PUBLIC RELATIONS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HAS A TREMENDOUS STORY TO TELL. WHEN VENERABLE SERVANT OF GOD FATHER MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY FOUNDED THE ORDER IN 1882, THE PURPOSE AND VISION HE ESTABLISHED WAS TO PROVIDE CHARITABLE OUTREACH AND CARE FOR THE FINANCIAL WELL- BEING OF CATHOLIC FAMILIES, FOCUS ON THE PROTECTION OF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS AND STRENGTHEN THE FAITH OF ITS MEMBERS. TODAY, THE KNIGHTS HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE 1.9 MILLION MEMBERS IN 17 COUNTRIES AND 14,500 ACTIVE COUNCILS. THE ORDER IS A POWERFUL FORCE FOR GOOD IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED, IN WORD AND DEED, IN BUILDING A BETTER WORLD. TO ENSURE OUR CONTINUED GROWTH IN SERVICE TO CHURCH AND COMMUNITY, WE ALSO NEED TO GROW IN SIZE AND IN PUBLIC RECOGNITION. THERE IS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARING NEWS OF OUR ACTIVITIES WITH THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE NEWS MEDIA. MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING CATHOLICS, ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS OR HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A LARGE ORGANIZATION WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR 135-YEAR HISTORY. CONSIDER THAT, ANNUALLY, KNIGHTS RAISE AND DONATE AN AMOUNT EXCEEDING 170 MILLION DOLLARS TO WORTHY CHURCH AND CHARITABLE PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, MEMBERS PROVIDE MORE THAN 70 MILLION VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS TO CHURCH, COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE IN NEED. DURING THE PAST DECADE, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HAS GIVEN MORE THAN $1.5 BILLION AND 700 MILLION HOURS TO CHARITABLE CAUSES. THAT RECORD SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR EACH OF US. EXAMPLES OF THIS SERVICE ARE NUMEROUS, INCLUDING OUR MANY FUNDRAISING EFFORTS AND PROGRAMS TO AID PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS THE NEEDY, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISADVANTAGED. KNIGHTS HAVE KEPT SERVICE TO THE CHURCH A PRIMARY GOAL FROM THE ORDER S EARLIEST DAYS. IN FACT, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HAS BEEN CALLED THE STRONG -2-
RIGHT ARM OF THE CHURCH. WHETHER IT BE A PARISH OR DIOCESAN-LEVEL PROJECT, OR EXTENSIVE RESTORATION EFFORTS AT SAINT PETER S BASILICA IN ROME, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANSWER THE CALL. IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC POLICY, KNIGHTS GIVE PERSISTENT AND DEDICATED EFFORTS TO FURTHER THE CULTURE OF LIFE AND CIVILIZATION OF LOVE. WITH THE CHURCH, THE ORDER SUPPORTS AND DEFENDS THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE FROM CONCEPTION UNTIL NATURAL DEATH. IT STANDS AGAINST ABORTION, EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE. IT SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION. IT OPPOSES PORNOGRAPHY. IT PROMOTES THE CHURCH S TEACHING ON TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE, INSISTS ON THE RIGHT OF PARENTS TO GUIDE THE SCHOOLING OF THEIR CHILDREN. IT DEFENDS THE ROLE OF MORAL VALUES IN DEFINING PUBLIC POLICY, UPHOLDS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, AND SEEKS APPROPRIATE INTERACTION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ALSO HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND -3-
MANY COUNCILS OFFER PROGRAMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE TO SERVICEMEN & WOMEN DEPLOYED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND OTHER AREAS OF CONFLICT, AS WELL AS ON MILITARY BASES AND INSTITUTIONS ON AMERICAN SOIL. THE ORDER SUPPORTS THE U.S. ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES IN ITS EFFORTS TO EVANGELIZE AND SERVE THE FAITH NEEDS OF CATHOLIC MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HAS MANY REMARKABLE STORIES TO TELL, AND ACTIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS FROM YOUR COUNCIL CAN BE A COMPELLING WAY OF TELLING THEM. WHAT S MORE, OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS INITIATIVES ARE AN EFFECTIVE VEHICLE FOR COMMUNICATING THE MESSAGE AND MEANING OF THE ORDER S MISSION, AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. SAINT JOHN PAUL II URGED LEADERS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY DURING ONE OF HIS VISITS TO THE UNITED STATES: THE MEDIA... CAN BUILD OR DESTROY, UPLIFT OR CAST DOWN. YOU HAVE UNTOLD POSSIBILITIES FOR -4-
GOOD, OMINOUS POSSIBILITIES FOR DESTRUCTION. IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH -- THE DEATH OF THE SPIRIT. AND IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE. THE CHALLENGE OF MOSES TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL IS APPLICABLE TO ALL OF US TODAY: I SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH... CHOOSE LIFE. THROUGH OUR ACTIVITIES AND OUTREACH AS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, WE AFFECT MANY LIVES FOR THE GOOD. TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS, WE NEED A CONSTANT INFLUX OF NEW MEMBERS WHO KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO. OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT SUCCESS. -5-