I'm thinking of joining the Knights of Columbus.

[UrbScotty]

My dad joined about 12 years ago. He became a Fourth Degree Knight in 1997, Deputy Grand Knight that same year, and Grand Knight in 1999. He later became an Officer in the Fourth Degree Assembly.

My mom is President of the Women's Guild.

I think I will join too, but I'd also like to hear what experiences you have had with the Knights. I mean, the K of C seems to be a good organization at the local level, but based on what I've read in my dad's Columbia Magazine, I think some people at the top (i.e. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson) are pedaling the gay marriage thing too much.

I have a generally positive view of the Knights, but I just wanted to know your feelings.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

1. I'm a 3rd degree knight but I left them when they had Bush speak at their

national convention. The whole thing ended up being a campaign rally with chanting of 4 more years and such. There are other organizations in the Catholic world that I'd rather be a part of.

[demosincebirth]

3. Very, very conservitive, the K.C.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Since you have a generally positive view of the local K of C chapter

and an understanding that the national leadership is socially conservative, I think you know what you need to know, and as much as you can know without joining.

Sometimes belonging to a local group that you like makes is possible to ignore what the national organization is doing that you don't like. I'm sure you don't want to applaud Bush** but maybe you can live with the national convention doing that. As I see it, the Knights, like many other Catholics, are being misled by pro-life talk from Bush**. I read "Columbia" every month and there is an emphasis on the issues of abortion and same sex marriage, with the national leadership of K of C taking conservative positions. On the other hand, that's not all the Knights are about.

My husband is an inactive 3rd degree Knight partly because of the Knights' official conservative positions, but also because the chapter here just wasn't his thing. If you decide to join and then find you aren't really into it, you can still keep your dues paid every year and participate occasionally, as Mr. DemBones is doing. (I mention this since your dad's very active and it might be awkward for you to quit outright.)

Good luck, whatever you decide!