About
Us
Who are the Knights of the
Southern Cross?
The Knights of the Southern
Cross is an Australia-wide Order of Catholic laymen who operate
with the support of the Australian Bishops.
We were founded in Sydney in
1919, on a platform of Social Justice, at a time of discrimination
and animosity towards Catholics, especially regarding employment.
It was common for job advertisements then to state “Catholics
need not apply”. Within a short period of time over 1000
men in all States joined the Order and a National Council was
established.
We are a foundation member of the International Alliance of
Catholic Knights, a Vatican endorsed lay organisation, whose
members organisations are established in a number of countries
including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ghana, Great
Britain, Ireland, Liberia, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, the Carribean, the Gambia,
Togo, South Africa, United States of America and at the United
Nations.
The Australian Objects of our Order are:
The origins of lay Orders lie in antiquity
and usually were founded by the highest authority (eg. Pope) to
perform particular tasks and may have limited membership. To all,
appointment is by a special selection and by personal acceptance
of the honour, privileges and obligations of membership. The Order
of the Knights of the Southern Cross has all the characteristics
of an ‘Order’.
Admittance is by ceremonial with the conferring
of a distinctive warrant and insignia. A member, having taken
the pledge of allegiance to the higher authority and the Order,
is expected at all times to act as a loyal member of the Order;
and in the interests of the Order’s code, its aims and Objects.
Members’ first loyalties are to their
families and the Church, but all owe a special loyalty to the
Order – the body of men formed under the seal of hierarchical
authority.
