Marriage Protection Amendment

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Knights of Columbus are joining forces to encourage Catholics throughout the United States to write their U.S. senators urging a vote in favor of the Marriage Protection Amendment (Senate Joint Resolution 1). The amendment will be presented for a vote by the full Senate during the first week of June.  The act would amend the U.S. Constitution to provide that "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman."  The Knights of Columbus will be distributing 10 million post cards during April and May for distribution in parishes throughout the United States.  Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has sent a letter to all bishops in the United States, informing them of the Knights of Columbus post card campaign. The letter asks bishops to encourage local pastors to cooperate in the campaign when they are contacted by local Knights.  District deputies will soon each receive 3,000 post cards for distribution to local Knights. State deputies will also shortly receive a supply of cards for distribution at state conventions and to supplement the quantities distributed through district deputies.

This is a major project of the Knights of Columbus, and all councils and assemblies are asked to make it a high priority during the next two months. At the 123rd annual Supreme Council meeting held in Chicago last August delegates adopted a resolution strongly supporting the amendment and pledging to work with bishops to support adding the amendment to the Constitution.