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Catholic Faith and Life

Since its founding, the Knights of Columbus has been in solidarity with the Catholic Church, the Holy Father and the bishops, priests and religious. It is in the thousands of Catholic parishes that the good works of the Knights of Columbus are most manifest. Support for the Catholic Church is a hallmark of Knights of Columbus activity at all levels of the organization. In 1999, the Knights collectively raised and distributed more than $45 million to Church groups and in support of programs at the international, national and local levels. More than 25 million hours of time were donated to the Church by local Knights and families in 1999.

The Knights are involved with many faith-related activities. A few are presented here for your information:

CATHOLIC INFORMATION SERVICE
The Catholic Information Service of the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1947 to provide free and low-cost Catholic publications for communities and individuals, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. Also offered is a correspondence course in the essentials of the faith, aimed at both converts and interested Catholics. Since its beginning, tens of millions of pamphlets on the Catholic faith have been distributed throughout the world, while thousands of individuals have enrolled in the correspondence course.

VOCATIONS
Support of priestly and religious vocations is a top K of C priority. State and local council vocations committees foster vocations through prayers, donations and other activities. Since 1981, the Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) has contributed more than $22.9 million to thousands of seminarians and postulants. The Order's $8 million Vocations Scholarship Fund provides annual $2,500 scholarships to seminarians in theology on the basis of need.

THE PROTECTION OF LIFE
The Knights of Columbus is irrevocably committed to life. All of our programs and activities are geared in some way to improve the quality of life, both spiritually and materially, especially among the dispossessed and marginalized of our society. Moreover, wherever life itself is threatened, the Knights stands firm. In accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus defends human life from the moment of conception until natural death.