2011 -2012 State Deputy
Michael L. Wills
Knights pledge to fight for religious liberty
Andy
Telli
Tennessee’s
Knights of Columbus added their voices to the calls for the
protection of religious freedom during their annual state convention
held April 27-29 in Franklin. The Knights of Columbus is not a
politically partisan organization, but issues are not partisan,
State Deputy Mike Wills of Knoxville told the convention delegates.
“Let’s recommit to the First Amendment and its guarantee of
religious freedom.” “It’s fair to say this country has had issues
with religious freedom throughout its history,” said Father Stephen
Kenny, the state chaplain and pastor of St. Philip the Apostle
Church in Somerville. “We must stand, as we have in the past, for
religious liberty, not just for Catholics but for all Americans.”
The Knights of Columbus’ Supreme Treasurer Logan Ludwick was the representative of the Supreme Council at this year’s state convention. He also addressed religious freedom during the convention.
“It’s
obvious there is a concerted effort by many sources to drive
religion from the public square,” said Ludwig, a member of the
Supreme Board of Directors since 2007 and the Past State Deputy of
Illinois.
One example of that effort is the mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services that all employers must provide insurance coverage without a copay or deductible for several treatments and procedures the Catholic church and others believe are immoral, such as sterilizations and contraceptives that can cause abortions. The exemption for religious organizations included in the mandate is so narrowly written it wouldn’t apply to Catholic schools, hospitals, social service agencies or organizations like the Knights of Columbus, which donates millions of dollars in charity each year. “The issue is the threat to religious liberty and what it does to the country,” Ludwig said. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have objected to the mandate, and the Knights are supporting the bishops in their opposition, Ludwig said. “We’ve got to follow their lead and make sure what we do supports their efforts.”
The Supreme Council is calling on all Knights to learn about the issue, pray about the issue, and talk to their legislators about the issue, Ludwig said.
The delegates at the Tennessee convention adopted a resolution in defense of religious liberty. “Religious freedom is not a benefit that a government confers out of a sense of mere tolerance and that can be removed, but rather it is an inalienable right, rooted in the transcendent dignity of every human being,” stated the resolution, that Supreme Knight Carl Anderson has asked each state jurisdiction in the order to adopt.
According to the resolution, “This mandate sets a dangerous precedent and represents one of the most serious intrusions on religious freedom in our lifetimes.” The resolution calls for President Barack Obama to rescind the mandate and pledges the Knights will “stand in solidarity with our bishops in their call to the Catholic faithful, and to all Americans, to join together in the great struggle to oppose this mandate and to protect religious liberty and freedom of conscience.”
In
other action, the Knights re-elected to office State Deputy Mike
Wills, State Secretary John Parks of St. Edward Church in Nashville,
State Treasurer Steve Comm of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in
Nashville, State Advocate Tracy Staller of Seymour and State Warden
Michael McCusker of Cordova.
Councils honored for their program activities included: Council 3537 at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksville, Charity Activity; Council 12012 at St. Henry Church in Nashville, Church Activity; Council 14341 at Blessed John XXIII Parish on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Community Activity; Council 5207 in Knoxville, Council Activity and Pro-Life Activity; Council 8152 in Crossville, Family Activity; Council 7449 in Germantown, Health Activity; Council 11424 in Dayton; Membership Activity; Council 7449 in Germantown, Vocations Activity; and Council 1101 in Jackson, Youth Activity.
Both the Family of the Year, Michael and JoAnne Wilkiel, and the Knight of the Year, Robert Diller, came from Council 8152 in Crossville. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Deacon Paul Nelson of Council 8576 in Chattanooga.
MR Foundation
The MR Foundation, which was established by the Tennessee Knights of
Columbus to help those with intellectual disabilities, is
encouraging local councils to consider changes in their annual
Tootsie Roll Drives designed to increase contributions.
Every year, Knights across the state will dedicate a weekend to collect donations to support the MR Foundation’s efforts, typically standing outside the doors of various stores.
The second biggest shopping day of the year, behind the Friday after Thanksgiving, is the sales tax-free weekend held in August each year as families prepare to return to school, noted John King, president of the MR Foundation, and Byron Nestler, a foundation board member.
The board is hoping councils will consider moving their drives to
the sales tax-free weekend, held the first weekend of August, to
take advantage of the heavier traffic in and out of the stores, said
King and Nestler, both members of Council 9317 at St. Francis of
Assisi Church in Cordova.
“We’re trying to give people alternatives,” Nestler said.
The money raised through the Tootsie Roll Drives is donated to the MR Foundation, which makes grants to organizations providing services to people with intellectual disabilities, including housing. For more information about the foundation, visit http://mrfoundationtn.org.
First Quarter of 2012 is now available
Saturday June 9, 2012 - Host Assembly 2094 Morristown TN.
Council 6099 has given us the opportunity to see how they put together a New Member Welcome Package.
This information can help your councils create your own packages.
Tennessee Local Council Website Directory
Support the Knights of Columbus cause for
Father McGivney.
Visit this website
www.fathermcgivney.org for more
information.