Knights of Columbus Questions

[Blairamir]

Hello Blairamir, Are you failing to become a 4th degree Knight because we pledge to be patriotic and you say Christopher Columbus was not a Saint? You know the Biblical passage, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God”.
It was Jesus who said that. Are you implying that I render patriotism to whom it belongs? That would be an interesting debate/argument. As Catholics we are required to obey the law unless it contradicts the moral duties of our faith.

The meetings of the Assemblies (4th degree) contents are never to be told to someone who is not a 4th degree Knight. How did you learn of the inner workings of the 4th degree? You are 3rd degree. No one ever told me about these things

When the Knights were formed C. Columbus was a hero who discovered the New World. The Irish Catholics took his name for the order because he was an American hero.

We never did hear that Columbus was not a hero UNTIL RECENTLY! Some small groups have tried to say that Columbus was a very bad man to the original residents of America.

One of the greatest Orders of Catholicism is commonly called the Jesuits. St. Ignatius de Loyola is responsible for forming the Jesuits - yes he is a Saint now. But what is the true name of of the so-called Jesuits? It is The Society of Jesus, not the Jesuits. It is a highly respected religious order of the Catholic Church.

So, WHY does the Order we call the Knights of Columbus need to bear the name of a Saint?

I’ve read some history on Columbus and do believe he should be considered a great man because in our Catholic value system he merits honor for bringing the true faith to the Americas. He may also have been a poor mayor, or admiral, and that was why he was arrested and brought back to Spain for trial (something like that). My suggestion for an organization name change may bring more people into the organization, particularly those who are of the opinion that Christopher Columbus participated in a brutal oppression of some Native Americans.

The Jesuits have an awesome name in honor of our Savior.

No one has claimed that Christopher Columbus was a saint, any more than the many Catholic schools and organizations named for Catholics who are not saints. However, he did bring the Catholic faith to the Americas, and many immigrants of the late 19th century brought their faith here, just as he did. As a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, I am proud of the organization and its founder.

Patriotism is indeed the virtue that exemplifies the fourth degree and the ceremony for that makes clear why American Knights may rightly be patriotic. Other countries obviously have their own variations on the exemplification. Being a patriotic Catholic in no way means that the Knights endorse every move made by their civil government. As no Pope has expressly instructed the American bishops to excommunicate particular politicians, neither do the Knights tell their bishops whom they believe should be excommunicated.

Petitions asking for the censure of politicians have been signed by thousands and sent to His Holiness the Pope, and I’m sure many Knights were among the signatories. At the present time all three branches of the US federal government uphold the legality of abortion under circumstances that do not threaten the mother’s life.