“The official stance of the Catholic church is repent or excommunication for delving into Freemasonry”
You are wrong, the prohibition and punishment were removed long ago.
Are you sure?
In the February 1981 letter Clarification concerning status of Catholics becoming Freemasons from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the United States Bishops, the matter was clarified, and the prohibition against Catholics joining Masonic orders remains.
This was followed by the 1983 document Quaesitum est, issued by then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who had become the Congregation’s prefect in November 1981. To quote:
“The faithful, who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion...”
This is the authoritative interpretation of the Vatican’s position on this subject.
Report of the American Bishops Conference
Main article: Letter to U.S. Bishops Concerning Masonry
In the 1980s, the Bishops’ Committee on Pastoral Research and Practices concluded that “the principles and basic rituals of Masonry embody a naturalistic religion, active participation in which is incompatible with Christian faith and practice.” This report, together with two others, was sent in a public letter by Cardinal Bernard Law.
You are wrong, the prohibition and punishment were removed long ago.
Um, no actually, punishment may have been removed but prohibition is still in place. It's not very well publicized, but it is and there are some darn good reasons for it, too.
The best explanations actually come from a man who was a mason for some years and left. His name is John Salza and he's a lawyer who's written two books on the subject. I've seen him on EWTN and read part of the first book. Very bright man.
>>You are wrong, the prohibition and punishment were removed long ago<<
Is that so? I believe you are the one that is mistaken.
(Quaesitum Est) was supported again in 1983 and again approved by Pope John Paul II. It states the following:
The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion....”
Have a nice day.