On Saturday, April 20, 1991, the Stratford, Ontario Knights of Columbus (KOC/Killroy Council 1431), opened the doors of their Columbus hall to a NDP fundraiser attended by Premier Bob Rae.
Wined and dined
While the Knights wined and dined the NDP elite and its supporters in the comfort of their hall, 60 determined pro-life citizens from Stratford and area braved a continual downpour outside to express their disgust with the Knights’ betrayal of the unborn.
A cross-section of the Catholic community were present, both young and old, families, seminarians, priests and even three nuns in full habit.
Some were on hand to protest Mr. Rae’s anti-family, anti-life policies. But others were present for an additional reason. “We are not here primarily to protest the NDP government or the issue of abortion, but the scandalous repudiation by our local Knights of all they have sworn to uphold: their charter, the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the unborn, “Mrs. Adrianna Bannon, the Driving force behind the pro-life opposition in Stratford, explained.
Simmering
The attitude of Knights towards their own members or to politicians who are pro- abortion has been simmering foe several years, especially in the U.S. There the Knights of Columbus have been accused of being far too tolerant towards such people.
The Stratford Knights, like other Councils, rent out their hall for various events. In December 1990, the KOC magazine Columbia printed a recommendation that Councils not rent facilities to organizations supporting abortions.
The February 28 edition of the Stratford Beacon Herald advertised an NDP fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus Hall. This was the first time most regular KOC members heard that the NDP had again rented the hall.
At a regular meeting of the Knights following the newspaper account, a resolution was introduced and passed, which called upon the Council to cancel this contract. However, at a subsequent meeting of “Knights incorporated”, a select body which manages the plant and facilities for the hall, it was decided that the contract should be honored.
‘Prestige’
According to some, the ‘prestige’ to be garnered from hosting the Premier apparently was too compelling, while at the same time nobody really expected pro-lifers to do anything anyway.
Thus the Saturday, April 20 picket by 60 pro-lifers, organized by Campaign Life Coalition, came as a surprise. The Knights’reaction? In a response reminiscent of the staff of abortuaries, said one picketer, the organizers immediately called the local police and had the pro-lifers and their cars expelled from the property. The police repeatedly threatened the demonstrators with arrest (including, ironically, a pro-life Knight) if they again set foot on Knights of Columbus property.
Bob Rae
Almost 2 hours after the protest began Bob Rae arrived unobtrusively, having been apprised of the strong pro-life presence.
His large government limousine had been exchanged for a small blue Volkswagen.
With his head bowed low, whether in an attempt to avoid recognition or owing to the unaccustomed cramped conditions, Mr. Rae seemed distinctly uncomfortable.
Immediately he was recognized, police had to manually clear a path both for the NDP leader’s Volkswagen and the cars of the accompanying Knights. Heartfelt and sad cries of “Shame on the Knights” arose spontaneously from many of the protestors as Mr. Rae stepped from his car to be warmly welcomed by the Stratford Knights at the door to their hall.
According to one of the participants, Bill de Marois, “The Knights were clearly upset by the magnitude of the pro-life opposition. They are not used to this sort of thing”
