Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
Week of August 25, 2008
Supreme knight: 'Change' means end to abortion
Order brings U.S. campaign to Quebec
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-CNS photo/Knights of Columbus
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson speaks at the 126th annual convention of the Knights of Columbus in Quebec City Aug. 5
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By DENNIS SADOWSKI
Catholic News Service
Quebec City
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson challenged American Catholics to overturn the "regime of Roe v. Wade" in
November by withholding their votes from any candidate who supports abortion.
He made the comments during an address to the 126th annual convention of the Knights of Columbus in Quebec City.
In a wide-ranging 68-minute report that reviewed the organ-ization's accomplishments during the last year, Anderson saved his strongest comments for nearly the end of his address. He criticized politicians of all parties who court Catholic voters by saying that abortion is one of many issues that deserve attention in any election.
"It's time to put away the arguments of political spinmasters that only serve to justify abortion killing," Anderson said.
In apparent reference to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Anderson said change in the country can come only when the practice of aborting unborn children ends.
"We have all heard a great deal this year about the need for change," he said. "But at the same time we are told one thing cannot change, namely the abortion regime of Roe v. Wade. It is time that we demand real change and real change means the end of Roe v. Wade.
"It's time to stop accommodating pro-abortion politicians, and it's time we start demanding that they accommodate us," Anderson added as the 500 delegates from around the world stood up and loudly applauded.
Anderson said he was not singling out candidates from any political party for criticism.
Later, Anderson told Catholic News Service that he decided to focus on the same terminology that Obama is using in his campaign "to get people's attention."
"This is kind of the touchstone for this whole election year; I'd like Catholics to think what real change, fundamental change in a Christian sense would mean."
At the same time, he repeated that his message was not aimed at any specific candidate.
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