The Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus has sent an emergency donation of $50,000 to the Philippines to help in efforts to recover from record flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana (known locally as Typhoon Ondoy).

At least 140 people died in flooding in the capital of Manila, where more than 80 percent of the city was under water at the height of the storm, which affected 27 provinces in seven regions of the country. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and are without electricity or clean drinking water.

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On Wednesday, Sept. 9, a unique relic of St. Juan Diego – a small piece of his miraculous tilma, the cloak on which the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in 1531 – will be the centerpiece of a “Guadalupe Celebration” in New Haven.  The relic will be present at the 5 pm Mass at St. Mary’s Church, at which Archbishop Henry Mansell will be the principal celebrant and Supreme Chaplain Bishop William Lori will be the homilist.  After a lecture by Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, the Postulator of St. Juan Diego, a festive procession through the streets of downtown New Haven will bring the relic to the Knights of Columbus Museum for a fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  All are welcome!

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Called to Love by Carl Anderson

Supreme Knight’s Book on Theology of the Body Now Available
Called to Love Builds upon Teachings of Pope John Paul II

(NEW HAVEN, CONN.) – In 1979, Pope John Paul II, drawing from the whole of the Catholic tradition, introduced to the Church and the rest of the world his “theology of the body,” a rich presentation of the Church’s teaching on the relationship between spirituality and the physical body.

In Called to Love: Approaching John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (Doubleday Religion, on sale 4/14/09, $24.00), New York Times best-selling author Carl Anderson and Father José Granados build upon these teachings and further examine the tremendous gift they offer.

“Christianity is itself the fullness of love,” says Anderson. He continues that the experience of love in all its different forms is worth understanding, enabling Catholics to rediscover the full treasure of this Christian tradition and integrate it into daily life.

Anderson and Granados teach that the human body beholds wonder and mystery that teaches people about love in its purest form, and that it speaks of God revealing His goodness. It also speaks of men and women and the innate human desire to love. The summary of these teachings gives a new understanding of the Christian way of love, how it directly intersects with faith and how to embrace both faith and love fully in life.

Carl Anderson is supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus and vice president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Father José Granados is Assistant Professor of Patrology and Systematic Theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Click here to buy the book or visit CalledToLove.net

“Raised Bill No. 1098” is a committee bill and does not bear the names of any individual sponsors. Both co-chairmen of the committee, State Sen. Andrew McDonald and State Rep. Michael Lawlor, are outspoken proponents of same-sex marriage in Connecticut and have been critical of the Catholic Church’s opposition to both civil unions and same-sex marriage.

The stated purpose of the bill is to “provide for the investigation of the misappropriation of funds by religious corporations,” but it deals only with the corporate structure of the Catholic Church. No other church is mentioned, or would be subject to the bill’s requirements.

The measure has been put on a legislative fast track, with hearings scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, less than a week after its introduction. Knights of Columbus, and all concerned Connecticut Catholics, are encouraged to attend the hearing that day and express their opposition to the bill. They may also call or write the committee co-chairmen, State Sen. Andrew McDonald (800-842-1420 or McDonald@senatedems.ct.gov), and State Rep. Michael Lawlor (800-842-8267 or MLawlor99@juno.com.

Bill 1098 is clearly unconstitutional. For more than 200 years, federal courts have consistently held that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars the government from interfering in the internal affairs of churches. This legislation not only violates that fundamental principle, but also would single out the Catholic Church for discriminatory treatment applied to no other religious organization.

More information:

Diocese of Bridgeport

Family Institute of Connecticut

National Catholic Register

American Papist Blog

A Neighbor’s Helping Hand: Volunteerism and America’s Economic Recovery. Delivered by Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus, Fairfield University, January 23, 2009

With the philanthropic giving index down 22 percent, and the economic crisis affecting nonprofit organizations nationwide, Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, on Jan. 23 called for a summit of charitable and volunteer organizations to be held in New York City next month.

In a speech at Fairfield University, Anderson invited the nation’s top charitable and volunteer organizations to attend a summit on Feb. 27 on volunteerism and the charitable response to the economic crisis.

The summit will be sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Fairfield University Center for Faith and Public Life.

Anderson encouraged charitable organizations to work together with the new administration to emphasize and create opportunities for volunteers, especially at a time when financial donations to charity are decreasing.

Speaking just days after the Jan. 19 National Day of Service, Mr. Anderson also called for Americans to take the spirit of that day forward and to make 2009 “the year of the volunteer.”

“Government and charities must work together for the good of our country, and in difficult economic times, that means creating opportunities for Americans to give of their time and talent, as well as their treasure,” said Anderson. “People may be unable to donate $50 or $100 dollars to charity, but everyone can certainly spend an extra hour a week – that’s less than 10 minutes a day – doing something for the good of his or her neighbor.”

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