We Do What We Believe

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Bishops' Workshop on Medical-Moral Issues
To  present the Church's position on biomedical and health issues in the  public forum clearly and faithfully, bishops, priests and other experts  need to be trained adequately. To that end, the Knights of Columbus  underwrites the bishops' workshop on medical-moral issues held every  other year in Dallas by the National Catholic Bioethics Center in  Boston.

Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
Since 1988, the Knights of Columbus has sponsored the North American  session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage  and the Family in Washington, D.C. Annually, dozens of students  graduate from the institute with advanced degrees in the Church's  teaching on marriage and family life and begin careers in diocesan  family life offices or other institutions where they can impart to  others the power and beauty of the Gospel of Life.

Columbia Magazine
Regularly, Columbia magazine publishes pro-life features in addition to columns and stories that promote family.

Running of the Silver Rose
The Silver Rose program features a sculpted silver rose carried by  Knights from Canada, through the United States, to Mexico, bringing the  Culture of Life message on its journey. The silver rose is received at  councils and parishes along its way and Masses and prayer services are  offered. Special border ceremonies with Fourth Degree honor guards are  held when the rose is transferred from one state to another. The Silver  Rose program is a sign of the Order's unity on life issues.

II. Prayer

Day of the Unborn Child
This international program is held annually on March 25th, the feast of  the Annunciation of the Lord. Focusing on the pro-life meaning of the  Annunciation, councils hold pro-life prayer services. In 2003, the  Supreme Council sponsored a Holy Hour in St. Mary's Church in New Haven,  Connecticut, that was broadcast live by the Eternal Word Television  Network (EWTN).

Respect Life Month
The Order collaborates with  the Pro-Life Secretariat of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on  the observance of October as "Respect Life Month." The Order distributes  the Respect Life Program folder to thousands of Knights of Columbus  leaders to assist them with pro-life programming on the local level. The  Order also provides substantial annual funding for the U.S. bishops'  public information and education office and the Diocesan Development  Program for Natural Family Planning. Funding is also provided to the  bishops' conferences of Canada, Mexico and the Philippines for pro-life  and family projects.

III. Public Policy

Culture of Life Legislative Initiative
As  Catholics, Knights of Columbus have the responsibility to work for the  common good of society. Catholics--and especially Knights--must, in the  words of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "embrace their  citizenship not merely as a duty and a privilege, but as an opportunity  to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in  the public forum. Every voice counts. Every act of responsible  citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power." The Culture  of Life Legislative Initiative seeks to assist councils in becoming  more effective in the public sphere.

Legislative Priorities
The Legislative  Priorities section informs our membership on vital issues and enables  them, directly from the site, to contact their senators and  representative.

Vote Pro-Life
Led by the Fourth Degree, the  Order encourages its own members--and all people--to vote pro-life. The  Knights of Columbus feels that the right to life is not a partisan  issue, but rather the pre-eminent moral issue of our time.

A United Nations Non-Governmental Organization
 The United Nations has granted the Knights of Columbus status as a  nongovernmental organization (NGO). This designation entitles the Order  to participate in U.N. conferences and activities at a variety of  levels.

IV. Financial Contributions

• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pro-Life Secretariat 
• The New York State Catholic Conference pro-life legislative initiatives 
• Canada's Catholic Office of Life and Family 
• The Mexican Bishops' Conference 
• The Archdiocese of Mexico pro-life campaign 
• The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines 
• Americans United for Life in Chicago 
• Life Athletes 
• Birthright USA 
• The National Life Center 
• The Nurturing Network 
• The Human Life Foundation 
• Seminarians for Life 
• March for Life