| Catholic War Veterans Organization History |
| Excerpt of CWV Early History as written by Sister Mary Matthias, RSM commonly known today as the "ISM" movement with a purpose to destroy Christianity. military veterans' organizations made up of men and women who had served their country in time of war. It is true that the Knights of Columbus saw to the needs of Catholic soldiers in camps and behind the battlefield. However, the Knights of Columbus is not precisely a veterans' organization, but rather a lay organization commissioned by the US Government to render services to Catholics in the US Armed Services. Our Holy Father, Pius XI, warned of the dreadful disaster and danger of the "ISM" movement. In Church of the Immaculate Conception in Astoria, Long Island, NY, determined to not only to heed the Pope's plea but also to do something about it. Father Higgins who had served as a commissioned Lieutenant US Army Chaplain had discovered that Catholic service men and women had very little organized voice in national matters that concerned their God, their Country and their Home. He knew that without some type of organized action, the Catholic veterans could not, as a specific group, voice their approval or disapproval of any matters of grave importance. Thus, Father Higgins conceived the vital need for an organized Catholic Veterans group. It was due to his priestly guidance together with worthy efforts of Past National Commander John M. Dealy, that the Catholic War Veterans of the United States was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on May 19, 1935. In May 1935, Father Higgins journeyed to Rome and while there, had a private audience with Pope Pius XI. Father Higgins informed His Holiness of what thus far he had pleased with and intensely interested in the new militant drive for Catholic Action. The Holy Father did not fear for the future of the organization, but mindful of the Lord's own Words: " Where there are two or three gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them..." bestowed upon it his blessing |
| In 1935, Msgr. (then Father) Edward J. Higgins, with permission of his Bishop Ordinary, Most Reverend Thomas E. Malloy of the Diocese of Brooklyn, gathered together some few parishioners from his parish, Church of the Immaculate Conception in New York, who had served in World War I and formed the first CWV Post. May 19, 1935 - Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. May 1935 - Father Higgins journeyed to Rome. Pope Pius XI bestowed his blessings upon the Catholic War Veterans and blessed the American and Papal CWV flags. July 1940 - The Catholic War Veterans was officially recognized as a Veterans Organization by the Veterans Administration. August 7, 1984 - President Ronald Regan signs legislation granting the Catholic War Veterans a Congressional Charter. CWV is the ONLY catholic organization so honored. |
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