Haiti, Knights of Columbus, and Kids Without Limbs

Sometimes it's nice to get your name in the paper. Or the name of an organization you're with in the news:

"Knights of Columbus Aid Haitians Who Lost Limbs"
Zenit (August 19, 2010)

"Donate 2,200 Wheelchairs to Quake Victims

"The Knights of Columbus announced a program to help the estimated 800 Haitian children who lost limbs in the Jan. 12 earthquake.

"The charitable organization committed to provide $1 million for prosthetic limbs and therapy for all of the children who lost an arm or a leg in the earthquake.

"The program, 'Hope for Haiti's Children,' will be administered by Medishare, which operates the University of Miami/Medishare Hospital in Port au Prince, and is the premier children's medical facility in that country...."

I've been a member of the Knights of Columbus for - years. Each year I spend two hours in the K. of C. Bingo booth at Stearns County Fair, calling out numbers. It's one of the local council's major fundraisers.

I don't know how much of that $1,000,000 came from our part of central Minnesota: but I'm pretty sure some did.

What's the big deal?

There are kids in Haiti who will have a bit less trouble moving around as a result of what Knights of Columbus and Medishare did. I think that's a good idea.

We're able to help: and so we should. I've been working my way through a recent document from the Holy See, Caritas in Veritate: a title that can be translated as "Charity in Truth." Looking at my link page for the posts I've written about it, I see that I'm letting that task slip. Maybe this weekend.

Bottom line, though: I don't think I'm working my way into heaven by putting in time at a Bingo booth. (August 8, 2010)

On the other hand, "charity" is one of the three theological virtues: and I figure that helping an outfit that does things for others - including folks who aren't likely to be able to return the favor any time soon - counts as "charity." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1813, 1822-1826)

So, why do I help the Knights of Columbus do charitable works? Because I can, and since I can - because I'm supposed to.

Posts about Knights of Columbus and Haiti:

• " 'Army of Oppression,' Unmentionables, and Being Catholic in America"
  (August 17, 2010)
• "Pope, Knights of Columbus, and Fidelity"
  (August 3, 2010)
• "Hats Off to New Orleans Parishioners"
  (July 2, 2010)
• "Archbishop: 'Let's Not Forget Haiti' - Works for Me"
  (June 9, 2010)
• "Whadaya Know! Knights of Columbus has a YouTube Channel"
  (April 5, 2010)
• "Haiti Earthquake: Send Help if You Can, and Pray for the Folks Living There"
  (January 12, 2010)
• "About the Knights of Columbus, Charity, Food, and Miracles"
  (November 30, 2009)
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