Knights of Columbus

Urgent Legislature Action Alert!!!

The New Jersey Knights of Columbus prepared and submitted two bills to the New Jersey State Legislature. These two bills, S-2800 in the State Senate and its identical counterpart A-4025 in the State Assembly, need your immediate support. Both bills require a doctor to offer a woman considering an abortion the right to see an ultrasound prior to the procedure. We believe many women will decide to carry the baby to term, once they see the image.

Please call your state legislators immediately and urge them to support these bills: Find your Representative

Voice your opposition to A-3477, which would restrict the sale of ultrasound equipment. This bill passed the Assembly and is currently in the Senate Commerce Committee. If this bill passes, and is signed into law, it would restrict the ability for a woman to see an ultrasound prior to considering an abortion.

Please, take a stand for life!

URGENT MEDICAL REQUEST

Brother Tom Culmone has suffered a setback and needs your help. Please read further and help Tom if you can. If someone you know can help, please inform them of this urgent need.

A message from Michael Salsano Grand Knight of Fr.Michael McGivney Council 6392:

Brothers, The Family of Brother Tom Culmone is extremely grateful for all the support he has received. At one point he was in-fact doing much better but this improved condition was short lived. Fathers Day night he was sent back to the hospital because of Infection. He is now in need of White blood Cells. Please read below:

Message from Mrs Culmone:

I feel extremely indebted to our friends, family & neighbors for granting our family the joy of having Tom come home. Despite his very brief return, this day will always be the most precious hours the children have spent with their father. I reach out to you again because you have all shown such love. Your support has enveloped Tom in his daily struggles and he understands, despite the outcome, the united attempt to save his life has surpassed countless boundaries and remains strong and beautiful. This attempt is a testament to the very best in human nature, a triumph in the face of terrifying adversity.

For information on donating to Tom, please go to: Tom Culmone

Call to Convention

State Deputy Thoma P. Ciborski called to order the opening of the 113th Annual New Jersey State Convention on Friday May 15.

The weekend began with a well attended Fraternal Gathering at the Wildwood Council on Thursday evening. Friday morning began with Opening Mass, after which there was a placing of a wreath at the monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus, followed by the Opening Session of the Convention. The opening session consisted mainly of the Awards Ceremonies. Many Councils recieved awrds from the State Council for the Programs that are conducted throughout the year.

On Saturday, Noreen Ciborski hosted the annual Ladies Luncheon at Wildwood Catholic High School. Saturday's business session saw the Election of the State Officers for the 2009 - 2010 Fraternal year. Herb Meyer was elected State Deputy, Wayne McCormack, K.H.S., was elected State Secretary, Dr. Daniel Rossi was elected State Treasurer, John Moore was elected State Advocate, and Bruce DeMolli was elected State Warden, effective July 1, 2009.

The Convention Banquet was highlighted by honored guest, Sister Helen Prejean. Sister Helen is a pro-life supporter, an outspoken adversary of the death penalty. Sister Helen has written 3 best selling books, describing the time she has spent with death row inmates. Her first book was titled "Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States", which later became a movie Starring Susan Sarandon as Sister Helen. She has accompanied 6 more men to their deaths, and in so doing, she became convinced that some of those executed were not guilty. This inspired her second book, "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.

Sister Helen was given a gift from the State Council for her work in preseving life.

Pictures of the weekend are available at : 2009 State Convention

Support Traditional Marriage!!!

We've just learned that Garden State Equality -- the lead organization pushing same-sex marriage in New Jersey -- has been flooding the statehouse with calls and emails in support of same-sex marriage over the past two weeks.

Now your legislators need to know what YOU believe about marriage!

Would you take 5 minutes today to send an email to your state senator and state representative? Remind them that in this election year, you and your friends and family will be watching how they vote on marriage. Certainly, in the midst of our worst economic crisis in generations, now is not the time for our legislature to be making same-sex marriage a priority.

Take a stand today! Use this hyperlink to send an email to your state senator and representative.

Augustus Golf Tournament

I ask for your help for one of the Sir Knights in my council – Paul Augustus. Seven months ago, an accident has left our brother knight confined to a wheelchair. Paul, his wife, and their two young children work every day adjusting to the new challenges they face. Our goal is to help Paul and his family make their house wheelchair accessible. To do that, friends, neighbors and his brother knights are hosting a golf outing at Copper Hill Country Club in Flemington on Monday, July 20, 2009. We ask you and your councils for your support by attending the outing, or sponsoring a hole, and with your prayers. All proceeds go to Paul and his family with the goal of adding a lift to the house.

Please see the attached flyers for details.

Save the date flyer Sponsorship Entry Form

KofC National Softball Tournament

KofC Councils in the United States are invited to the following National Knights of Columbus Softball Tournaments during the Labor Day weekend, for the following respective years:

2009 – Cape Girardeau, Missouri (South of St. Louis)

2010 – Sealy, Texas (just outside Houston, Texas)

For more information, please contact:

Larry Kuciemba

President, National K OF C Softball

713-296-9387

First time ever - More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice”

A new Gallup Poll, taken during My 2009, shows 51% of Americans consider themselves "Pro-Life" on the issue of abortion, while 42% consider themselves "pro-choice". This is the first time in history that a majority of the adults in the United States identified themselves as Pro-Life since the polls were first taken in 1995.

For more on this important issue, please go to: More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time

When will the attack on TRADITION stop?

When does the attack on tradion end? Brown University announced recently that they will no longer celebrate Columbus Day, instead calling it Fall Weekend. Did Christopher Columbus not discover this Country? Was this Country undiscovered recently? Read below, and let Brown know your feelings on this, write them at Brown University, Providence, R.I. 02912

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — At its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, April 7, 2009, the faculty of Brown University took action on a proposal to eliminate observance of the Columbus Day holiday from the University's academic calendar and to designate the second Monday of October as Fall Weekend holiday. The Faculty Executive Committee released the following statement Wednesday:

Since fall 2008, faculty, staff and student committees at Brown have discussed proposals to eliminate the formal observance of Columbus Day. At its meeting yesterday (Tuesday, April 7, 2009), the Brown faculty voted by majority to amend the Faculty Rules and Regulations to designate the second Monday of October as the Fall Weekend holiday. Modifications to the University’s academic calendar require a vote of the faculty. Following much discussion, the vote was not unanimous, reflecting the difficulty and complexity of this sensitive and symbolic issue.

Supreme Knight Publishes New Book on Theology of the Body

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, available now, $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

Welcome to the New Jersey State Council

Welcome to the New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus. Father Michael J. McGivney and a handful of Catholic laymen founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, in the basement of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Haven, Connecticut. The aim of the founder was to set up a parish-based lay organization that offered insurance benefits to the widows and children of members. In an era when parish and fraternal societies were popular, Father McGivney felt there should be some way to strengthen the religious faith of his flock and provide financial support for families overwhelmed by illness or the death of the breadwinner.

Today the Knights of Columbus have grown from that one local unit, or council, to over 12,000 councils in the United States (including Puerto Rico and Guam), Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, and Saipan. In January 2006, the Knights of Columbus expanded to Poland.

Membership is over 1.7 million members, plus their families - approximately 5.6 million people total - many of whom are actively involved in volunteer service programs for the Catholic Church, their communities, their families, young people and one another.

The Knights of Columbus, the world's largest organization of Catholic men and their families, has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and has been cited by popes, presidents and other world leaders for support of the Church, for programs of evangelization and Catholic education, for civic involvement and aid to those in need.

Hurricane Ike Relief Fund

The first Principle of our Order is Charity, and the New Jersey Knights of Columbus are among the leaders in Charity. Where there is a need, the NJ Knihgts are there. For an example of this, just ask the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

The New Jersey State Council has set up a 501 (c) 3 corporation to assist the relief efforts in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Ike.

For more information, please go to: Hurricane Relief

Letter from Supreme Knight Carl Anderson

Dear Brother Knight:

It is probably fair to say that no other single activity has defined the Knights of Columbus over the past half century as much as the pro-life movement.

Following the shock of the Supreme Court's decision to preempt all state and federal laws regulating abortion in Roe v. Wade in 1973, we launched a long-term battle to fight legalized abortion. While achieving the ultimate goal of overturning Roe remains somewhere in the future, we have been able to achieve many small successes along the way:

·         the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortions;
·         the federal law banning partial birth abortions, which was finally upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in April 2007;
·         the "Mexico City Policy," which has barred the use of federal taxpayers' money to pay for abortions in other countries;
·         laws in 44 states that preserve a parental role when children under 18 seek abortions;
·         laws in 40 states that restrict late-term abortions;
·         laws in 46 states that protect the right of conscience for individual health care providers;
·         laws in 27 states that protect the right of conscience for institutions;
·         laws in 38 states that ban partial birth abortions;
·         laws in 33 states that require counseling before having an abortion;
·         and laws in 16 states that provide for ultrasounds before an abortion.

All of these restrictions on abortion - all of the progress we've made over the past 35 years in trying to limit and reduce abortions in the United States - would be invalidated with the stroke of a pen if the next Congress passes, and the next president signs, the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).

Please take the time and effort necessary to learn whether your Representative or Senators favor or oppose FOCA.

The House sponsors of FOCA are listed here

The Senate sponsors of FOCA are listed here

We have gathered much additional information about the Freedom of Choice Act, including links to material from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and on life issues generally on a special Knights of Columbus web page:

Remember, all that we've done together since Roe to save the lives of the unborn is at stake. Please pass on this message to your pro-life friends.

Catholics Appalled at Anti-Mormon Slur!!!

The small feisty Catholic university in San Diego, John Paul the Great University, has quickly produced an amazing YouTube video, "Catholics Appalled at Anti-Mormon Slur."

Knights of Columbus Donates $1 million to Defend and Preserve Marriage in California

"Preserving marriage as the indispensable institution in which children are conceived, born and raised to adulthood by a loving father and mother."

SACRAMENTO (CNA) - Proposition 8, the ballot initiative to protect marriage, has announced that it has received a $1 million contribution from the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization.

In a press release, spokesman for the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Korten said that the donation from the Knights "is both an indication of how important we believe this referendum to be, and an encouragement to other groups and individuals of all faiths to lend their support as well.”

“From the day the organization was founded 126 years ago, strengthening and protecting the family has always been central to the mission of the Knights of Columbus. Preserving marriage as the indispensable institution in which children are conceived, born and raised to adulthood by a loving father and mother is vital to a healthy society. It is also the most favorable environment in which to protect the rights and best interests of children. We are proud to join the Catholic bishops and priests of California, and so many other people of good will, in this effort on which so much depends."

Ned Dolejsi of the California Catholic Conference remarked that “this generous donation from the Knights of Columbus shows the broad-based support that Protect Marriage is receiving from a variety of faith-based organizations. Proposition 8 is honored to have the support of an esteemed organization who has such a strong record of public service and success."

Throughout its history, the Knights of Columbus has been an effective advocate and defender of civil and religious rights for all. The organization includes more than 1.7 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, and other countries.

Of Potential Benefit to Those in Financial Distress

Enhanced VA Mortgage Options Now Available for Veterans

Washington - Veterans with convetional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a Department of Veteras Affairs (VA) guarnateed home loan. These new options are available as a result of teh Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which the President signed into aw on October 10, 2008.

"These changes will allow the VA to ssist a substantial number of veterans with subprime mortgages refinance into a safer, more affordable VA guaranteed loan", said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr James B. Peake. "Veterans in financial distress due to high rate subprime mortgages are potentially the greatest beneficiaries."

VA has never guaranteed subprime loans. However, as a result of the new law, VA can now help many more veterans who currently have subprime loans.

The new law makes changes to VA's home loan refinancing program. Vewterans who wish to refinance their subprime or conventional mortgage may now do so for up to 100% of the value of the property. These types of loans were previously limited to 90% of the value.

Additionally, Congress raised VA's maximum loan amount for these types of refinan loams. Previously, these refiancing loans were capped at $144,000. With the new legislation, such loans may be made up to $729,750, depending on where the property is located.

Originally set to expire at the end of October, ZVA's authority to guarantee Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM's) and Hybrid ARMs was also extended under this new law through September 12, 2012. Unlike conventional ARMs and hybrid ARMs, VA limits interest rate increases on these loans from year to year, as well as over the life of the loans.

Since 1944, when home loan guarantees were offered with the orignal GI Bill, VA has guarnateed more than 18 million home loans worth more that $911 Billion. This year, about 180,000 veterans, active duty servicemembers, and survivors recieved loans valued at about $36 Billion.

For more information, or to obtain help from a VA Loan Specialiot, veterans may call VA at 1-877-827-3702 or visit www.homeloans.va.gov.

Petition in support of Marriage

ALERT - SIGN MARRIAGE PROTECTION E-PETITION TODAY!

LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ON THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE

ACTION NEEDED NOW: CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO ELECTRONICALLY SIGN E- PETITION & AUTOMATICALLY CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES & LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WITH ONE CLICK!!

We now have a NEW Marriage Protection E-Petition that you can easily distribute widely via e-mail! Please sign TODAY and circulate this to all your family, friends, and other groups who can send it out to their networks.

With your help - we will be able to gather many MORE citizen signatures to petition our State Legislators to preserve marriage once and for all by sending a state constitutional amendment to the general election ballot to let the people vote. (Click below to SIGN the E-PETITION and read the Amendment Petition as well as the background information why a state constituitional amendment is the only true form of protection for marriage.)

Same-sex "marriage" proponents are not satisfied with all the same state "marital" benefits that they received by the passage of civil union legislation. Their true goal is to redefine marriage for all of us and to force everyone's acceptance of SAME-SEX "MARRIAGE.". THEREFORE, we MUST gather hundreds of thousands of e-signatures in order to move our State Representatives to place a state constitutional amendment on the ballot (see Background Info by clicking the link below) to "Let the People Vote" on this critically important, foundational issue that will affect all our families, especially if marriage is radically redefined.

We will continue to keep you informed and alert you when to contact your legislators again to remind them you signed this petition and want to see action. We will need to do this on a regular basis to be effective (Perhaps monthly). SO, BE PERSISTENT WITH US, and by God's grace we will see victory in NJ. It's true we have a steep hill to climb, BUT the first step to do is TO SIGN THE E-PETITION and then CIRCULATE IT WIDELY!!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN E-PETITION

FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

PLEASE NOTE: PREVIOUS USERS WILL STILL HAVE TO RETYPE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION MESSAGES TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU!

Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act

As many of you may know, the Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act
(S-1607/A-2897), is currently making its way through the New Jersey legislature.

This bill must receive a hearing in the Senate's Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Barbara Buono. Senator Buono, and Senate President Richard Codey, NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU that you wish to see this bill posted in committee!

You can send a message to both senators quickly and easily HERE:

If you are a New Jerseyan supporting school choice, showing your support could not be simpler, easier, or more important. Please Act Now!

Statement on Financial Services Markets and the Knights of Columbus

With the recent crisis on Wall Street and in the banking system, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, issued a statement concerning the Knights if Columbus Insurance program and the investments made by the Order. His statement begins below:

":The upheaval in the financial markets in recent days has caused a great deal of concern virtually everywhere, among financial services professionals, regulators and consumers alike. Every major financial institution has been affected by the turmoil because of the complexity of our economy, and we are no exception.

"But I can report to you that there is no reason to be concerned about the value of your Knights of Columbus annuity or life insurance. Because of the very conservative approach we take to investing our $14 billion in assets, the impact on the Knights of Columbus has been far smaller than for many other organizations and the industry as a whole"

To read the complete statement, please go to:
Statement on Financial Services Markets and the Knights of Columbus

OUR NEW MAGAZINE FUNDRAISER

A great new way to raise funds for all of our charitable needs!

Though an arrangement with READER”S DIGEST FUNDRAISING…the New Jersey State Council, Knights of Columbus, has developed a unique program.

You can RENEW AN EXISTING magazine subscription or ORDER A NEW ONE and the NEW JERSEY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS will receive 40% of the total cost. There are over 700 magazines listed in our magazine store.

Very Important. To receive credit for your council, on the CHECK-OUT page you must list your

Council Name in the Box Titled " Participants First Name" and your Council Number in the Box

Titled " Participants Last Name".This will guarantee that your council will share 50/50 in

earnings with the State

DON’T WAIT! CLICK HERE AND ENTER OUR STORE AND PLACE YOUR ORDERS.

Urban Schools Scholarship Act

A bill titled the ‘Urban Schools Scholarship Act’ is beginning to make its way through the New Jersey State Assembly (bill A-1003) along with a sister bill in the New Jersey Senate (bill S-140). These two bills are a result of your New Jersey State Council’s affiliation with the New Jersey School Choice Alliance. You may remember a few years ago we sponsored a school choice petition drive, which was held at almost every parish in the state. Since that time we have aligned ourselves with the School Choice Alliance to work to make school choice an issue within the state. Through our collaborative efforts, as well as those of the voting public this past November, we are finally reaching a point wherein an acceptable bill is gathering support from our state legislators and may be released from committee for debate in the Assembly and Senate. The details of the bill can be found here.

Embryonic Stem Cell Alternative Researcher Doesn't Like Destroying Life

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 11, 2007

Kyoto, Japan (LifeNews.com) -- Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University made international headlines recently when he devised a new process that allows for the creation of embryonic stem cells without the destruction of human life. Now, Yamanaka says he was prompted to search for ethical alternatives by his own conscience.

Invited by a friend to take a look at a human embryo -- a unique human being -- under a microscope, Dr. Yamanaka had a moral spark that changed his career.

For more on this story, visit: http://www.lifenews.com/bio2295.html

Help Vets, and others with Mesothelioma

Contact the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center at www.maacenter.org. Other resources: www.mesotheliomaweb.org, www.asbestos.com and mesothelioma.

One Man, One Woman Marriage

View this important video.

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