Support for Marriage

Resolution on Support for Marriage adopted by the 127th Supreme Convention on Aug. 6, 2009.


127th Supreme Convention

WHEREAS, marriage is a natural institution based on ancient human values that are deeply rooted in our social, legal and religious institutions; and

WHEREAS, marriage is not a chance sociological or historical construction but instead reflects the natural biological complementarity of man and woman which predates the state and is woven into the social and religious fabric of every major culture and society; and

WHEREAS, the Catholic Church, based on Scripture and the Judeo-Christian tradition, teaches that marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman joined in an intimate partnership of life and love; and

WHEREAS, marriage provides for the mutual fulfillment of spouses as well as the procreation and education of children; and

WHEREAS, this mutual bond is the most vital resource for the development of society and provides the most favorable environment in which to protect the rights and the best interests of children; and

WHEREAS, Pope Benedict XVI has reminded us in Deus Caritas Est that marriage based on the exclusive love between a man and a woman becomes an icon of the relationship between God and his people; and

WHEREAS, speaking to the Sixth World Meeting of Families in Mexico City in January 2009, Pope Benedict XVI urged all Christians to reaffirm the dignity and the irreplaceable value of the family founded on the marriage of a man and a woman open to human life in all its stages;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Knights of Columbus will never waver in its efforts to promote the Church’s understanding of marriage as the faithful, exclusive and lifelong union of one man and one woman joined in an intimate partnership of life and love; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we will pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten elected officials to adopt laws and judges to exercise their authority so as to affirm the family and the authentic nature of marriage; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we join the national bishops conferences throughout the world in their efforts to achieve legal and constitutional protection at the national, state, territorial or local levels for the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.