Missouri Knights of Columbus Partner with the MCC to Fight Human Cloning Amendment

In May 2006 a letter was sent out to each Council from then-State Deputy Ron Wood asking that each Council contribute a minimum of $500 or more towards a coordinated media campaign to educate voters and counter the misinformation being publicized by cloning advocates.

“We are very pleased that the Knights of Columbus have undertaken this fundraising task and appreciate their efforts,” said Deacon Larry Weber, Executive Director of the Missouri Catholic Conference. “The human cloning proponents have raised over $16 million in their campaign to try to ensure destructive and unethical medical research in Missouri. We need to counter the misinformation of the cloning amendment supporters,” Weber said.

Donations from the Councils have ranged from $50 to $5,000 with the average donation being $500. Among the larger contributions received were from The Columbian Charities of MO – Religious Information Bureau – $5,000; St. Norbert’s Knights of Columbus Council in Florissant donated $1,900; In addition, the collection during Mass at the state convention yielded $1,361; and Fr. Bernard Donnelly Council in Independence donated $1,000.

"The officers, directors and members of the Missouri Knights of Columbus believe that defeat of the proposed constitutional amendment is crucial to Missouri remaining a truly pro-life state,” said Mick Gilliam, current State Deputy of the Missouri Knights of Columbus. “We're proud to undertake this effort in partnership with the Missouri Catholic Conference," said Gilliam

The proposed human cloning and stem cell constitutional amendment falsely claims to ban human cloning. The proposed amendment actually authorizes cloning to create human embryos, which would then be destroyed for stem cell research.

The Knights of Columbus will also be working with the Missouri Catholic Conference and parish Pro-Life Directors on a “Get Out The Vote” campaign. The purpose of the campaign will be to encourage Missouri citizens vote against the cloning amendment on November 7, 2006.

“We hope that Missouri voters will decide to keep the state motto of the ‘Show-Me’ state and not opt to become the ‘Clone-Me’ state,” commented Weber.