Knights of Columbus Question

[WaltLove]

Hey guys,

I have a question for everyone and I hope it is not taken out of context. I am seriously considering joining the Knights. I love what they stand for, what they do, and who they are. I also have many family members who are Knights. My only issue, which isn’t that big and I feel can be explained to me, is that they are named after Columbus. Why are they named after Columbus? Wasn’t Columbus a rapist and murderer of the natives? It is hard for my conscience to accept joining with this in mind, even though these guys are AMAZING! I do not mean to offend. This is just what I know historically. Thanks for all of your help.

In Christ our Lord!

Walt

 

[JimR-OCDS]

WaltLove

Wasn’t Columbus a rapist and murderer of the natives?

No, Columbus wasn’t a rapist and murderer of natives himself, but some of these things were the result of his discovery of America and the general attitude toward indigenous people, by Europeans of that time. However, he did try to enslave the natives, and when the missionaries that came with him on his second voyage protested, he had them chained and confined to prison on the ship.

Myself, I’ve never seen anything spiritually conducive with the Knights of Columbus. My understanding is that they were formed, in response to the Masons. In my opinion, they are more of a social club than anything else. Heck, a friend I knew who was a member, who helped build the Knights of Columbus Hall in town, told me that when they were planing the building, the major concern in the design was the bar.

Jim

 

[MarieVeronica]

This link might be of help…

kofc.org/about/history/index.cfm

 

[cienwen]

I wouldn’t judge the mission of the Knights of Columbus based on one members experience in one Chapter. I was a Girl Scout once. My troop was very focused on learning, the outdoors and creativity. The troop own town over, all they did was go to the mall. Not a very good representation of the spirit of Girl Scouting.

I live a few miles from New Haven, CT which is the world headquarters of the KoC. They have a wonderful museum that has a variety of rotating displays about the History of the Knights and Catholicism itself. They often get things on loan from the Vatican museums. Great stuff!!

The Headquarters puts out a variety of publications that are for the most part faithful and orthodox. I grew up ready Apologetic tracts that my father had. Simple, to the point and illustrated. In CT the Knights will launch campaigns if the gov. is trying to undermine Catholic rights. On the smaller scale, individual Chapters are responsible for filling food banks and raising funds for worthy local causes.They play peanuckle a lot too.

It is my understanding the the Kights were created by Fr. McGivney in an effort to help your average lay Catholic, who at the time in New Haven consisted mainly of poor immigrant Irish whom were heavily discriminated against. They are also a big life insurance company. That was a big thing with Father McGivney. He wanted to make sure the widows and orphans were taken care of.

The Knights are working hard to get Fr. McGivney canonized. If you visit Saint Mary’s in New Haven, CT, when you first walk in to the left, by a confessional, Fr. McGiviny is there in a black marble sarcophagus.

 

[m134e5]

WaltLove

No, Columbus wasn’t a rapist and murderer of natives himself, but some of these things were the result of his discovery of America and the general attitude toward indigenous people, by Europeans of that time. However, he did try to enslave the natives, and when the missionaries that came with him on his second voyage protested, he had them chained and confined to prison on the ship.

Myself, I’ve never seen anything spiritually conducive with the Knights of Columbus. My understanding is that they were formed, in response to the Masons. In my opinion, they are more of a social club than anything else. Heck, a friend I knew who was a member, who helped build the Knights of Columbus Hall in town, told me that when they were planing the building, the major concern in the design was the bar.

Jim

When Christopher Columbus landed on American soil, I think he said something like “I claim this land for God, for Spain, and for the Catholic Church.” I can’t find a link to verify that right now, but I’ve heard that somewhere. The link I did give is from a reputable source and is a good defense of his character.

Anti-Catholicism was very strong in the mid-to-late 1800’s- when the Knights of Columbus was founded- much moreso than it is now. The already well-established American society resented the huge wave of Irish immigrants that came over, bringing their poverty, their strange religion, and their different culture with them. An Irish-American priest saw the need for an organization for Catholic men that would provide insurance for their families, and spiritual and fraternal support for the members themselves. It doesn’t really matter whether or not Christopher Columbus was the devout Catholic he is portrayed to be- the point is that the ideals they say he stood for are the ideals of the Knights of Columbus. There are many other commonly admired people who may have lived questionable lives, such as Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy.

It saddens me to see so many councils- like the one you mentioned- seem to be concerned mostly about the bar. Too many councils are just clubs for old men to smoke, drink, cuss, and tell dirty jokes together- that isn’t what the Knights of Columbus is about at all. Such councils are an embarrassment to Catholicism, to the Knights of Columbus, and to men in general. The Knights of Columbus is about serving God, serving the Church, and serving each other and the community around you. The Knights of Columbus is an outstanding organization, and, next to the Liturgy and Sacramental life of the Church, has been my greatest joy in being Catholic.

 

[lakeview]

“Parish Priest” is a biography of Fr. McGivney that gives a good background of the Knights of Columbus that might help. IIRC, they chose Columbus because of his identification with America in a positive light at the time.

 

[jimcav]

WaltLove

Myself, I’ve never seen anything spiritually conducive with the Knights of Columbus. My understanding is that they were formed, in response to the Masons. In my opinion, they are more of a social club than anything else. Heck, a friend I knew who was a member, who helped build the Knights of Columbus Hall in town, told me that when they were planing the building, the major concern in the design was the bar.

Jim

The KofC is not a religous order, or a third order, or confraternity. It is a fraternal organization, and much like a social club, which does not make it a bad thing.

If you only scratch the surface, then yes, you might it say it is nothing more than a place for old men to drink and curse, but a deeper look tells you that it is a very good place for Catholic gentleman. It does an awful lot of charitable work for the Church, seminarians, the pro-life movement and the Pope gets alot of funding and money for his charitable causes from us. Alot more than you would think. And if you stick around, participate in your council, go to meetings and move yourself up into the officer ranks, you will find men of great character in the Knights.

It is an organization that offers a Catholic gentleman alot of opportunity to do good works, and yes, even have a drink once in awhile with men of similar character and faith…

By-the-way, the bar at most KofC councils does play an important part in the life of the council, but probably not for the reason you think. Most councils have a room to rent for parties and such, and the bar is an important part of almost any party. Without it, it’s tough to rent the room, and the room is a key money-maker for the council so it can stay in business and stay open, and make money for it’s charities…

 

[randomguy0187]

To share more information about why the Knights were named after Columbus (from Wikipedia):

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 patron 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 Knights of Columbus was founded in a time of increased interest in Christopher Columbus.

The Connecticut Catholic 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 Protestant leaders, who upheld the explorer (a Catholic Genovese Italian working for Catholic Spain) 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.

Despite the controversy surrounding his legacy as a governor of a settlement (I acknowledge his shortcomings, though just because you can lead ships of explorers doesn’t mean you can govern a settlement ), I don’t think anyone can deny that his achievement as an explorer was instrumental in the development of the modern world.

Also, to add on about the Knights in general, I agree with what jimcav said about it being a fraternal organization, and not a third order/confraternity/etc. I joined recently (at the ripe old age of 24) as a way to get more involved with** service** opportunities in the Church as well as to better contribute to the pro-life movement. I’m also looking forward to getting our council to start up a Squires Circle (a group for boys/young men ages 10-18), because I feel that the older men in our council have a lot they could share with our youth. From what I’ve seen, the activities of a council depend heavily on the initiative of its members. If the local council seems to be one of those that’s just for beers with the guys, maybe you should join and see what difference you could make