Knights of Columbus congratulate Obama, celebrate pro-marriage votes

Washington D.C., Nov 7, 2008 / 13:39 pm

Mr. Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, released a statement on Friday extending his congratulations to president-elect Barack Obama and expressing the organization’s joy for the success of the pro-marriage ballots passed in California, Florida and Arizona.

The election of Barack Obama “represents a decisive affirmation of our national commitment to racial equality.” “Having had the privilege of serving on the United States Commission on Civil Rights, I believe that we cannot understate the importance of the election in this regard,” Anderson wrote.

The Supreme Knight said that “America will face many urgent problems during the years to come, and we must work together to come up with solutions. It is also said that we may face challenges from abroad during the early months of the new administration.”

But “no potential foe should ever doubt that we will stand together as a nation in the face of such a challenge,” he warned.

The Knights of Columbus “join with the Catholic Bishops of the United States in extending our congratulations to the president-elect and offer our prayers that God will grant him strength and wisdom during the years to come.”

Finally, Mr. Anderson expressed his gratitude to the fact that “the citizens of California, Florida and Arizona voted to approve state constitutional amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman.”

“Marriage is the institution that provides the optimal environment for having and raising children, and clear majorities, in every one of the 30 states where this question has been put to the voters, have decided to preserve this understanding in their constitutions,” he concluded.