Catholic Vancouver March 05, 2020
Cycling charity rejects bikes from Knights over ‘anti-LGBTQ+’ beliefs
By Agnieszka Ruck
The Knights of Columbus in Burnaby have been collecting bicycles for the needy since 2006, but that all came to an end this week when Vancouver-based PEDAL Society said it will no longer work with the Knights over their “anti-LGBTQ+” beliefs.
Holy Cross Council 5423 spokesman Graham Darling said he received a call from PEDAL to tell the Knights it was ending the relationship, alleging the Knights are an anti-LGBTQ+ organization.
“I’m sad that religious intolerance seems to be getting in the way of getting bikes to poor people,” Darling told The B.C. Catholic.
He said “no issues have ever arisen” in the 14 years the Knights have been collecting bicycles for the PEDAL Society and others to refurbish and provide to the less fortunate. The closed door came as a surprise and a disappointment to him.
“The first principle of the Knights of Columbus is charity, and I’m sure that’s been a priority for PEDAL Society/Our Community Bikes. It’s a shame when people with moral differences elsewhere can’t still work together in a common cause.”
He called PEDAL the council’s “most important partner,” and now that the relationship is ending, the council will have to decide what to do with the bikes that were to be collected at a drive scheduled May 8 this year. Last year, the Knights collected 67 donated bikes in one day to give t0 PEDAL.
Cara Fisher, chair of the board of directors for PEDAL, would not comment to The B.C. Catholic other than to confirm “we have decided to no longer participate in the Knights of Columbus bike drive event.”
The society’s Community Agreement policy states, “we believe that everyone deserves respect” and asks people using their resources to “respect the diversity of folks who use the space and treat each other with care and dignity.”