Joseph Craven Archive
NEWS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010
CONTACT: C.J. DOYLE (617)524-6309
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PROHIBIT REMOVAL OF PRO-ABORTION POLITICIANS
The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts today criticized the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus for prohibiting state and local jurisdictions in the Order from suspending the membership of candidates and elected officials who support abortion and same gender marriage. At its annual state convention last weekend, the Massachusetts Knights of Columbus refused to take action on a resolution authored by Former District Deputy Joseph B. Craven, Jr. urging the State Deputy to suspend such members, citing a letter from Supreme Advocate and General Counsel John A. Marrella.
Marrella stated: “... a subordinate council may not impose fraternal discipline with respect to a public figure’s official actions on matters pertaining to faith and morals. Rather, any such discipline must be made by or at the direction of the Supreme Board of Directors, which will consider the prudence of addressing the conduct of the public figure in light of the overall good of the Order.”
In the thirty-seven years since Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Board of Directors has never, to public knowledge, removed a single pro-abortion political figure from the Knights of Columbus. In Massachusetts, a majority of Knights serving in the Legislature voted in 2007 against a constitutional amendment restoring traditional marriage, and voted in 2005 for a law which compels Catholic hospitals to distribute the so-called morning after pill to rape victims.
The Catholic Action League called Marrella’s letter “a shocking abdication of responsibility, and a shameful surrender to the culture of death.”
Catholic Action League Executive Director C.J. Doyle stated: “This letter effectively kills any grassroots initiative within the Knights to address the scandal of pro-abortion pols in the Order. It is now clear that the Knights of Columbus, for the foreseeable future, will continue to harbor in its ranks public officials who oppose Catholic morality, and who believe that the killing of 1.3 million pre-born children each year ought to remain legal in the United States.”
“Apparently, for the national leadership of the Knights of Columbus, the protection of its insurance business, tax exempt status, and its ratings from Standard and Poors is more important than defending the right to life. Despite its pretensions to the contrary, the Knights of Columbus has now made its peace with legal abortion in America.”
A copy of the letter from Supreme Advocate John A. Marrella to State Deputy William F. Donovan follows.
April 15, 2010
Mr. William F. Donovan
State Deputy
Worthy State Deputy and Dear Brother Donovan:
You have asked our opinion with respect to a proposed resolution calling on the State Deputy to summarily suspend certain public figures who are members of the Knights of Columbus and who have publicly taken positions contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church. For the reasons set forth below, we conclude that the proposed resolution would be imprudent and contrary to the policy of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council.
We recognize that some of our members who are public figures may use their public position to advocate or support policy positions that are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals. We further recognize that such conduct may cause confusion in that, among other things, it contradicts the Catholic identity and mission of the Order. We also recognize that such conduct can be the source of internal dissension within councils and among members.
We understand that some subordinate councils have the impulse to address real or perceived scandal caused by members who are public figures. Because of the public stature of such members, however, decisions to summarily suspend the member necessarily affect the entire Order. For this reason, a subordinate council may not impose fraternal discipline with respect to a public figure’s official actions on matters pertaining to faith and morals. Rather, any such discipline must be made by or at the direction of the Supreme Board of Directors, which will consider the prudence of addressing the conduct of the public figure in light of the overall good of the Order.
The reason for this is straightforward. Any action by a state council likely will be understood by the public as an action of the Supreme Council on behalf of the entire Order. Of course, subordinate councils, including state councils, do no have the authority to speak on behalf of the entire Order with respect to such matters. To the extent that any subordinate council addresses the public acts of particular public figures, they may do so only at the express direction of and in concert with the Supreme Board of Directors, only in the rarest of circumstances, and only after careful consideration of all possible ramifications relating to the good of the Order.
Finally, the Order must be sensitive to the role of the bishops, with whom we stand in solidarity. If the public figure’s bishop has not excommunicated him for his public positions on issues relating to matters of faith and morals, it would be highly inappropriate for the Knights of Columbus to do so.
We thank you for bringing this important matter to our attention. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely and fraternally,
John A. Marrella
Supreme Advocate and General Counsel
NEWS RELEASE
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008
CONTACT: C. J. DOYLE: (617)524-6309
CATHOLIC ACTION LEAGUE CRITICIZES KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOR
DODGING VOTE ON SUSPENSION OF PRO-ABORTION POLITICIANS
The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts is criticizing the State Council of the Massachusetts Knights of Columbus for refusing to allow a vote this morning at their annual convention on a measure which would have required them to suspend from their ranks politicians who support abortion or same-sex marriage.
Grand Knight Joseph B. Craven, Jr. of Mt. Pleasant Council in West Roxbury offered a resolution which would have directed Massachusetts State Deputy Vincent Rumasuglia “to summarily suspend those members of the Knights of Columbus who are public officials, present or former, or candidates for public office, who through their votes, campaign literature, web sites or public statements openly support abortion or homosexual marriage.” Craven cited Section 162.7 of the Constitution, Laws & Rules of the Order which affixes the penalty of suspension or expulsion for those members engaged in “giving scandal, scandalous conduct or practice unbecoming a member of this Order.”
Two-thirds of K of C members in the Massachusets General Court supported recent buffer zone legislation, while more than three-quarters voted against a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-gender marriage.
Supreme Advocate Paul Devin, who was attending the convention at the Burlington Marriott Hotel, ruled the measure “unconstitutional.” The State Council also attempted to impose a gag order on delegates, stifling discussion of the matter, until they were forced to relent because of vocal outbursts from the floor.
The Catholic Action League called the ruling “a disgraceful example of the disconnect between rhetoric and policy when it comes to the Knights of Columbus and Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life and the integrity of marriage.”
Catholic Action League Executive Director C. J. Doyle stated: “For twenty-five years, since the 1983 attempt to expel Ted Kennedy, the Knights of Columbus have ducked, dodged, weaved, evaded, obfuscated, and dragged their feet on this issue. They never miss a public opportunity to advertise their pro-life and pro-family credentials, but they repeatedly refuse to conront the inconsistency of retaining pro-abortion and pro-homosexual political figures within their own membership. As Joseph Craven said in his remarks, it is an absolute contradiction to prohibit such politicians from using K of C facilities, while harboring them as members.”
“Outrage is increasing among pro-life Catholics over the hypocrisy of Catholic institutions and organizations who embrace public officials who repudiate Catholic moral principles. There is also a rising sense of urgency that this festering scandal must be brought to an end.”
