Amending Section 145 of the Laws of the Knights of Columbus

Substitute for Resolution 63

WHEREAS, the Knights of Columbus was founded by immigrants and sons of immigrants in the late 19th century during a time of fierce nativist resistance to the arrival and presence of Catholic immigrants in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin” (2241); and

WHEREAS, Catholic social teaching allows for nations to enforce reasonable limits on migration and that “political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption” (2241); and

WHEREAS, the Catechism states that migrants “are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws, and to assist in carrying civic burdens” (2241); and

WHEREAS, Pope Leo XIV has reiterated the teaching of his predecessors and the Church by calling on all people of good will to care for migrants in need while also speaking directly to migrants on his recent Apostolic Journey to Spain, where he invited them “to share the treasures of your humanity, of your dreams and of your culture…and to be open to receiving what is offered to you,” while admonishing all the faithful that “we must live this exchange responsibly, considering the future generations to whom we wish to bequeath the heritage of a civilization of love.”

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that as Catholics and as Knights of Columbus we will always be guided by our principle of charity in efforts to respond both humanely and equitably in matters concerning migration policy; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of Catholic social teaching that migration policy should equitably balance the legitimate rights of persons to emigrate in order to seek better lives for themselves and their children, with the duty of governments to control migration into their countries so that their policies serve the common good.

Amending Section 145 of the Laws of the Knights of Columbus

Resolutions