Messages from Colombia

Messages from Columbia
In pursuit of the truth – www.cinopsbegone.com – Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Anonymous has selected significant excerpts from the monthly magazines, “Columbia” of the Knights of Columbus; the Supreme Knight is Carl A. Anderson.

We have To Change Hearts: August Issue, 2009 – p. 6

A significant part of the supreme knight’s address was dedicated to the Order’s involvement in key issues.

While polls are showing a decrease in the number of people favorable toward unrestricted abortions. “It is not enough to change minds,” Anderson said. “We have to change hearts. We have to change the culture.”

He added that he was encouraged at last year’s Supreme Convention when delegates voted unanimously to establish the Culture of Life Fund. The Order’s subsequent sponsorship of ultrasound machines at pregnancy resources centers is a tangible example of how Knights can transform the culture.

In addition to defending the dignity of life, the Knights ‘can’t step aside’ from defending marriage, Anderson said, recognizing each of the state deputies who has recently found himself at the forefront of that fight.

“We’re going to build a better culture,” Anderson concluded, and it will take “courage to stand up for life and marriage.”

Seeking an Amendment: September Issue, 2009 – p. 6

When the 111th Congress first convened last January, millions voiced their opposition to the potential introduction of Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which threatened to invalidate virtually all existing abortion regulations and enshrine abortion as a “fundamental right.” (See the Jan. 2009 issue of Columbia, archived online at www.kofc.org/columbia.)

While the introduction of FOCA was successfully thwarted through a nationwide effort that included a USCCB-sponsored postcard campaign, many have warned that the health care reform bills, in the current form, would accomplish many of FOCA’s objectives by other means.

For example, Cardinal Rigali observed that the proposed “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009” (H.R. 3200) would give the power to make abortion “a mandated benefit.” It would also bypass the Hyde Amendment, which has restricted federal funding of abortion via the annual Health and Human Service (HHS) appropriation bill since 1976.

According to the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the proposed health care reform legislation, without amendment explicitly excluding abortion coverage, could result in “the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.”

Take Action: September Issue, 2009 – p. 7

Contact your elected representatives and urge them to support the Stupak and Hatch amendment. {As of today both amendments were defeated.} They need to be introduced again. Congressmen and senators can be reached by fax, e-mail or phone. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or call the members’ local offices. Contact www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.
George H. Kubeck