FROM: Donald R. Kehoe, Supreme Secretary

Culture of Life Fund

“Last August, the delegates to the Annual Supreme Council Meeting reaffirmed the Order's longstanding
commitment to the Church's teaching on life and marriage by unanimously approving Resolution 302, which
established the Culture of Life Fund and a special assessment of $3.00 per member. It was anticipated that this
Fund would support a broad range of initiatives that advance the Culture of Life. I am happy to report that
the Fund has done just that. Two programs, one to assist men and women to cope with the traumatic
aftereffects of abortion and divorce and one to help men be better fathers have been introduced. To date, the
response to these initiatives has far surpassed our expectations.

In addition, our financial support last fall was vital to the passage of constitutional amendments protecting the sanctity of marriage in California, Florida and Arizona. Today, 30 states have such amendments. In January, we implemented our new initiative helping state councils provide pregnancy centers with ultrasound machines. The Supreme Council partnered with local Knights to put this life-saving technology in the hands of pregnancy centers in both Iowa and Florida. On a national level, the Board of Directors recently voted to provide financial support to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for a newly formed Task Force whose purpose is to promote the Church's teaching on marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The Knights of Columbus has always been deeply committed to promoting racial equality and defending religious
liberty as a basic civil right. In the United States today, the abortion lobby has indicated a desire to move the
so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA) through Congress. This radical piece of legislation would not only
expand abortion "rights," but also force medical personnel, morally opposed to abortion, to violate their consciences
and participate in abortions. In Canada, the Parliament has witnessed the introduction of a private member's bill
that would legalize euthanasia across the country. On these and a host of other issues affecting the Culture of Life,
the Knights of Columbus must be ready to educate the public about the need to support policies and legislations
that protect human life from conception to natural death.

Please remember that contributions to the Fund from councils or individual members remain in the country of
origin and will only be used for projects in that country.”