Common sense tells me the various chapters have their unique spirits.

I'll bet there are still a number of fine men in these clubs.

Oremus,

Thanks for opening discussion about K of C.  I have always been uncomfortable with the concept of the organization.  I started to open a thread asking for thoughts and experiences a few weeks ago, but something inside me said "don't open that can of worms."

But now that it's open, are K of C Chapters common in traditional parishes?  Does SSPX have K of C Chapters?

It is my understanding that K of C was formed as a response to Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ.  I also know that K of C does some wonderful things.  Maybe their structure mimics the Freemasons too much for me, but for whatever reason, I've never been comfortable.  I've turned down numerous invitations to meetings and to join.  I'm sure most of the individual members, at least in my parish, are well-meaning.  Bit something doesn't click right about it with me.

Telesphorus,

Thanks for posting the link to that article.  

1. As far as I know, K of C is not present in traditional parishes like the SSPX. That's another thing that really bothers me. Part of the reason they don't have K of C in SSPX parishes is because one must be a Catholic in good standing to be a member, and they don't consider SSPX to be in good standing (from what I've heard). Yet I hear about K of C joining the Masons all the time and there's no problem. When I tried to bring it up I got shot down.

2. K of C was started by a diocesan priest who realized that his parishioners needed monetary assistance because they were discriminated against by potential employers and insurance companies. Back in the late 1800's, Catholics, especially immigrant Catholics, were considered a liability, so Fr. McGiveney formed the K of C to help those in need. When a member was sick or lost his job, the other members would pitch in and help them. Soon it became an organized thing.

No one can really know if K of C was formed to counter Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ. Our ceremonials are secret, but like I told Telesphorus, our secrecy is merely to keep the surprise for people participating for the first time. We are not a secret organization. From what I've been told, the ceremonies of the K of C and the Masons are completely different.

I lost respect for the K of C when prominent members in New York made known they were pro-choice and they were not expelled.

The problem with K of C is simply that they are entrenched in the NO.

I suppose the Society could start their own version, like they do with the Legion of Mary. Problem is that the Knights would never let their name be used by the SSPX. It seems the Society parishes simply have a men's group which is focused on the Traditional faith. This seems good enough for me. All the K of C does in the NO is typically fund raiders anyway.

I am a member of the Knights of Columbus thru my old NO parish which I no longer attend.  Like Oremus said, the initiation ceremony is secret only because they want to make it special to the new initiates.  There is nothing in the ceremony that any Catholic could not agree to.  But like Elizabeth said, all the chapters are different. My old NO council had some very devout Catholic men who took their faith seriously.

I do have some worries about them though.  For one the magazine is called the Columbia or Colombian.  This is too close to the pagan goddess of the same name.  Another worry for me is their total devotion to the local Bishops and the Pope, they will be loyal no matter what they say, and I believe the leadership is friendly with the Masons.

I believe  the local chapters are just there to help the local parish's, but I am suspicious of the high leadership.

Are any of you members of the Knight of Columbus? I am currently a member and I'm finding that it is difficult to remain a member and be a good Catholic. I know that sounds odd considering the organization is supposed to make Catholic men better Catholics, but I'm finding that there are a lot of things I don't agree with.

Earlier today I was with my fellow Knights and many of them spent the majority of the time gawking at female joggers and then "grading" them. They take over Masses and the guys that I have met on the state level are a bit stuck up. They're more about patriotism than they are about anything else. They ask me to lead the rosary because they don't know how to pray it properly (and I'm the new convert). And I could be very wrong, but that has been my experience with them so far.

I've had the feeling that I may have to quit unless I can find a really traditional bunch of guys.

I have been 3rd degree for many yrs, no intention of paying my dues, not advancing further.....

K of C tends to breed heavy Americanism, but little piety (most Knights never show up for rosaries,Masses,etc in their honor unless it is a big wig there and hence, a photo op).

Solange Hertz' book notes isseus with them, would love to know if the Founder was a Irish Americanist, like so many early members or not......

too much like Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ, in the main, let alone the secret group within the K of C that few know about and few can find out about....

Quote from: OHCA

Oremus,

Thanks for opening discussion about K of C.  I have always been uncomfortable with the concept of the organization.  I started to open a thread asking for thoughts and experiences a few weeks ago, but something inside me said "don't open that can of worms."

But now that it's open, are K of C Chapters common in traditional parishes?  Does SSPX have K of C Chapters?

It is my understanding that K of C was formed as a response to Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ.  I also know that K of C does some wonderful things.  Maybe their structure mimics the Freemasons too much for me, but for whatever reason, I've never been comfortable.  I've turned down numerous invitations to meetings and to join.  I'm sure most of the individual members, at least in my parish, are well-meaning.  Bit something doesn't click right about it with me.

Telesphorus,

Thanks for posting the link to that article.  

1. As far as I know, K of C is not present in traditional parishes like the SSPX. That's another thing that really bothers me. Part of the reason they don't have K of C in SSPX parishes is because one must be a Catholic in good standing to be a member, and they don't consider SSPX to be in good standing (from what I've heard). Yet I hear about K of C joining the Masons all the time and there's no problem. When I tried to bring it up I got shot down.

2. K of C was started by a diocesan priest who realized that his parishioners needed monetary assistance because they were discriminated against by potential employers and insurance companies. Back in the late 1800's, Catholics, especially immigrant Catholics, were considered a liability, so Fr. McGiveney formed the K of C to help those in need. When a member was sick or lost his job, the other members would pitch in and help them. Soon it became an organized thing.

No one can really know if K of C was formed to counter Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ. Our ceremonials are secret, but like I told Telesphorus, our secrecy is merely to keep the surprise for people participating for the first time. We are not a secret organization. From what I've been told, the ceremonies of the K of C and the Masons are completely different.

another good example of the swithc in dialectic then......no, the masons say the same things, that the rituals are secret due to not wanting to ruin it for others....

what about the blindfolds used in at least degree #1? same as Masons......waht about the skull in degree #1? dont Masons and Skull/Bones use same imagery?
waht about the oaths not to tell anyone of ceremony, even spouses,etc??? same as masonry.

how do you explain the near idol worship of the USA, the military,etc?

why did Karl Anderson go to the UN to promote his book, but no denunciations of the UN?

why did the K of C not defend the Church in the 60s' onwards? why does it go along with almost anything?