How does one quit the Knights of Columbus?

[peacoat]

You can’t get out and I can’t get in.

Some years back I tried to join the KofC but heard nothing. Then I received anotice which stated that I was 3 years overdue in my dues. I had never heard that I was a member.

Then I moved. I was very active in my previous parish. But my new one has no programs going on which I could get involved with (I have become active in my wife’s Lutheran parish for some spiritual involvement. While here I tried to join two different KofC councils and heard nothing. Then I contacted Hartford and they informed me that they contacted them and they should be contacting me. Neither did. Eventually I thought I did join a council several years back but have since heard nothing and do not know when or where they meet.

There is still nothing in my parish to get involved in. But joining the KofC now? After all this trouble I do not want to continue trying to become a naive rookie when I should be an experienced veteran. I am now too old to start. Time is passing me by

Not to be rude but too old to start??? My grandfather and great grandfather joined when my grandfather retired about 20 years ago. My grandfather was 67 and his FIL was 89. Both had long served their communities. I know that my grandfather atleast made it to the 3rd rank but used to tell me he’d never be a “featherhead” whatever that meant.

 

[Ophelia23]

I don’t doubt that they’ve done a lot collectively. I didn’t mean to insinuate that. But the three degrees? From the outside it seems to be pretty similar to the masons.

Actually, there are 4 degrees of knights…

 

[april32010]

I know that my grandfather atleast made it to the 3rd rank but used to tell me he’d never be a “featherhead” whatever that meant.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/30/Chapeau.jpg

 

[George_Stegmeir]

I am one of those Catholics who has little respect or use for the K of C based on bitter personal experience.
Both my father and younger brother were 4th degree Knights in Miami, Florida, and my brother was at one time the Grand Knight of his chapter. As a boy, until I left home at a very young age was a member of the Columbian Squires.
My father was a pastry chef in the resort hotels in Miami Beach at a time when that job was a 7 day a week proposition from 6AM to 9PM. My father was able to take time off for Sunday Mass, but very little else for family life except for emergencies and Christmas eve.
That was until he joined the K of C in the late 1940’s. Once he reached the 4th degree, he never missed one of their functions! It became sort of a family joke with my mother, brother and me.
Anyway, fast forward to the mid 1980’s when my father died.I remembered what a big deal the 4th degree made of a fellow members funeral. We immediately notified the K of C council, and when only 2 Knights, who were personal friends of my dad, attended the rosary, I asked where were the other members of the 4th degree. They replied that some former Grand Knight who had relocated to the Miami area had died, so they were attending that funeral. When I pointed out that my father had been a 4th degree Knight for over 25 years, they said that it was their Councils decision to attend the other persons funeral. Fast forward to my brothers death in 2002. When he passed away, I telephoned all over Dade County trying to locate an official of the K of C and got nothing but a runaround. Not one K of C attended his wakd, funeral or burial!
As a side issue, I grew up hearing from my father that when a 4th degree Knight died, the K of C donated a Chalice with his name engraved on it to a needy church. When I asked about this at my fathers wake, One of my fathers K of C friends told me: “Oh we don’t do that anymore, we just give a paten with the engraved names of all Chapter members who have died that year.”
Personally, although I admit that the K of C may do some good, somewhere, my experience with it is that it is a dodge to raise money and sell insurance. Yes, I am still bitter after all these years!!!

 

[beehumble]

According to the website it’s $35 per year.

OK, that is entirely reasonable - the cost of one family dinner order of Domino’s pizzas, for a whole year’s membership!! Thanks for the info.

God bless you.

 

[beehumble]

… Yes, I am still bitter after all these years!!!

It is best to let it go. We are to forget the past and become new again through mercy and forgiveness, thus emulating God. While easy sometimes to forget that, it’s the whole point, isn’t it?! We must not let Satan win by allowing bitterness to grow in our hearts!

God bless you.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I’ve called and emailed my local council periodically over the past 8 months several times probably 15-20 altogether to join the Knights and I’ve never heard back so I’d rather just not bother. I was going to resign from the Masons when I joined the Church in September but I’ve come to a conclusion I just wont attend and I’m not going to bother with the knock off version that we have.

Tell them you’re interested in insurance. They’ll call you right back

 

[wondrousgnat]

Not to be rude but too old to start??? My grandfather and great grandfather joined when my grandfather retired about 20 years ago. My grandfather was 67 and his FIL was 89. Both had long served their communities. I know that my grandfather atleast made it to the 3rd rank but used to tell me he’d never be a “featherhead” whatever that meant.

good point. But. I have been trying for about 20 years to join. It is not as though I am just now trying to get in. I have been getting the run around and no answers. It’s like spending years wanting to date a girl who keeps standing you up. What’s the point? Why would I want to be a part of it? I never join any group unless I get involved. Maybe, just maybe, after all this time I could actually attend a meeting and not know what is going on. Nonsense. I picket abortion clinics and pray the rosary weekly at a nursing home. I don’t see any reason to join a group that does not make me feel welcome .

 

[Joe_5859]

It’s too bad to hear of all the negative experiences. My Dad joined in his late 60’s, too. Pretty much all the men in his small rural parish are Knights – most of them 4th Degree. Their pastor is always calling on them to do stuff. They are doing some sort of charity cook-off every time I turn around. They’re always doing various service projects.

 

[maltmom]

OK, that is entirely reasonable - the cost of one family dinner order of Domino’s pizzas, for a whole year’s membership!! Thanks for the info.

God bless you.

You’re welcome.

God bless you as well.

 

[tominrichmond]

Ref: negative experiences-- what organization is perfect?

The best thing for someone considering Knights is to find and attend a parish with an active council. I never contemplated joining until I realized how much practical charity the Council at my parish was doing. By the same token, I would probably drop out pretty quickly if our Council stopped doing worthy activities.

I also have a big problem with the national KofC, which is notoriously weak on prolife issues, and specifically refuses to let local Councils kick out pro-abort, pro-homosex marriage members. “Too political” is their excuse. Many in our Council have considered disbanding and just organizing the same way as a “Holy Name Society” or something like that.

But for supporting your parish priest and parish with organized charitable activities, it’s hard to beat the Knights.

 

[iloveangels]

I received an email from our treasurer regarding non-payment of dues. I replied in formal language that I was disassociating myself from the organization and no longer wished to be affiliated with them in any way. He replied, asking of financial hardship was the reason. I responded “no”, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him the real reason why.

I became disillusioned with the group when New York passed their gay marriage law by the slimmest of margins, thanks to a couple of “Catholic” state senators, who also happened to be Knights themselves. Once must be a faithful Catholic in good standing with the Church to join, but once on the inside, anything goes?

As just to make it clear, I posted my statement on Facebook, along with this:

Good Night, Knights! - RealCatholicTV

Send them a registered letter, so that you get the receipt back. Keep a Xerox copy of the signed letter with the receipt. They are required to remove you from the rolls if you request it, and then you have proof you requested it.

 

[iloveangels]

I don’t doubt that they’ve done a lot collectively. I didn’t mean to insinuate that. But the three degrees? From the outside it seems to be pretty similar to the masons.

It’s roughly patterned in the same way because it was designed to give Catholic men something to join since they cannot join the Masons and stay Catholic.

 

[iloveangels]

Tell them you’re interested in insurance. They’ll call you right back

 

[Striving4Good]

Wow, I thought that my husband’s situation was unique. After an announcement in our parish bulletin for KofC members (soliciting for new members) my husband emailed straight away and never heard back. So he emailed again, and phoned the person in the announcement. We ran into this person at a function and he said he would get back in touch with my husband — finally after 7-10 months he contacted my husband the day prior to a meeting to invite him to come, which is this week.

This only adds to disillusionment. I know they are a volunteer organization, and ‘things slip through the cracks’ yet I’m a member of the Junior League and we have systems set-up and membership committees (we just closed our membership drive and had 460+ women submit an application).

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Wow, I thought that my husband’s situation was unique. After an announcement in our parish bulletin for KofC members (soliciting for new members) my husband emailed straight away and never heard back. So he emailed again, and phoned the person in the announcement. We ran into this person at a function and he said he would get back in touch with my husband — finally after 7-10 months he contacted my husband the day prior to a meeting to invite him to come, which is this week.

This only adds to disillusionment. I know they are a volunteer organization, and ‘things slip through the cracks’ yet I’m a member of the Junior League and we have systems set-up and membership committees (we just closed our membership drive and had 460+ women submit an application).

I’m sure it’s hard not to be frustrated about not having a prompt response, but really, the Knights of Columbus is NOTHING like the Junior League. The K of C is run by men, number one, and many times, they are still working and caring for their families. If not, they can be retired, and perhaps not as organized. Plus, the energy level depends a lot on each parish. Not to excuse poor communication but holding the Junior League up as a comparison just isn’t quite fair. There’s a lot of status that comes from having the Junior League on your volunteer resume, and a certain pedigree that is demanded. No such thing from the K of C.

 

[masuwerte]

The KoC at my wife’s parish have asked me to join several times. I don’t think I’d join, even if I were Catholic, because what would that say to my non-Catholic family and friends? That I’d go hang out with these guys, but you can’t. Sorry, but to me that’s kinda like joining a club that only accepts people of one ethnic group. Also, as a non-Catholic, I don’t feel like I can support their fund raisers, since so much of the funds they raise go for “Catholic Evangelism” and to support Catholic seminarians. The Knights I’ve known in person are a good bunch of guys, but I’m just not one of them.

 

[exdob]

I joined the knights as a seminarian but I have never had a positive experience with them at all. I would like to disassociate from them completely. My experience with them is that they lack Christian formation despite of all the fundraising they do. I have belonged to five different groups and am more convinced to leave. Please, if anyone knows how I can disassociate myself, let me know.
Sincere thanks.

 

[SED]

I joined KofC about 8 months this ago, am now 3rd degree. I’ve had nothing but a positive experience so far.

We’re a small council, don’t have a hall or building of our own. We have 2 meetings a month, usually 10 - 12 out of around 80 members attend regularly, but others are involved with different activities in the parish. Thats what i like, i can be as active as i have time for, Its dfifferent for everyone.

We have fund raising events, are greeters at mass, raised the funds and constructed a very nice Groto for BVM, sponsor a bus to transport people to Right to Life march and donate to various charities to name a few things.

The thing I like about the organization is it has a overall national/state structure and guidence, but still allows each council the freedom to focus their efforts where they wish to, to meet their parish needs.

To join I simply contacted another member I met and he gave me the registration form. A month or so later I had my first degree ceremony. Its 35.00 a year for my council, but they covered the first year fee for new members.

Your experience will really depend on your local leadership, members, and parish. Its up to the council members to make it a success. Not saying ours is perfect, we have many things to improve, but I’m happy I joined and look forward to helping to make it better. Get involved and you can help make it a successful organization.

 

[SantaClaus]

I just had an issue with my council that I thought someone out there may be able to help me with. I wanted to do something good for the parish and things were misinterpreted. The Grand Knight didn’t quite know what I was doing even though we voted on it and agreed to it. The RE program was going to run an event that would help the parish and give the proceeds to the Knights but when the event was advertised in the bulletin without mention of the Knights, the council was furious and made things hard for myself and RE to move forward. They told me there were protocols that needed to be followed and that I wasn’t the officer that needed to handle it. Now I see them as a power hungry group that refused to allow RE to do an even that would have evangelized many parishioners, just because their name wasn’t on it and it might interfere with future events of their’s dealing with money. Does anyone else see them as beginning to get power hungry and money worshiping sometimes (NOT ALWAYS) and if so how would you suggest dealing with it. Parishioners and office staff have now told me to quit since that is there attitude.