Opinion: Father Farrow - I'm Proud to Be a Knight!

The antics of a suspended priest from California have caused this writer to declare, 'I'm proud to be a Knight!'

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Father Geoffrey Farrow doesn't like the Catholic Church - at least in her present form. He wants to see the Church re-born in his own image. Unfortunately, our Web 2.0 world makes it easy to develop a cohort of followers.

Using his blog as a "war room" of sorts, he is calling the signals and looking for an ad-hoc army to tag along. Phase One involves an outright attack on the Knights of Columbus.

To some in the Church, this may seem like a confrontation of comic proportion. One stereotype of the Knights portrays them as old pot-bellied beer drinkers who gather to play cards and wear funny hats.

By their sheer numbers, however, they have clout. They support Life, they give millions to the Pope, they provide support for a lot of the Church's missions. Their message is clear and without compromise. I'm sure these so-called reformers are thinking, "If we are to reform the church, let's begin by bankrupting the Knights."

When I was prayerfully preparing to come into full communion with the Church, my mentor said to me, "Randy, when you come in, take time to fully immerse yourself in all that it means to be Catholic."

At Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, in Potomac Falls, VA, we have a very active council of the Knights of Columbus. Among their many missions was the strong commitment to support the pastor and his work. This was clear both in word and deed. So, I became a Knight.

A few years later I'm now a Fourth Degree Knight and have held offices of leadership in both our Council and Assembly. I've attended events at the local and state level. And at every level I have found a cadre of Catholic gentlemen who love Christ and His Church.

During the last fraternal year our local Grand Knight, Andy Altman, challenged us to adopt "Proud to be a Knight" as our theme.

When I heard about the antics of Fr. Farrow, these words echoed through my mind and heart. Now is the time to let the Church know that we are proud to be Knights! So, what does this mean?

First, it means that we pray fervently and constantly for Fr. Farrow and those under his influence, that the Holy Spirit would, again, take hold of their hearts and draw them back to the heart of Jesus and His Church.

As Knights, we don't reply in-kind, attempting to bankrupt another. We pray for conversion and contrition. Somehow this man has been wooed by the world and has lost his way.

Second, we need to increase our resolve to live out the four core principles of our order - Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. It was those principles that allowed the founders of the Knights to navigate through the heavy waters of poverty, unemployment, illness and persecution that occurred at the time.

The Knights of Columbus was built for the times in which we now live. The founding vision of Father Michael J. McGivney for such a noble Knighthood dramatically overshadows the rhetoric of the Father Farrow's who seek to dumb-down the Church. He sought to build up the muscles and marrow of Catholic men to face the tumult that confronted them in life.

Today, the tumult continues, although in slightly different ways. Our church, and all of Christianity for that matter, is under a major assault. We are not only finding opposition from those who are "in the world," but also from those in the Church.

The anti-Christian rhetoric heard within the walls has increased dramatically in the last half-century. The culture of death has taken root in the hearts of some, who now commit themselves to ridding the world of orthodox faith by attempting to destroy the depository.

Based on those four pillars, with the grace and blessing of God, which we've received, as Knights we can not only maintain but increase our imprint and influence. This is a "day of the Church. As our Lord said to St. Peter, "And I say also you, that you art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Third, let's declare our continuing commitment to support our priests and religious. We have had a longstanding campaign "In Solidarity with our Priests." This year Pope Benedict, by declaring the "Year for Priests," gives us an even stronger impetus to offer our prayers, service, and support to our clergy. The dignity of the priesthood is being attacked from within and without.

We have long supported seminarians during their times of preparation. We have provided funding, as well as our labors, to our priests as they carry out their calling in parishes and ministries. Father Farrow's call to remove the Knights from the work of the church is absurd, much like cutting off the legs and arms of those about to go into battle.

Fourth, we need to eagerly continue our support for fraternal benefits. We must remember that one of Fr. McGivney's concerns involved the financial security and well-being of the Knights and their families. Fr. Farrow is seeking to bankrupt a financial vision that has helped countless widows and families for generations.

He is seeking to do harm to a stewardship of resources that has maintained the highest level of integrity and propriety - a commitment that is recognized through receiving the highest ratings possible for insurance products from the IMSA, Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best.

So, my response to Father Farrow will come through word and deed. I'm proud to be Knight.

I'm proud to be a part of an organization that is uncompromising in its commitment to Life from conception to natural death.

I'm proud to be a part of a fraternity of men who desire to support our Church with our time, talent, and treasure.

I'm proud of our work on behalf of those with intellectual disabilities.

I'm proud of our work within our communities, which take on so many various forms.

The Supreme website's most recent report on the activities should make anyone who has made their first, second, third, or fourth degree proud to be a Knight.

"During the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated more than $1.325 billion to charity.

"The Knights of Columbus set new all-time records for charitable donations and volunteer service hours in 2008.

"The Knights' annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending Dec. 31, 2008, indicates that, despite a soft economy, total charitable contributions reached $150,036,865 - exceeding the previous year's total by more than $5.1 million.

"The figure includes $32,295,376 donated by the Supreme Council, and $117,741,489 in contributions from state and local councils assemblies and Squires circles.

"The survey also indicated that the quantity of volunteer service hours to charitable causes by Knights grew to 68,783,653 - an increase of 87,885 hours compared to 2007. There were more than 413,000 Knights of Columbus blood donations during the year and, among the most common service programs, Habitat for Humanity received 156,295 K of C volunteer hours.

"The Knights of Columbus has been promoting a Year of the Volunteer and sponsored a summit on volunteerism, A Nation of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, in New York Feb. 27, to promoted increased participation and collaboration in volunteer efforts from individuals and organizations.

"Cumulative figures show that during the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated more than $1.325 billion to charity, and provided nearly 626 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable initiatives."

When the small group of men met with their 29 year-old priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church, New Haven, Ct on October 2, 1881, little did they know what they had started.

We are now the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with more than 1.7 million members.

Faithful to the Magisterium and committed to serving Holy Mother Church, the Knights of Columbus continue to stand strong and the blogs of Father Farrow will not prevail against it.

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online. He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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