ARTICLES
June 2003 ARTICLES
Contents © 2003
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
Down the Chain of Command
Knights of Columbus Won't Expel Pro-Abort Members
By Maria Kennedy
The state's rapidly growing Latino population is reflected in the growing number of Latino lawmakers in Sacramento. Most of these are Democrats, and every one of these votes in support of abortion rights. Too often while campaigning for office, Latino candidates will tell their constituents that they are Catholic, which many interpret to mean pro-life; and yet when the candidates are voted into office, their voting record reveals a disregard for the Church's teachings on abortion.
One such Democrat Latino lawmaker is Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez, who has boasted of his membership in the Knights of Columbus. Bermudez, who represents the 56th Assembly district (Bellflower), proudly proclaims that he is a member of Council No. 3678 of the Knights of Columbus in Norwalk. According to sources close to the Knights, one pro-life priest, Monsignor Bernard Leheny, who has worked with the Knights' statewide director of pro-life activities, Dr. Bob Lynch hopes to encourage the Knights to remove Bermudez unless he changes his position on abortion. Sources say that Monsignor Leheny, the pastor of St. John of God in Norwalk (which is the home parish of Council 3678), has met with the council's Grand Knight Michael Perez. According to this source, Perez assured Monsignor Leheny that he knew Bermudez well and would talk to him about his support for abortion in Sacramento. Additionally, it was indicated by this source that the Knights' state representative, Bob Rodriguez, has been in communication with Supreme Knight Carl Anderson about the situation. This reporter tried to contact Michael Perez, but Perez did not respond to inquiries for comment on the situation.
Bermudez's support of abortion is evident in his voting record. Bob Cielnicky of Orange County's Life Priority Network said in an interview with this reporter that there is no question that Bermudez is pro-abortion. "He's brand new," said Cielnicky, "but his very first opportunity to vote was on Assembly Joint Resolution 2, which celebrated Roe v. Wade. It can't get any worse than this; they are celebrating abortion."
Bermudez's support for abortion is not only evidenced by his voting record but also by a review of the projects that have been financed by the California Health Facilities Finance Authority, on whose board Bermudez sits. The board was created in 1979 as a mechanism for funding medical facilities by issuing tax-exempt bonds. In 1999, the Cedillo-Alarcón Community Care Investment Act was passed to continue the funding mechanism after the 1979 legislation authorizing it expired. A review of the monies distributed from August 2001 to December 2002 by the authority to Planned Parenthood centers throughout California shows the sum reaches over $4,653,410.
On May 1, the Dominican priest John Farren, director of the Knights of Columbus' Catholic Information Service, was the featured speaker at the Wilmington St. Patrick Council's meeting, which was held in the Norwalk council's hall. Bermudez was not expected to attend, although some Knights told this reporter that the issue of Bermudez's support of abortion rights might be addressed at the meeting. This reporter attended the meeting, which included the state chaplain of the California Knights of Columbus, Monsignor Richard Loomis; the state deputy, Robert Rodriguez; as well as the Grand Knight of the Norwalk council, Michael Perez.
After Father Farren delivered the keynote address, "Catholic Education and the Good: Truth, Freedom and Morality and their Ultimate Source, God," the floor was opened up for questions. After fielding questions about the state of Catholic education in the United States, Farren seemed to be at ease with his audience. Farren appeared uncomfortable when I asked him about the situation of Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. He replied that the issue was one that was best handled on the level of the local council, not the national organization.
One participant at the event said that Farren ducked the issue. "I thought he tried to pass the buck on to someone else," said Ken Fisher of Anaheim. "Had he stated that 'this is the policy of the Knights of Columbus and I will take this back to New Haven,' I probably would not have spoken." After the initial question by this reporter, Fisher stood up and told Farren that Bermudez was a member of the Norwalk council. "So far they haven't kicked out any pro abortion politicians, but they have kicked out Knights who dare to demand that they kick out pro-abortion Knights," Fisher claimed. "We have many pro-abortion Knights in the Knights of Columbus."
Monsignor Leheny said that abortion is the killing of an innocent human being. "My policy would be that the killing of any human being, except in a just war, is wrong," said Leheny. "Any politician who supports abortion is wrong, and this is not just for Catholics. Abortion goes against the commandment, 'Thou shall not kill.'" Monsignor Leheny said that he has written to Bermudez about his concern with the member's voting record.
Bermudez's press secretary, Keith Malone, said that he was not aware of the controversy. "I have not received any calls or communications regarding this issue," he noted in a telephone interview. When asked if the member saw a conflict in his support of abortion and his membership in the Knights of Columbus, Malone replied, "that is best directed to the member himself."
Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez did not return a call for comment.