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Introduction
I am delighted to join you this afternoon to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Msgr. James F. Murphy, Knights of Columbus
Council. I bring you the greetings of our Worthy Supreme Knight,
Carl Anderson, and greet Scott Flood the State Deputy.
Even as I express my warm gratitude to Grand Knight Steve Cavallo,
to the Anniversary Chairman, Bob Carreau, to the 4th Degree Honor
Guard, to my brother priests, and to all the members of this great
council, named for a great priest and leader, the former Pastor
of St. Augustine and Director of Catholic Charities, Msgr. James
F. Murphy. I'd also like to salute your new Pastor, Fr. Norm Gilbert.
The Msgr. Murphy Council is part of the legacy of a holy parish
priest, the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, who founded
the Knights of Columbus 126 years ago at St. Mary's, New Haven.
He founded it at a time when the Church was under attack in society,
when men needed a way to deepen their attachment to the Church,
and when many families were left in need when the breadwinner
died prematurely.
For fifty years, this Council has lived the principles that Fr.
McGivney laid down: charity, above all; unity, fraternity, and
patriotism. These principles have shaped you as men of faith and
action, living your vocations faithfully, serving your parish
generously, & working hard for the good of society, most especially
the vulnerable and poor.
With our brother Knights and their families in CT and around
the world, we are seeking to defend life, to protect marriage
and family, to promote vocations to priesthood and religious life,
and to continue serving those in need: in service of one, in service
of all! Truly, you, my brother knights are the 'strong right arm
of the Church!' With St. Paul, I give thanks for your work of
faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope!
Render Unto Caesar
Your anniversary comes at a crucial time in our nation's history,
a time of decision when much is at stake. Given the work of the
Knights in building a culture of life & a civilization of love,
today's Gospel could not be more apropos for our anniversary.
As the family of the Knights of Columbus, we must certainly know
how to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs
to God.
In that Gospel, Jesus found himself in a hostile situation -
for both the Pharisees and the Herodians had teamed up to trap
him. If Jesus favored paying taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees could
accuse him of compromising the Mosaic law by supporting the Roman
Empire who had conquered the Jewish people. If Jesus rejected
the obligation to pay taxes to Caesar, the Herodians (who accommodated
the Roman occupiers) could accuse him of being a political troublemaker.
Jesus escaped their malicious trap with a wisdom they just couldn't
match: "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God, what
belongs to God!" But what exactly does this very famous saying
of Jesus mean? What belongs to God? And what belongs to Caesar?
One respected author tells us that Jesus' answer accomplished
3 things all at once:
First, Jesus acknowledged that Caesar, that is, the
state, has rights; there is a difference between what is Caesar's
and what is God's.
Second, Jesus demotes Caesar (whom the Romans had begun
to see as divine) by suggesting that Caesar has no rights over
what belongs to God, Jesus in effect makes it clear that Caesar
is not God; his authority has limits.
Third, Jesus leaves it to us to figure out what is Caesar's
and what is God's.
What Belongs to God and Caesar
One thing is certain: Jesus' saying is not meant to get us off
the hook by isolating what we believe as Catholics from our political
choices. Bringing the truths and values that flow from faith and
reason to public life and working with public authorities to create
a more humane society is hardwired into Christian thought by both
Scripture and Tradition. It won't do for us to be Pharisees who
oppose involvement in politics because it is a messy world of
conflict and compromise.
And it won't do for us to be Herodians who go along to get along.
Sometimes, the state has to be opposed as when it legalizes attacks
innocent human life as in abortion or euthanasia. In our day,
sanctity-of-life issues are basic, not just because of "religious"
views even though these are important & deserve to be in the public
square. No, the right to life is basic because taking the life
of the unborn attacks human dignity is in a uniquely grave way,
in a way that is always wrong.
In denying the innocent and defenseless the God-given right to
life, Caesar is usurping what belongs to God. For human rights
are not granted to us by the state but by God, as our own Declaration
of Independence boldly declares. Once one group of people's rights
is denied, all human rights are endangered… …similarly, the state
must be opposed when, against the common good, four justices on
a court redefine the institution of marriage against the dictates
of reason, the history of civilization, & the will of the people!
So in the end, what do we owe to Caesar? We owe respect & prayers
for our leaders: respect for the law, obedience to legitimate
authority, and service, sometimes heroic service, to the common
good. In a democracy, respect does not mean silence or going along
with grave evil but exercising our right to work for what is true
and good in society. In fact, we owe it to our country not to
be complacent but to love it so much that we bring to its public
life the true values of our faith coupled with the courage of
a well-formed conscience. In loving our country and exercising
our freedom in this way, we end up also respecting all that belongs
to God: our minds, our hearts, our freedom, the people we love,
the created world, our souls, our moral integrity, our hope of
eternal life.
The Role of the Knights
As Knights of Columbus we are committed to knowing and upholding
the faith; we are committed to defending the rights of the Church
and fellow believers to bring the truths and values that flow
from our faith to bear on public society. But like the Lord we
find ourselves in a hostile situation. It takes a lot of courage
to bear witness to the sanctity of life and to defend marriage
and family.
Many do not want us to have the chance to do so - which is why
I ask that you actively support the option for a Constitutional
Convention in this November's state elections so that we and our
fellow citizens will have the right of referendum on issues of
great importance - such as defending traditional marriage, parental
notification when a teen is about to have an abortion, school
choice, and much, much more.
Your defense of the vulnerable and of the Church in Connecticut
and beyond coupled with your ongoing service of those who are
in need continues a splendid legacy of faith and service that
remains a shining light for the Church in Bridgeport and indeed
for our whole community.
May the Msgr. James F. Murphy Council No.4716 continue to flourish
ad multos annos!
Return to the Writings of Bishop
Lori
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