State Deputy’s comments regarding “born and unborn” in the recitation of our Pledge of Allegiance
At the 2015 State Convention, Indiana State Deputy Scott C. Cunningham’s made comments regarding the request to discontinue the addition of “born and unborn” in the recitation of our Pledge of Allegiance. In July of 2015, as an answer to the many who have requested information concerning his comments, an e-mail sent out that captured those comments. Please use this as a reference when answering questions as to why we should no longer add “born and unborn”, when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
“Worthy District Deputies, Grand Knights, and Brothers,
At the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Indiana State Council of the Knights of Columbus, I provided some guidance concerning the Pledge of Allegiance and the use of the phrase “born and unborn”. Please use this information in regards to questions concerning reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as it is written, without the phrase “born and unborn”.
I am an adopted child. The profile effort is, of course, even more near and dear to me, as an adopted child. Quite a few ears ago, a grassroots effort was started to add the words “born and unborn”, when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. However, at that same time in our history, retention of the words “under God” had already been challenged and successfully defended. In consideration of that victory, and the foresight of future challenges to our religious freedom, it was prudent that the movement to include “born and unborn” be suspended.
As a patriot, we should recognize that the Pledge of Allegiance is sacred to our citizenship and it should be recited as written. As an adopted child, the challenge we face in our prolife movement is the idea that there is a difference between an unborn child and a born child. The Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Church have never wavered in belief that life begins at conception and ends with natural death. Those who oppose that idea must differentiate and discriminate between the born and unborn to support abortion.
It is to our credit, in this jurisdiction, that our belief in pro-life activism is so strong that we continue to add the phrase “born and unborn” at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance. Indiana kept it going and I understand it. I truly do. It is very well intended. But we have to recognize that it is not how the pledge is written. Other jurisdictions throughout the country have ceased the use of “born and unborn” in the Pledge of Allegiance. I have had representatives of the Supreme Council in our state to review Major Degrees and as visiting dignitaries and they are surprised. Indiana is one of the last jurisdictions still adding “born and unborn” to the Pledge. I applaud you for that emotion, for that conviction to the prolife cause.
As an adopted child, though, I will ask you to please stop…simply because when others hear us, as Catholic Gentlemen, make that distinction between born and unborn, they hear us saying the same thing that pro-abortion supporters say…that there is a difference. So please take this back to your councils. I understand that I can’t force you. Thank God for our Bill of Rights…I cannot control your speech and I would not dare to try. Instead I ask you, let’s not make that difference anymore. Let us no longer be heard discriminating and differentiating between born and unborn people. Let us continue to recognize that life begins at conception and it is no different, no less sacred, after that. Let us continue to recognize that “and justice for all” means exactly what it says, without delineation, boundary, or qualification. Thank you.
Vivat Jesus!
Scott C. Cunningham
Indiana State Deputy
Knights of ColumbusThe Faithful, The Honorable…The Knights!”