North Providence, RI (LifeNews.com) — A local Knights of Columbus that had arranged to let a pro-abortion candidate use its hall for a campaign event has gone back on the arrangement. The group, which takes a strong pro-life view, says it made a mistake in booking the event because it should never have allowed a candidate who favors abortion to have access.
The Knights said it went back on the arrangement it made with Rhode Island Democratic Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse because he favors abortion.
The Catholic group had agreed to rent its facility to Whitehouse’s campaign but discovered the problem several weeks after it signed the lease.
According to the Providence Journal newspaper, a Knights spokesman talked to Whitehouse’s campaign and said it couldn’t use the facility because the Catholic Church has asked its churches and affiliated groups to not give a platform to pro-abortion candidates and politicians.
Rene Trudel, the Knights of Columbus’ Rhode Island state deputy, told the Journal that the organization agreed to pay $2,000 for the campaign to rent another venue for the event because of breaking the lease.
Trudel told the Providence paper that the Knights had accidentally used an older version of a lease agreement instead of a new one that says anyone leasing the facility must not publicly oppose the teachings of the Catholic Church.
10 comments
We are the Knights who say, “No!”
Are they brain dead? A democrat who favors abortion? Who would have thought it?
Perhaps they wanted a venue with a……SHRUBBERY!!!
I recall another story in which the KoC backed out of an agreement — a lesbian wedding reception. Hopefully these things are making the news because it’s so rare for such mistakes to be made. I suppose we should be glad that the non-bookings (a refusal before the booking is made) is not news, yet.
Jules, just be glad that the refusal to book is not yet unlawful. Clearly hurtful to the feelings of the candidate who could not book his pro-abortion, pro-women priests, pro-remarriage for divorced catholics, pro-homosexual assaults by priests, pro-tree hugging media event at the KofC venue, this abuse of venue segregation and exclusivism will be stopped by some forward thinking, liberal elite who never associates with that kind outside of the public eye. It’s just a matter of time!
John
I recall another story in which the KoC backed out of an agreement — a lesbian wedding reception.
Yay for the Knights in my archdiocese. Although I’m sure there have been a few cases of this by now.
I’m a 4th degree Knight from Maryland.
I have to agree with Ferde about this. The Knights aren’t supposed to bring politics into the order, but, let’s be realistic. You hear the word Democrat and you think of abortion. Rush Limbaugh has said that abortion is the sacrament of the democratic party and he’s right on the mark.
So if you’ve got a Democratic candidate who wants to use your Knights facility you check his record.
I’m surprised that the council gave $2,000 to the campaign in order for them to book a new place. But I don’t know that much about the situation and that was probably the best move.
Oh well. At least we haven’t seen the companion article to this one with the headline “RI Knights council gives $2,000 to the campaign of a pro-abortion candidate.”
So, membership in the KofC is predicated upon being a male, 18 years of age, and a practical Catholic. I wonder how many members these days flaunt the Church’s teaching on contraception. Do they even know what the Church teaches?
As another Fourth Degree Knight, I believe the order doesn’t go far enough to promote the culture of life.
Sadly, I’m afraid the KofC isn’t what it used to be. Men join who persistently disrespect priests. Openly contracepting men join the order. What gives?! It’s no surprise to see incidents like these with regard to the lesbian couple and Whitehouse. Ugh.
Fr. McGivney, ora pro nobis!
Did Whitehouse’s election committee already pay the rental fee? If so, then there’s nothing odd about giving the money back. If not, though, then I’m not sure why they would pay.
R, the reason they paid is (likely) due to the increased cost of a last second change, not just with respect to the new venue’s cost, but also the communications costs of a change in location.
If I were in a similar situation where there was a last-minute cancellation, I would require the cancelling party to cough up money to cover my costs as well.
The bigger question is: what on earth possessed them to rent to someone that they should have known was a death eater?