Grace Thompson
The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney. It is dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Membership is restricted to men who are practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church. The Knights of Columbus provide an insurance system for its members, support Catholic education, local parishes, dioceses, and global Catholic social causes, and play an active role in politics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global Catholic fraternal service order | Charity |
| Founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney | Unity |
| Membership restricted to men who are practicing Catholics | Fraternity |
| More than 16,000 local councils worldwide | Patriotism |
| Provides insurance and financial services to members | Support for the Catholic Church |
| Nearly 2 million members | Community service |
| Support for members of the armed forces |
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What You'll Learn
History and founding principles
The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney, an assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Membership is restricted to men who are practicing Catholics in union with the Holy See and are in good standing with the Church.
The order is dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Its founding principles were charity and unity, with fraternity and patriotism being added later. The Knights of Columbus was established in 1882 to provide financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy members and their families. It was also intended to be a mutual benefit society for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, providing an insurance system for its members in a time of great anti-Catholic sentiment.
The Knights of Columbus has played an active role in politics and promotes the Catholic view on public policy issues worldwide. The organization also provides certain financial services to the individual and institutional Catholic markets. Its wholly-owned insurance company is a Fortune 1000 company, and its insurance program is the most highly-rated in North America. The Knights of Columbus has also been active in raising awareness and stopping the genocide of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
The college councils program, started at the Catholic University of America in 1898, was created to promote the moral, intellectual, and spiritual development of college men on campuses worldwide. As of 2024, there are more than 340 college councils and over 50 military councils worldwide. The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world, with nearly 2 million members.
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Membership and structure
The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is restricted to men, at least 18 years of age, who are practising Catholics in union with the Holy See and are in good standing with the Church. As of August 2024, there were over 2.1 million Knights of Columbus worldwide, with the majority in North America.
After his induction and completion of the Exemplification of Charity, a new member becomes a First Degree Knight. He then progresses through the Second and Third Degrees after completing the subsequent Exemplifications of Unity and Fraternity. A Third Degree Knight is considered to have attained full "Knighthood" status. Privileges of Third Degree membership includes the ability to serve as a local council officer and admission to state and Supreme Council business meetings. A Third Degree Knight in good standing is eligible to complete the Exemplification of Patriotism and progress to the Fourth Degree. Fourth Degree assemblies may form Color Corps, an elective division of the Fourth Degree, whose distinctive presence in parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, Confirmations, and other Catholic functions are a visible reminder of the Knights' service to their communities.
The college councils program, started at Catholic University of America in 1898, was created to promote the moral, intellectual, and spiritual development of college men on campuses worldwide. As of 2024, there are more than 340 college councils worldwide. There are also more than 50 military councils in military bases across North America and around the world.
The Knights of Columbus has a two-pronged investment strategy. Firstly, a company must be a sound investment before stock in it is purchased. Secondly, the company's activities must not conflict with Catholic social teaching. The order's insurance program is exclusively for the benefit of members and their families and is the most highly-rated program in North America.
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Charitable works
The Knights of Columbus is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Its members, who number over 2.1 million worldwide, are dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. The Knights of Columbus engage in charitable works as a way to express their Catholic faith.
The organization was founded in 1882 as a mutual benefit society for working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States. It aimed to provide financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy members and their families. Over time, the Knights of Columbus have expanded their charitable works to include refugee relief, Catholic education, support for local parishes and dioceses, and global Catholic social causes.
The Knights of Columbus conduct food drives and donate food to local soup kitchens and food pantries. They also volunteer at Special Olympics and support mothers who choose life for their babies, both spiritually and materially. The organization has also been active in raising awareness and stopping the genocide of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. In addition, the Knights of Columbus provide financial protection for their members and their families, offering life insurance, annuities, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance.
The Knights of Columbus have a significant presence on college campuses, with over 340 college councils worldwide. These councils promote the moral, intellectual, and spiritual development of college men. The organization also has a strong presence in the military, with over 50 military councils on bases worldwide, providing support to members of the armed forces and their families.
The Knights of Columbus are committed to empowering Catholic men to live their faith at home, in their parishes, at work, and in their communities. Their charitable works are a testament to their dedication to helping those in need and expressing their Catholic faith through service.
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Political involvement
The Knights of Columbus is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is restricted to men who are practising Catholics in union with the Holy See and are in good standing with the Church. The order is dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.
The Knights of Columbus has played an active role in politics since its formation. It is classified as a 501(c)(8) fraternal benefit society by the IRS, which means it is allowed to engage in limited direct political activity without endangering its tax-exempt status. The Knights of Columbus supports political awareness and activity among its members and local councils. Its political activities are limited to issue-specific campaigns, typically dealing with Catholic family and sanctity of life issues.
In the years following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the earlier focus on protesting discrimination against Catholics shifted towards more activity to promote social issues. During the 20th century, and particularly during the Cold War, the order was politically active in opposing anarchism, communism, and socialism, especially within the United States. It supported trade unionism, the protection of civil rights, and efforts to address racism.
In 1946, Supreme Knight Swift proposed a new program called The Knights of Columbus Crusade for the Preservation and Promotion of American Ideals. It was a Catholic anti-communist effort that highlighted Catholic philosophy and social teaching regarding the working man. The crusade listed the working man's rights, including the right "to a job, to a family living wage, to collective bargaining and to strike, to Joint-Management, en route to Joint Ownership of Industry."
In 1926, the Supreme Council and the Massachusetts State Council passed resolutions opposing the Mexican government in defence of human rights. They also expressed their concerns about the persecution of Catholics in Mexico during the Cristero War.
In more recent times, the Knights of Columbus has taken an active stance on social issues, supporting religious freedom and opposing same-sex marriage, abortion, and mandates that require employers to pay for artificial birth control.
In 2011, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gómez criticised the United States' immigration policy, telling the delegates to approach the immigration issue as Catholics, not through political affiliation. In 2013, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio, Texas, called on the Knights to bring the light of the Gospel to "desolate places" such as immigrant detention centres.
The Knights of Columbus has also been criticised for its political involvement. In 2020, hundreds of members signed a petition urging the leadership to acknowledge their "long history of complicity with prejudice and institutional racism".
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Insurance and financial services
The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society, providing financial security to its members and their families. It was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, who was assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established as a mutual benefit society to support working-class and immigrant Catholics in the US.
The Knights of Columbus is now one of the leading insurance companies in the US and Canada, with a multi-billion-dollar status. The insurance program is exclusively for the benefit of members and their families, and all agents are members of the order. The Knights of Columbus offers a range of insurance products, including permanent and term life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, and retirement annuities.
The Knights of Columbus has received superior ratings for its financial strength and has been recognised as one of America's Best Insurance Companies by Forbes. The organisation maintains a strict investment strategy, investing only in companies that align with Catholic social teaching.
In addition to insurance, the Knights of Columbus also provides certain financial services to the individual and institutional Catholic market. The organisation has a two-pronged investment strategy, focusing on sound investments that do not conflict with Catholic values. This includes avoiding investment in companies that deal with abortions, contraception, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, for-profit healthcare, and pornography.
The Knights of Columbus has a strong commitment to financial aid and charitable service, turning premiums into charity. In the last decade, the order has donated over $1.55 billion to charity and has clocked in over 73.5 million hours of community service.
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Frequently asked questions
The Knights of Columbus is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Its core principles are charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. The organization was founded to provide a means for Catholic men to support the Catholic Church, provide financial protection for their families, and engage in charitable works.
Membership is restricted to men who are practicing Catholics in union with the Holy See and are in good standing with the Church. Members must be at least 18 years old. As of August 2024, there were over 2.1 million Knights of Columbus worldwide.
In addition to providing an insurance system for its members, the Knights of Columbus offers a sense of community and brotherhood. Members can also take pride in knowing that they are part of an organization dedicated to helping those in need and supporting Catholic causes worldwide.
