I've been an on-again, off-again member of the K of C since college, some 40 years ago. (Truth be told, more off than on.) I think of the organization in a couple of ways. On the local level, most of the Knights I know are decent guys, middle-to-right Catholics not terribly interested in politics who like getting together to do good things for the community and, of course, drink beer. Harmless enough and not much different from Rotarians or Elks.

But on the national and international level, the K of C is a monster. Their influence on bishops is staggering. Follow the money in any diocese and it likely won't be long until you find a K of C connection. That's not about service alone but also about power, and Carl Anderson -- who far from being a "former" political operative is still very much engaged in promoting GOP causes -- is not shy about wielding it. That's what we should be concerned about.