Our Stand for Life

July 1, 2022

In a spirit of bravery and charity, Knights are called to aid the vulnerable and build a culture of life

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

July 1, 2022

Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly (Photo by Michael Collopy)

Last month, I wrote about the courage that is needed to be a Knight in a culture that often opposes what we stand for as Catholic men. Some may be called to a decisive act of bravery in the face of overwhelming danger. Consider the Knights who faced martyrdom before firing squads in Mexico in the 1920s while proclaiming “Viva Cristo Rey!” Less dramatic, but equally important, is the daily self-sacrifice to which we are all called. Answering that call also requires heroism. And this spirit of self-sacrifice should characterize our work to defend the unborn and build a culture of life.

Standing for life often requires quiet courage. It means making personal sacrifices for women and children in need — being willing to give of our time, skills and financial resources, and accepting the fact that the fruits of our labors are often hidden. It means facing scorn and derision simply for affirming that every life matters.

Courageously standing for life does not mean being antagonistic or confrontational. When helping vulnerable women, ours should be an attitude of generosity and empathy, not judgment. Even when we are confronted with militant hatred by abortion’s defenders, we are called to respond with love. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you” (Lk 6:27-28).

Following this commandment is not weakness — quite the opposite. It is a sign of strength and confidence in the Lord and the righteousness of our cause.

The Church has consistently defended the right to life and has boldly called for building a culture of life in response to a culture of death. The Knights of Columbus has proclaimed this teaching widely and has taken exceptional steps to support vulnerable mothers and unborn children. And we will continue our work to enshrine the right to life in the laws of the land, in new and renewed ways.

‘Standing for life often requires quiet courage. It means making personal sacrifices for women and children in need — being willing to give of our time, skills and financial resources, and accepting the fact that the fruits of our labors are often hidden.’

Supporting a culture of life means more than simply being opposed to abortion. However, as the U.S. bishops have noted, with more than 63 million innocent human lives lost to abortion in the United States since Roe v. Wade, no more urgent, no more “preeminent” issue has faced us in recent decades. For this reason, our support for women and children has been both direct and constant. Earlier this year, we passed a major milestone in our Ultrasound Initiative, placing our 1,500th machine in a pregnancy resource center.

Our support for family life has also been unwavering, as have our charitable programs providing food, coats and other material aid to vulnerable families. In fact, you could say that through nearly all of our programs, the Knights of Columbus affirms the dignity and goodness of human life.

This notably includes our councils’ and members’ support for pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes in their communities. By forging strong relationships with these centers, Knights are helping to meet the needs of countless women and children.

I recently announced a $5 million campaign to deepen this support. The program is called ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy), and I am confident our councils will rise to meet this challenge.

For every $500 a council gives to a qualifying pregnancy resource center or maternity home (up to $2,000), the Supreme Council will make an additional $100 donation to that center or home. ASAP is roughly modeled on the Knight’s RSVP initiative — which, since 1981, has provided more than $86 million dollars to seminarians and religious in formation. Imagine if we can do that for vulnerable women and children.

To restore a true culture of life, each of us must stand up and give all that we can. In this moment, the Lord is calling us to be noble in our continued sacrifice for mothers and children. We must renew our commitment and dedicate ourselves once again to this simple, but heroic, path.

Vivat Jesus!

Our Stand for Life

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