By Tony Gutierrez

PHOENIX (CNS) — The Knights of Columbus, long associated with swords, capes and chapeaus, will be going through a significant uniform change.

The traditional regalia worn by fourth-degree Knights will be replaced, announced Supreme Knight Carl Anderson Aug. 1 during the international fraternal organization’s 135th annual Supreme Convention in St. Louis.

Throughout the years, the regalia of the Knights’ fourth degree, known as the patriotic degree, has gone through changes, Anderson said, noting that when this degree was first established, the uniform included white ties, top hats and tails.

In place of a tuxedo with a black bow tie, members will be wearing a blue blazer, an official Knights of Columbus tie and a beret, all with the fourth-degree emblem on them, along with a white shirt and dark gray slacks. There was no mention if the swords would remain part of the uniform.

“The board of directors has decided that the time is right for a modernization of the fourth-degree uniform,” Anderson said. “On a limited basis, assemblies may choose to continue using the traditional cape and chapeau for color corps at public events and honor guards in liturgical processions. However, the preferred dress for the fourth degree, including color corps and honor guards, is the new uniform of jacket and beret.”

Robert Earl, a member of the Father Novatus Assembly 23, which serves Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Daniel the Prophet parishes in Scottsdale, Ariz.,welcomes the new changes.

“I feel it is significant that the order changes to respond to changing times. The new uniform evokes an image of elite military corpsmen in my mind, and I believe this is the intent behind the change,” said Earl.

“Our former regalia was reminiscent of Navy officers and consistent with the nautical theme in the patriotic degree, but it perhaps did not have currency in the minds of the general public,” he added, noting that in addition to the tuxedo, the other items collectively could cost approximately $500. “I think the new uniform creates a positive and striking image of ‘soldiers for Christ,’ which is, after all, what we are meant to be.”

Some Knights in the Brooklyn Diocese are not as thrilled about the pending changes, which generated controversy among the membership.

Father Michael Gelfant, pastor of St. Finbar parish, Bath Beach, and NYS chaplain to the Knights, did not hold anything back.

“My reaction is that it’s terrible,” said Father Gelfant. “There was no process or even consulting of current Knights. If the process was trying out a few subtle changes over time, then maybe this could work instead of this drastic and sudden change.

“I was celebrating Mass and all of a sudden these men walked in and I had no clue who they were. I had to be told these are the Knights’ new uniforms. I also do not think the look is worthy of the Church. This was a conversation we should of all had together.”

Rick Kenny, the Faithful Navigator for the fourth-degree Knights and member of St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus parish, Greenpoint, is struggling with the changes.

“I am a tradtionalist and hate to see the change,” said Kenny. “I have known my uniform for over 50 years. I do not find this new uniform as ceremonial and it does not seem to look right to be in at Mass.

“I can understand why some believed changes were needed to maybe appeal to a younger generation, but in my own circle we will all resist these changes. The older members like myself will be upset but better minds than mine have made this decision. I will certainly miss the old regalia.”

Joseph Meyer from Msgr. Bernard G. Collins Assembly 2899, which serves St. Bridget and Christ the King parishes in Mesa, Ariz., said the new uniforms lose a sense of the pageantry associated with the Knights’ fourth-degree level.

“I have been a fourth-degree Knight since 1978 and we have always had this regalia,” said Meyer, who was a color corps commander in Toledo, Ohio, for 13 years before moving to Arizona. “We all looked great in the fourth-degree outfits. These (new) outfits look bad.”

Meyer also expressed concern for members who own the current uniform and have to spend money on the new one.

“If we get a new uniform like this, you will see a lot of Knights leave the degree. A lot of your Knights are retired and don’t have over $500 to spend,” he said.

Paul Lee, a member of the Iowa delegation, said the reaction on the ground was “mixed.”

“The largest concern is people don’t feel that they have answers for the question of why the need for the change. They want something beyond a more modern look,” said Lee.

Many members he’s interacted with are excited about the changes because it brings the uniform “more in line with other military service organizations because it connects us as patriotic organizations.” There also are members who “don’t like change, so they’re already up in arms,” he added.

“Then you have the sect of folks that feel that their voice was not consulted, (that) this sort of change should have taken place as discussion at the state council level and then brought concerns to the Supreme level,” said Lee, who countered that notion by saying conversations have been happening at all levels of the order about the need for change.

Representatives of the Arizona State Council said it was too early to comment as program details and guidelines for implementing the new uniforms were still unavailable.

Gutierrez is editor of The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz. Contributing to this article was Matthew O’Connor of The Tablet staff.