University of St. Thomas *University of St. Thomas *University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines*Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas , Rome, ItalySee also St. Thomas University...
(in Houston) leading the pack, respectively. In years of an international
World Youth DayWorld Youth Day is a youth-oriented Roman Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, invitation to attend is non-denominational....
the Order is represented by members of the College Council Conference Coordinating Committee, who travel with the diocese of the Supreme Chaplain (currently Bishop
William E. LoriWilliam E. Lori is the 4th Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Before succeeding Edward Cardinal Egan in 2001 he was an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington....
of the
Diocese of BridgeportThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport is located in the south western part of the state of Connecticut, and its boundaries are the same as that of Fairfield County, Connecticut. There are 87 parishes in the diocese. Its cathedral is St. Augustine in Bridgeport.The current bishop is The Most...
).
Columbian Squires
| Level 1: Page |
| Level 2: Shield Bearer |
| Level 3: Swordsman |
| Level 4: Lancer |
| Level 5: Squire of the Body of Christ |
The Knights' official junior organization is the Columbian Squires. The international fraternity for boys 10–18 has over 5,000 circles. According to Brother
Barnabas McDonaldBrother Barnabas McDonald F.S.C., was a Brother of the Christian Schools involved with youth work, especially among delinquents and orphans in the United States...
, F.S.C., the Squires founder, “The supreme purpose of the Columbian Squires is character building.” Squires have fun and share their Catholic faith, help people in need, and enjoy the company of friends in social, family, athletic, cultural, civic and spiritual activities. Through their local circle, Squires work and socialize as a group of friends, elect their own officers, and develop into Catholic leaders.
Each Circle is supervised by a Knights of Columbus Council or Assembly and has an advisory board made up of either the Grand Knight, the Deputy Grand Knight and Chaplain or the Faithful Navigator, the Faithful Captain and Faithful Friar. Circles are either Council based, parish based, or school based, depending on the location of the circle and the Knight counselors.
Squire Roses
The
Squire RosesThe Squire Roses are a youth fraternity run by individual State Councils within the Knights of Columbus, for Catholic ladies between the ages of 10 and 18. With the Squires and Squire Roses , they combine to make the Columbian Squires.-History:The Squire Roses were established in 1996 under the...
are a youth fraternity run by individual State Councils within the Knights of Columbus, for Catholic ladies between the ages of 10 and 18. They are a sister organization to the Squires.
The Squire Roses were created in 1996 by adoption of the Virginia State Council of Knights of Columbus. The founder of this organization is Russell DeRose, currently a Chief Counselor for Squire Roses Circle #1, St. Mary of Sorrows, in Fairfax Station, Virginia.
The Squire Roses are officially recognized in the Jurisdictions of Virginia and Washington DC, with acceptance in New Jersey and California soon to follow.
Emblems of the order
At the second Supreme Council meeting on May 12, 1883 Supreme Knight
James T. MullenJames T. Mullen was the first Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from February 2, 1882 to May 17, 1886....
introduced the emblem of the order. It consists of a shield mounted upon a Formée cross. The Formée cross, with its arms expanding at the ends, is an artistic representation of the
cross of ChristThe Christian cross is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity. It is a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is related to the crucifix and to the more general family of cross symbols...
. The shield harkens back to medieval
knightA knight was a "gentleman soldier" or member of the warrior class of the Middle Ages in Europe. In other Indo-European languages, cognates of cavalier or rider are more prevalent suggesting a connection to the knight's mode of transport...
s and the cross represents the Catholicity of the Order. Mounted on the shield is a
fascesFasces symbolize summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity"...
with an anchor and a short sword crossed behind it. The fasces is a symbol of authority while the anchor is the mariner's symbol for Columbus. The sword, like the shield it is mounted on, was used by knights of yesteryear when engaged upon an errand of mercy. Each Knight receives the emblem as a lapel pin.
Three elements form the emblem of the Fourth Degree. A dove floats over a globe showing the
Western HemisphereThe Western Hemisphere, also Western hemisphere or western hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian , the other half being the eastern hemisphere...
, the New World Columbus is credited with discovering. Both are mounted on the Isabella cross, a variation of the
Maltese crossThe Maltese cross is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is considered one of the National symbols of Malta...
with knobs at the end of each of the 8 points. This cross was often found on the tunics and capes of the
crusadingThe Crusades were a series of religiously-sanctioned military campaigns waged by much of Latin Christian Europe, particularly the Franks of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The specific crusades to restore Christian control of the Holy Land were fought over a period of nearly 200 years, between...
knights who fought for the
Holy LandThe Holy Land , generally refers to the geographical region of the Levant called Land of Canaan or Land of Israel in the Bible, and constitutes the Promised land...
.
Spiritually, the symbols of the emblem symbolize the
three personsThe Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, or in the Greek hypostases, but one being. Each of the persons is understood as having the one...
of God. The Globe represents
God the FatherIn many monotheist religions, God is given the title and attributions of Father. In the Israelite religion and its closest modern relative, Talmudic Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, law-giver, and protector...
, Creator of the Universe. The Cross is symbolic of
God the SonChristian views of Jesus consist of the teachings and beliefs held by Christian groups about Jesus, including his divinity, humanity, and earthly life. As indicated by the name "Christianity," the focus of a Christian's life is a firm belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah or Christ....
, who redeemed mankind by dying on the cross, and the Dove represents
God the Holy SpiritIn Christianity, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. In mainstream Christian beliefs he is the third person of the Trinity. As part of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is equal with God the Father and with God the Son....
, the Sanctifier of Humanity. The colors of the emblem, the red cross, white dove and blue earth are the colors of the
flag of the United StatesThe flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows of five stars...
, where the Order was founded. The elements serve as a reminder that the principle of the Degree is
patriotismPatriotism is love of and/or devotion to one's country. The word comes from the Greek patris, meaning fatherland. However, patriotism has had different meanings over time, and its meaning is highly dependent upon context, geography and philosophy....
but also that the Order is thoroughly Catholic.
Litany
The Knights have a strict protocol, sometimes referred to as the "Litany" which dictates the order of rank with the Order, and is typically used at formal functions or presentations in the Order:
-
- Hierarchy
- Clergy
- Supreme Officers
- Supreme Directors
- Vice Supreme Master
- State or Territorial Officers
- Masters of the Fourth Degree
- Immediate Past State or Territorial Deputy
- Past State or Territorial Deputies
- Former Masters of the Fourth Degree
- Executive Staff
- Supreme Council Insurance General Agents
- District Deputies
- Supreme Council Insurance Field Agents
- State or Territorial Directors
- Chapter Presidents
- State or Territorial Chairmen
- Wardens to the State or Territorial Deputy
- District Wardens
- District Marshals
- Grand Knights
- Faithful Navigators
- Past Chapters Presidents
- Past Grand Knights
- Past Faithful Navigators
- Chapter Officers
- Council Officers
- Assembly Officers
Additionally, only officers elected to the chief position in either a council (Grand Knight), state/territory (State or Territorial Deputy) or national (Supreme Knight) are referred by the title "Past" once they have left office, given that the individual served at least six months and a day in the position.
All other members having previously held a chief position are referred by the title "Former," as is the case for District Deputies, Masters, Vice-Supreme Masters, etc. The distinction is made between having been elected (Past) and having been appointed (Former).
Officers
Knights of Columbus Councils, Fourth Degree Assemblies, and Columbian Squire Circles have similar officers. In the Councils, officer titles are prefixed with "Worthy" and in the Assemblies, officer titles are prefixed with "Faithful". In addition to the Columbian Squires' officers listed below, there is an adult position of "Chief Counselor" that helps oversee the Circle.
| Assembly |
Grand Knight |
Navigator |
Chief Squire |
| Chaplain |
Friar |
Father Prior |
| Deputy Grand Knight |
Captain |
Deputy Chief Squire |
| Chancellor |
Admiral |
Deputy Chief Squire |
| Recorder |
Scribe |
Notary |
| Financial Secretary |
Comptroller |
Bursar |
| Treasurer |
Purser |
Bursar |
| Lecturer |
nonexistent |
nonexistent |
| Advocate |
nonexistent |
nonexistent |
| Warden |
Pilot |
Marshall |
| Inside Guard |
Inner Sentinel |
Sentry |
| Outside Guard |
Outer Sentinel |
Sentry |
| Trustee (3 Year) |
Trustee (3 Year) |
nonexistent |
| Trustee (2 Year) |
Trustee (2 Year) |
nonexistent |
| Trustee (1 Year) |
Trustee (1 Year) |
nonexistent |
| nonexistent |
Color Corp Commander |
nonexistent |
Political activities
In 1954,
lobbyingLobbying is the practice of influencing decisions made by government . It includes all attempts to influence legislators and officials, whether by other legislators, constituents, or organized groups. A lobbyist is a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest or a...
by the Order helped convince the
U.S. CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
to add the phrase "under God" to the
Pledge of AllegianceThe Pledge of Allegiance to the United States is an oath of loyalty to the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954...
. President Dwight Eisenhower wrote to Supreme Knight
Luke E. HartLuke E. Hart was the tenth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from September 1, 1953 to February 19, 1964....
thanking the Knights for their "part in the movement to have the words 'under God' added to our Pledge of Allegiance." Similar lobbying convinced many state legislatures to adopt October 12 as
Columbus DayMany countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492 in the Julian calendar and October 21, 1492 in the modern Gregorian calendar, as an official holiday...
and led to President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt'sFranklin Delano Roosevelt , the only U.S. President elected to more than two terms, was a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
confirmation of Columbus Day as a federal holiday in 1937.
While the Knights of Columbus support political awareness and activity, United States councils are prohibited by tax laws from engaging in candidate endorsement and partisan political activity due to their non-profit status. Nevertheless, President
George H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st President of the United States . He was also Ronald Reagan's Vice President , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence....
appeared at the annual convention during the election year of 1992 and President
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush was the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000....
sent videotaped messages before he attended in person at the 2004 election year convention. Public policy activity is limited to issue-specific campaigns, typically dealing with Catholic family and
lifeThe phrase "culture of life" is a controversial term used in moral theology. It is described by its proponents as a philosophy that human life, at all stages from conception through to natural death, is sacred...
issues.
Bush's Democratic opponent, John Kerry, himself a Catholic and ardent abortion rights supporter, was not invited to address the convention.
In the United States, the Knights of Columbus often adopt
socially conservativeSocial conservatism is a political or moral ideology that believes government and/or society have a role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors based on the belief that these are what keep people civilized and decent. A second meaning of the term social conservatism developed...
positions on public issues. They have adopted resolutions advocating a
Culture of LifeThe phrase "culture of life" is a controversial term used in moral theology. It is described by its proponents as a philosophy that human life, at all stages from conception through to natural death, is sacred...
, defining
marriageMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
as the union of one man and one woman, and promoting Roman Catholic practices in public schools, government, and voluntary organizations such as the
Boy Scouts of AmericaThe Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over four million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. The Order also funded a postcard campaign in 2005 in an attempt to stop the
Canadian parliamentThe Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch represented by her Governor General the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
from legalizing same-sex marriage.
On April 9, 2006 the Board of Directors commented on the "U.S. immigration policy [which] has become an intensely debated and divisive issue on both sides of the border between the U.S. and
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
." They called "upon the President and the U.S. Congress to agree upon immigration legislation that not only gains control over the process of immigration, but also rejects any effort to criminalize those who provide humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants, and provides these immigrants an avenue by which they can emerge from the shadows of society and seek legal
residencyPermanent residency refers to a person's visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country despite not having citizenship. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident....
and
citizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, or national community.Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
in the U.S."
In California’s 2008 election the Knights of Columbus attracted media attention when they donated more than $1.4 million to
Proposition 8Proposition 8 was a California ballot proposition passed in the November 2008, general election. The measure added a new section to Article I of the California Constitution...
, becoming the largest financial supporter of Proposition 8 which succeeded in banning marriages between same-sex couples in the state. A group called “Californians Against Hate”, viewing Proposition 8 as a denial of civil rights and a promotion of inequality, has added the Knights of Columbus to their “
Dishonor Roll.” Showing appreciation for the large donation, Ned Dolejsi of the California Catholic Conference stated, “Proposition 8 is honored to have the support of an esteemed organization who has such a strong record of public service and success.”Patrick Korten, Vice President of Communications for the Knights of Columbus said of the issue, "We hope that people look to this donation and are inspired by it and add to the resources available to pass this referendum.”
Heads of state
The Knights of Columbus invites the
head of stateHead of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state...
of every country they operate in to the Supreme Convention each year. In 1971, U.S. President
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States and is the only president to resign the office. He was also the 36th Vice President of the United States ....
gave the keynote address at the States Dinner;
Secretary of TransportationThe United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet...
and Knight John Volpe was responsible for this first appearance of a U.S. President at a Supreme Council gathering. President
Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States and the 33rd Governor of California .Born in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1930s...
spoke at the Centennial Convention in 1982. President George H.W. Bush appeared in 1992. President
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the third-youngest president; only Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were younger when entering office...
sent a written message while he was in office, and President
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush was the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000....
sent videotaped messages before he attended in person at the 2004 convention.
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, the only Catholic to be elected
President of the United StatesThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
, was a Fourth Degree member of Bunker Hill Council No. 62 and Bishop Cheverus General Assembly. Supreme Knight
Luke E. HartLuke E. Hart was the tenth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from September 1, 1953 to February 19, 1964....
visited Kennedy at the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
on Columbus Day, 1961. The president told Hart that his younger brother,
Ted KennedyEdward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in November 1962, he was elected nine times and served for 46 years in the U.S. Senate. At the time of his death, he was the second most senior member of the Senate, and...
, had received "his Third Degree in our Order three weeks before." Hart presented Kennedy with a poster of the American Flag with the story of how the Order got the words "under God" inserted in the Pledge of Allegiance.
In 1959
Fidel CastroFidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician, one of the primary leaders of the Cuban Revolution, the Prime Minister of Cuba from February 1959 to December 1976, and then the President of the Council of State of Cuba until his resignation from the office in February 2008...
sent an aide to represent him at a Fourth Degree banquet in honor of the
Golden JubileeA Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In the Commonwealth Realms :In the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms, a Golden Jubilee celebration is held in the 50th year of a monarch's reign.- For Queen Elizabeth II :...
of the Order's entry into
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
. Supreme Knight Hart attended a banquet in the Cuban Prime Minister's honor in April of that year sponsored by the
Overseas Press ClubThe Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was an early member...
and later sent him a letter expressing regret that they were not able to meet in person.
Knights of Columbus were among the groups that welcomed Pope Benedict XVI on the South Lawn of the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
on April 16, 2008, the pontiff's 81st birthday.
Famous Knights
Many famous Catholic men from all over the world have been Knights of Columbus. In the United States several of the most notable include
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
,
Ted KennedyEdward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in November 1962, he was elected nine times and served for 46 years in the U.S. Senate. At the time of his death, he was the second most senior member of the Senate, and...
,
Samuel AlitoSamuel Anthony Alito, Jr. is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and has served on the court since January 31, 2006....
, an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United StatesAssociate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
and
Jeb BushJohn Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the younger brother of former President George W. Bush; the older brother of Neil Bush, Marvin Bush and Dorothy Bush Koch; and the second son of former President...
, the former Governor of Florida and Sergeant Major
Daniel DalySergeant Major Daniel Joseph "Dan" Daly was a United States Marine and one of only 19 men to receive the Medal of Honor twice, the other being Major General Smedley Butler....
, a two-time
Medal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while...
recipient, once described by the commandant of the
Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
as "the most outstanding Marine of all time" was also a Knight of Columbus.
Many notable clerics are also Knights, including William Joseph Levada, the Cardinal
PrefectPrefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the FaithThe Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, and sometimes simply called the Holy Office is the oldest of the nine congregations of the Roman Curia. Among the most active of these major Curial...
, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the Archbishop of Boston and
Cardinal Jaime SinJaime Sin, also Jaime Lachica Sin , was a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila known for his instrumental role in the People Power Revolution, which toppled the regime of Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as president of the Philippines...
, the former Archbishop of Manila. In the world of sports,
Vince LombardiVincent Thomas Lombardi was an American football coach. He was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League from 1959-67, winning five league championships during his nine years...
, the famed former coach of the
Green Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League and are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL.The Packers are the last vestige of "small town...
,
Lou AlbanoLouis Vincent Albano was an American professional wrestler, manager and actor. Throughout his 42-year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and four singles competitors to championship gold. A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubber band facial piercings, and loud outfits, he was...
Wrestler,
James ConnollyJames Brendan Bennet Connolly was an American athlete and author. In 1896, he became the first modern Olympic champion.- Early life :...
, the first
OlympicThe Olympic Games are a major international event of summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes compete in a wide variety of events. The Games are currently held every two years, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in...
Gold Medal champion in modern times, and baseball star
Babe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , also popularly known as "Babe" Ruth, "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from –...
were Knights. Former heavyweight
boxingBoxing is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. There are three ways to win...
champion,
Floyd PattersonFloyd Patterson was an American 2-time world heavyweight boxing champion. At 21, Patterson was then the youngest man to win the world heavyweight championship and, later, the first to regain it...
, was also a Knight.
On October 15, 2006, Bishop Rafael Guizar Valencia (1878–1938) was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, thereby becoming the first Knights of Columbus bishop declared a saint. Already in 2000, six other Knights were declared saints by Pope John Paul II.
For a more comprehensive list see List of notable Knights of Columbus. Also see :Category:Knights of Columbus.
Accusations of Racism
While some councils were integrated, increasing pressure came from Church officials and organizations to change its
blackballBlackballing was a rejection technique used in elections to membership of a gentlemen's club . The principle of such a club was that it was self-perpetuating; i.e., new members could only be elected by existing members...
system and Supreme Knight
Luke E. HartLuke E. Hart was the tenth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from September 1, 1953 to February 19, 1964....
was actively encouraging councils to accept black candidates by the end of the 1950s.
In 1963 Hart attended a special meeting at the White House hosted by President Kennedy to discuss
civil rightsCivil and political rights are a class of rights and freedoms that protect individuals from unwarranted government action and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression....
with other religious leaders. A few months later, a
Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA....
alumnus's application was rejected because he was black. Six council officers resigned in protest and the incident made national news. Hart then declared that the process for membership would be revised at the next Supreme Convention, but died before he could see it take place.
The 1964 Supreme Convention was scheduled to be held at the Roosevelt Hotel in
New OrleansNew Orleans is a major U.S. port and the largest city in the state of Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, the largest metro area in the state....
. A few days before the Convention, new Supreme Knight
John W. McDevittDoctor John McDevitt was the eleventh Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from 1964 to 1977.Dr. McDevitt was the Superintendent of Schools in Waltham, Massachusetts from 1942 to 1960...
learned the hotel admitted only white guests and immediately threatened to move to another hotel. The hotel changed its policy and so did the Order. The Convention amended the admissions rule to require one-third of those voting to reject a new member and in 1972 the Supreme Convention again amended its rules to require a majority of members voting to reject a candidate.
Canada Hall Incident
In 2005, a local Knights of Columbus council in Canada was
fined $2,000 by the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. The Council's Hall Manager signed a contract for the use of their facilities with Tracey Smith and Deborah Chymyshynto but canceled it after they became aware that it was for a same-sex wedding reception. The two women claimed they were unaware that the facility was affiliated with the Catholic Church. The local council responded that the hall is on the same compound as a parish church and there were Catholic symbols such as a picture of the Pope and a
crucifixA crucifix is a cross with a representation of Jesus' body, or corpus. It is a principal symbol of the Christian religion...
inside. The tribunal ruled the Council was within its rights to refuse to rent it based on their religious convictions but fined them "for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect" of the women.
College Council Recognition
Some public and private colleges refuse to recognize Knights of Columbus councils as official student organizations because a Catholic men-only membership policy is considered discriminatory. The Supreme Council issues charters to qualifying groups despite lack of college recognition. To circumvent this conflict, clubs named the "Friends of the Knights of Columbus" which are open to all students are often created to serve as clubs. The Friends of the Knights of Columbus then sponsor meeting space, event space, and the like for the council. Still other college councils apply for recognition as on-campus fraternities or fraternal organizations, and are made subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all-male Greek fraternities and similar groups.
Similar organizations
The Knights of Columbus is a member of the
International Alliance of Catholic KnightsThe International Alliance of Catholic Knights is a non-governmental organization made up of fifteen Roman Catholic fraternal societies from 27 countries on six continents. The IACK was founded in Glasgow on October 12, 1979 at a meeting of the leaders of six fraternal societies, convened on the...
, which includes fifteen fraternal orders such as the
Knights of Saint ColumbanusThe Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus is an Irish Catholic fraternal and service organization for lay men over twenty-one years of age....
in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
, the
Knights of Saint ColumbaThe Knights of Saint Columba is a Catholic fraternal service organisation and the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. Founded in Glasgow in 1919, it is named in honour of Saint Columba, a Christian missionary from Ireland who helped to introduce Christianity to some of the people in the north...
in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
, the Knights of Peter Claver in the United States, the
Knights of the Southern CrossThe Knights of the Southern Cross is a Catholic fraternal order committed to promoting the Christian way of life throughout Australia....
in
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
, and the
Knights of St. MulumbaThe Knights of Saint Mulumba were founded in Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria in 1953. Currently, there are 7,689 members. The Supreme Knight of the order is Chief Dr. Fidelis R. C. Ezemenari.-External links:*...
in
NigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger...
.
Many councils also have women's auxiliaries. However, the Supreme Council does not charter them and they may adopt any name they choose. At the turn of the 20th century two were formed by local councils and each took the name the Daughters of Isabella. Using the same name, both groups expanded and issued charters to other Circles but never merged. The newer organization renamed itself the
Catholic Daughters of the AmericasCatholic Daughters of the Americas was founded in 1903 in New York by John E. Carberry and Knights of Columbus as "National order of Daughters of Isabella," and is one of the largest women's organisations in the Americas. It was renamed as Catholic Daughters of the Americas in 1921 and 1925, it...
in 1921 and both have structures independent of the Knights of Columbus. Additionally, the Columbiettes is a female auxiliary conceived to work with the Knights of Columbus.
External links