page_title: Political activity of the Knights of Columbus
hierarchical_section_title: Political activity of the Knights of Columbus
caption_attribution_description: A Knights of Columbus sign at the March For Life.
context_page_description: The political activity of the Knights of Columbus deals with the involvement of the Roman Catholic fraternal Order to influence public policy to promote its interests.
  The Knights of Columbus have taken an active political role even from the early days of its foundation. In the years following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the earlier focus on protesting discrimination against Catholics shifted to more activity to promote social issues.
  During much of the 20th century and particularly during the period of the Cold War, the Order was active politically in opposing communism and socialism, especially within the United States. However, it was more supportive of trade unionism, the protection of Catholic civil rights, and some efforts to address racism.
  More recently it has taken an active conservative stance on social issues and lobbied for conservative political causes - strongly opposing efforts to introduce same-sex marriage, abortion rights, birth control, and loosening controls around divorce. But the Order has also taken an interest in the rights or immigrants and refugees, especially those coming from Catholic-majority countries.
context_section_description: The political activity of the Knights of Columbus deals with the involvement of the Roman Catholic fraternal Order to influence public policy to promote its interests.
  The Knights of Columbus have taken an active political role even from the early days of its foundation. In the years following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the earlier focus on protesting discrimination against Catholics shifted to more activity to promote social issues.
  During much of the 20th century and particularly during the period of the Cold War, the Order was active politically in opposing communism and socialism, especially within the United States. However, it was more supportive of trade unionism, the protection of Catholic civil rights,  and some efforts to address racism. 
  More recently it has taken an active conservative stance on social issues and lobbied for conservative political causes - strongly opposing efforts to introduce same-sex marriage, abortion rights, birth control, and loosening controls around divorce. But the Order has also taken an interest in the rights or immigrants and refugees, especially those coming from Catholic-majority countries.
caption: One of the placards carried by the Knights of Columbus placards at the March For Life in Washington in opposition to abortion rights.
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