>> Simple: It was the HISTORY that embarrassed the Church, more than any particular problem with Masonic practices in general. <<
Oh, brother. Here comes the anti-Catholic nonsense.
Don’t be a knee jerk reactionary!
I AM Catholic.
However, you can not do a good job DEFENDING the Faith, without, First, UNDERSTANDING the Faith, and History!
The historic resistance of the Catholic Church, towards Masonry, is understandable on many levels.
However, the Church today does NOT have an out right ban on Masonry, simply warnings to keep true to the Catholic Faith and to not water down Catholicism in an attempt at “Fraternity”.
Our own Popes have made apologies about the behavior of the Catholic Church, towards the Eastern Orthodox Church, during the Schism. In fact, I would say that the Catholic Church is READY for full UNION with the Orthodox, it is the Orthodox which resist, for political reasons and a bit of pride in a few of their leaders.
You can be a devout, even Saintly Catholic, and admit that some of our Popes might not have made it into Heaven.
I have defended the Catholic Church during the Third Reich, several times on these threads.
I dare say that I defend Catholic Popes far more often than all but one or two other posters, on these threads.
However, we are NOT required by our Faith to believe that Rome has never made any mistakes.
We have had Catholic Councils which have totally repudiated and reversed previous Catholic Councils, we have had Popes who have reversed previous Popes, on matters of Faith.
We have had Popes that sired countless bastard children.
We have had more than one Pope at the same time, once I think we even had 3 Popes at the same time.
We make mistakes, sometimes.
It is not anti-Catholic to admit as much.
In fact, to “confess our sins” is the HALLMARK OF CATHOLIC TEACHING, is it not?