Local Council 872
• 334 E. Pike Street • Clarksburg, WV 26301 • (304) 622-9152 •
• 334 E. Pike Street • Clarksburg, WV 26301 • (304) 622-9152 •
NEWS FOR KNIGHTS
Knights of Columbus wins Pledge of Allegiance case in Federal Appeals Court
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds constitutionality of "under God" in Pledge
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) -- The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that he words "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance "do not violate the Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
The Knights of Columbus led the campaign to add the words "under God" to the Pledge in the early 1950s, and the trial court agreed to allow the Knights of Columbus to join the present case as defendants when it was originally filed in 2005.
"This decision is a victory for common sense," Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said. "It is also a welcome reversal of the Ninth Circuit's 2002 decision in a similar case that was ultimately thrown out by the Supreme Court on technical grounds. Today, the Court got it absolutely right: recitation of the Pledge is a patriotic exercise, not a religious prayer. Best of all, the Court said that the words 'under God' add a 'note of importance which a Pledge to our Nation ought to have and which in our culture ceremonial references to God arouse.' Every reasonable person knows that, and today's decision is a breath of fresh air from a court system that has too often seemed to be almost allergic to public references to God. This is a very good day for America," Anderson concluded.
In today's ruling, the Court noted that, "Among the 'self-evident truths' the Framers believed was the concept that all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights given to them by the 'Laws of Nature and Nature's God' and that the purpose of government should be to "secure those rights.'" Such beliefs provide the context in which the words of the Pledge must be understood, the Court said.
The Knights of Columbus and several individual Knights and their families were defendant-intervenors in the case, and the court's 2-1 decision incorporates many of the arguments presented to the Court by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest law firm that represented the Knights in the case. Oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit panel had been heard in December 2007. Other defendants in the case included the United States government and a Sacramento-area school district.
Haiti Earthquake Relief
To All Knights of Columbus:
In an effort to come to the aid of the people of Haiti, who are suffering a humanitarian catastrophe of huge proportions in the wake of Tuesday evening's 7.0 earthquake, the Knights of Columbus has today sent an immediate contribution of $50,000 to Catholic Relief Services, and we invite Knights to make contributions through the Supreme Council so that we can maximize the impact of the funds raised, and document the amount donated in this tragedy by members of the Order.
Donations by individual Knights can be made on line, and this feature should be available on the Supreme Council website (www.kofc.org) by later this evening. Checks should be made out to Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc. and mailed to 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510. Please write "Haiti Earthquake Relief" on the memo line of the check.
Contributions will be used to provide assistance wherever it can have the most immediate impact, and where the need is greatest.
We ask all Knights and their families to also offer their prayers for the victims of this terrible disaster.
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds constitutionality of "under God" in Pledge
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) -- The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that he words "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance "do not violate the Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
The Knights of Columbus led the campaign to add the words "under God" to the Pledge in the early 1950s, and the trial court agreed to allow the Knights of Columbus to join the present case as defendants when it was originally filed in 2005.
"This decision is a victory for common sense," Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said. "It is also a welcome reversal of the Ninth Circuit's 2002 decision in a similar case that was ultimately thrown out by the Supreme Court on technical grounds. Today, the Court got it absolutely right: recitation of the Pledge is a patriotic exercise, not a religious prayer. Best of all, the Court said that the words 'under God' add a 'note of importance which a Pledge to our Nation ought to have and which in our culture ceremonial references to God arouse.' Every reasonable person knows that, and today's decision is a breath of fresh air from a court system that has too often seemed to be almost allergic to public references to God. This is a very good day for America," Anderson concluded.
In today's ruling, the Court noted that, "Among the 'self-evident truths' the Framers believed was the concept that all people are entitled to certain inalienable rights given to them by the 'Laws of Nature and Nature's God' and that the purpose of government should be to "secure those rights.'" Such beliefs provide the context in which the words of the Pledge must be understood, the Court said.
The Knights of Columbus and several individual Knights and their families were defendant-intervenors in the case, and the court's 2-1 decision incorporates many of the arguments presented to the Court by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest law firm that represented the Knights in the case. Oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit panel had been heard in December 2007. Other defendants in the case included the United States government and a Sacramento-area school district.
Haiti Earthquake Relief
To All Knights of Columbus:
In an effort to come to the aid of the people of Haiti, who are suffering a humanitarian catastrophe of huge proportions in the wake of Tuesday evening's 7.0 earthquake, the Knights of Columbus has today sent an immediate contribution of $50,000 to Catholic Relief Services, and we invite Knights to make contributions through the Supreme Council so that we can maximize the impact of the funds raised, and document the amount donated in this tragedy by members of the Order.
Donations by individual Knights can be made on line, and this feature should be available on the Supreme Council website (www.kofc.org) by later this evening. Checks should be made out to Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc. and mailed to 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510. Please write "Haiti Earthquake Relief" on the memo line of the check.
Contributions will be used to provide assistance wherever it can have the most immediate impact, and where the need is greatest.
We ask all Knights and their families to also offer their prayers for the victims of this terrible disaster.
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Knights of Columbus launches news and information site for Catholics
The Knights of Columbus this week launched a brand-new Internet-based news and information service for Catholics everywhere: Headline Bistro.
Headline Bistro is a website that provides a quick digest of daily news sources around the world that contain news of interest to active Catholics. Whether it relates to world affairs, national politics or news specifically about the Catholic Church, you'll find links to the original sources here. You'll also find video clips, detailed state-by-state information about voting and public policy, and recommended reading from the world of books. The web address is www.headlinebistro.com.
You can also sign up for a daily e-mail that'll give you the day's top headlines. If you're already a subscriber to our other e-mail updates, just enter your e-mail address in the sign-up box and add Headline Bistro to your preferences.
Tell all your Catholic friends about Headline Bistro!
The Knights of Columbus this week launched a brand-new Internet-based news and information service for Catholics everywhere: Headline Bistro.
Headline Bistro is a website that provides a quick digest of daily news sources around the world that contain news of interest to active Catholics. Whether it relates to world affairs, national politics or news specifically about the Catholic Church, you'll find links to the original sources here. You'll also find video clips, detailed state-by-state information about voting and public policy, and recommended reading from the world of books. The web address is www.headlinebistro.com.
You can also sign up for a daily e-mail that'll give you the day's top headlines. If you're already a subscriber to our other e-mail updates, just enter your e-mail address in the sign-up box and add Headline Bistro to your preferences.
Tell all your Catholic friends about Headline Bistro!