Flannery O'Connor on the Church and the Elks Club

A few years ago, I wrote a short paper called "Are Churches (Just) Like the Boy Scouts?"  I was reminded of the paper, and also entertained, by this quote, which a friend sent to me, from Flannery O'Connor:

“For us the Church is the body of Christ, Christ continued in time, and as such a divine institution. The Protestant considers this idolatry. If the Church is not a divine institution, it will turn into an Elks Club.”

June 21, 1959