The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-05-25

the rules ana regulations OF the
Church in everything that is de-
manded Of a practical Catholic
When he ceases to be a practical
Catholic he thereby forfeits, theo-
retically at least, his membership
in the organization.
Notwithstanding all this there is
reason to fear that there are
among the Knights of Columbus
those who do not continue to be
practical Catholics after their adj
mission to the Order. The num-
Der is, presumably, not very large :;
but even a few unfaithful mem
bers will give bad name to any
Council, especially if they are in
any way prominent in the COM
munity. 1t is for the purpose of
safeguarding the good name and
reputation of the organization that
measures should be taken to ex-
clude from it's ranks those who
cease to be practical Catholics.
The difficulty is to determine the
manner in which this can best be
accomplished.
Many Catholic organizations re-
quire their members to certify
annually, as a prerequisite to con-
tinued membership, that they have
performed their Easter duty. The
Constitution of the Knights of Co.
lumbus makes no provision in this
regard. Attempts have been made
at many National Conventions to
legislate on this point, but without
success. It is difficult for the ordi-
nary Catholic to understand why
the National Council has not taken
some stand in regard to this i'm
portant matter. If the bylaw
passed by Cecil Calvert Council is
submitted to the National Council
it will, in all probability, be de-
clared unconstitutional. Other
councils have a similar provision
in their bylaws, but it is not lived
up to. In Minnesota for the past
three years the local councils
have approached Holy Communion
in a body on a certain Sunday set
apart for that purpose by the State
Council. Most Of them have OBJ
served this requirement though, as
far as we have been able to learn,
none Of them have brought their
full quota Of members to the Com
munion rail in a body on any occa-
sion.
These efforts show that there is
among the Knights an earnest de-
sire to safeguard the practical
Catholicity Of the Order. It is
difficult to understand why there
should be any who fail to measure
up to this standard. The opposi-
ton to a rigid regulation regard
ing the Easter duty comes, as a
general rule, not from those who
are negligent in this matter but
from men who are frequently seen
at the Communion rail. They do
not wish to ''parade" their Catho,
licity! To them the insertion
of such provision in the Con,
stitution of the Knights of Co,
lumbus savors of the Inquisi-
ton. There are not wanting, how,
ever, signs that this matter will
have to be dealt with by the Ma,
tional Council before very long
The sooner it is done the better
for the future Of the organization
It cannot afford to have within its
ranks even one who is not a prac
tical Catholic. Of course, under
the provisions of the Constitution
one can prefer charges against q
member who has ceased to be g
practical Catholic; but there is sc
much red tape and legal Formally
about the proceedings that it is q
very difficult matter to convict the
accused. His fellow members
naturally do not care to proceed tt
such harsh measures and as a re
suit he goes on from year to year
without conforming to the laws Of
the Church or the spirit of the
Order.
We would like to see some steps
taken to prune the Order of its
dead members by a strict insistence
on the fulfilment Of the Easter pre-
cept as a requisite for continued
membership. This is matter il
which the National Council mus
take the initiative. Without its
moral backing no individual Coun
ell can accomplish very much
along these lines. When will the
National Council do it's duty?