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Rowan Williams apologises to Freemasons
Telegraph (UK) ^ | 20/04/2003 | Chris Hastings and Elizabeth Day

Posted on 04/22/2003 1:54:17 AM PDT by nickcarraway

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has been forced to apologise to Britain's 330,000 Freemasons after he said that their beliefs were incompatible with Christianity and that he had rejected them from senior posts in his diocese.

Dr Williams has written to Robert Morrow, the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, in an attempt to defuse the row prompted by comments he made last year. In his letter, the Archbishop apologises for the "distress" he caused and discloses that his own father was a member of the Craft.

Freemasons, many of whom are active members of the Church of England, reacted angrily to his disclosure that he "had real misgivings about the compatibility of Masonry and Christian profession" and by his admission that, as Bishop of Monmouth, he had blocked the appointment of Freemasons to senior appointments.

His comments about Freemasons were in a private letter leaked to the media shortly after Downing Street confirmed his appointment as head of the Church of England.

Subsequent attempts by his advisers to defuse the row only caused further offence. A spokesman said the Archbishop was worried about the ritual element of Freemasonry, which has been seen as "satanically inspired".

In his letter of apology, Dr Williams tries to distance himself from his own reported comments. He claims that his views were never meant to be public and were distorted by the media.

He wrote: "I have been sorry to learn of the distress of a considerable number of Freemasons . . . In replying to private correspondence, I had no intention of starting a public debate nor of questioning the good faith and generosity of individual Freemasons and I regret the tone and content of the media coverage."

He added: "The quoted statements about the 'satanic' character of the Masonic ceremonies and other matters did not come from me and do not represent my judgment. Since my late father was a member of the Craft for many years, I have had every opportunity of observing the probity of individual members."

Dr Williams does not, in his letter, deny that he has misgivings about the role of Freemasons within the Church.

He wrote: "Where anxieties exist, however, they are in relation not to Freemasonry but to Christian ministers subscribing to what could be and often is understood [or misunderstood] as a private system of profession and initiation, involving the taking of oaths of loyalty."

He ends his letter by stating that Freemasons' commitment to charity and the community is beyond question.


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KEYWORDS: catholiclist
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To: narses
My curiosity appears to be leading me where I perhaps ought not go, but what secrets does the KofC have that loyal Catholics may not tell?

////
I have read a secret K of C oath that asks his K of C brethren to kill him brutally if he should ever convert to the Protestant faith.
241 posted on 04/22/2003 8:17:52 PM PDT by BenR2 ((John 3:16: Still True Today.))
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To: narses
>>>>Can this be so?????

When the sole source is a Feeneyite website like that? Doubtful.

patent

242 posted on 04/22/2003 8:22:44 PM PDT by patented
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To: BenR2
Dear BenR2,

"I have read a secret K of C oath that asks his K of C brethren to kill him brutally if he should ever convert to the Protestant faith."

LOL. If the reporting on masonic rituals on this thread is as accurate as your reporting of Knights of Columbus oath-taking, then the masons here have great reason to be very angry.

Thanks for the chuckle.


sitetest
243 posted on 04/22/2003 8:22:54 PM PDT by sitetest (But seriesly. This is hugh.)
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To: Pharmboy
Why are there so few black masons? If there are any at all.
244 posted on 04/22/2003 8:25:45 PM PDT by Fred Mertz
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To: patented
When the sole source is a Feeneyite website like that? Doubtful.

I've read this claim in other places as well (that Bugnini was basically 'exiled' for being a Mason). This was just the first source I found which referenced it.

What's your opinion of Michael Davies, btw?
245 posted on 04/22/2003 8:26:41 PM PDT by Antoninus (In hoc signo, vinces †)
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To: sitetest
LOL. If the reporting on masonic rituals on this thread is as accurate as your reporting of Knights of Columbus oath-taking, then the masons here have great reason to be very angry.

//
And your proof that what I read was false is . . . ?
246 posted on 04/22/2003 8:27:39 PM PDT by BenR2 ((John 3:16: Still True Today.))
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To: patented
My head hurts. I ought to know, but I cannot recall what a Feeneyite is. Is L'Osservatore Romano Feeneyite, or is the quote made up? I'll google on it.
247 posted on 04/22/2003 8:27:46 PM PDT by narses (Christe Eleison)
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To: patented
Google was of little help. I ought to go to bed. G'night and God Bless all here.
248 posted on 04/22/2003 8:31:33 PM PDT by narses (Christe Eleison)
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To: BenR2
Dear BenR2,

"And your proof that what I read was false is . . . ?"

I'm a Fourth Degree Knight, and have been through all the degree ceremonies current in our Order. In fact, I attend degree ceremonies, to assist, throughout the year. In the past year, I have attended more than one First Degree, at least one Second Degree, and also one Third Degree. I missed the Fourth Degree this year, darn it.

As well, my father is a Fourth Degree Knight. He became a Knight in the 1950s. Between us, we have seen a number of degree ceremonies.


sitetest
249 posted on 04/22/2003 8:55:06 PM PDT by sitetest (But seriesly. This is hugh.)
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To: sitetest
Dear BenR2,

"And your proof that what I read was false is . . . ?"

I'm a Fourth Degree Knight, and have been through all the degree ceremonies current in our Order. In fact, I attend degree ceremonies, to assist, throughout the year. In the past year, I have attended more than one First Degree, at least one Second Degree, and also one Third Degree. I missed the Fourth Degree this year, darn it.

As well, my father is a Fourth Degree Knight. He became a Knight in the 1950s. Between us, we have seen a number of degree ceremonies.


sitetest

////
Thank you for the frank update. Is Fourth Degree the highest that the K of C goes? (I'm ignorant.)

I am not able to attest to the oath's veracity, although it had the "ring" of authenticity to it. Is it possible that there are higher levels in the Society that you are not yet privy to -- or, that the oath that I had read has fallen into disuse? (Just wondering out loud.)

Nonetheless, even if what I read is a counterfeit, I nonetheless loathe both secret brotherhoods (K of C and Masons/Shriners) as anti-Christian and anti-Scriptural to the core. I do believe that most rank-and-file Masons and Knights are sincere, devoted, and DECEIVED.
250 posted on 04/22/2003 9:07:23 PM PDT by BenR2 ((John 3:16: Still True Today.))
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To: sitetest
I do have a problem with those who claim to be both Catholic and mason.

////
I have known such: both devoted Catholic and staunch Mason. A paradox, to be sure, but a solid family man, AF officer, and citizen. (And, I might add: DECEIVED.)
251 posted on 04/22/2003 9:10:43 PM PDT by BenR2 ((John 3:16: Still True Today.))
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To: narses
My head hurts. I ought to know, but I cannot recall what a Feeneyite is.
No salvation outside the Church folks. In a very rough translation, if your but isn’t parked in a Catholic Church every Sunday, you go to hell.
Is L'Osservatore Romano Feeneyite,
No. Far from it, click here.
or is the quote made up? I'll google on it.
Unless I saw a copy of this issue of L’Osservatore Romano I’d consider it made up (or at least saw the quote from a more credible source). If its in L’Osservatore Romano, I would be inclined to assume it is an accurate quotation.

I can't tell you how many traditionalist quotes are sourced to L'Osservatore Romano. Once upon a time I entered into the habit of ordering back issues to see if the quotes were accurate. They seldom were. I've given up now, I'd be both poor and exhausted if I checked all of them. Until I see a reliable source, I don't buy it. It may be possible Bugnini said something like this, but absent proof its just another wild claim.

patent  +AMDG

252 posted on 04/22/2003 10:01:05 PM PDT by patent (A baby is God's opinion that life should go on. Carl Sandburg)
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To: Antoninus
When the sole source is a Feeneyite website like that? Doubtful.
I've read this claim in other places as well (that Bugnini was basically 'exiled' for being a Mason).
I was responding solely to the quote narses pulled up, which is not that he was exiled but the “quote” about the striptease.
What's your opinion of Michael Davies, btw?
I note first that Davies didn’t make the quote above, it was before his article.

Anyway, he is a lawyer, and writes like one. Being that I am a lawyer, and write like one 9-5, I don’t necessarily have a problem with that in the proper context. However, as much as I’ve enjoyed some of his books, I prefer to use them as source material that helps me locate original sourcing to read for myself, than to rely on his view of them. I do not recommend him unless you have the time to do this.

My problem with him is that he writes like an advocate, rather than like someone who wants to present the truth. By the very nature of advocacy, you start with your position, and then try to find facts to support it. Inconvenient facts are dealt with by shifting them out of focus, ignoring them, or twisting them. Anyway, I like his writing for limited purposes.

patent  +AMDG

253 posted on 04/22/2003 10:02:18 PM PDT by patent (A baby is God's opinion that life should go on. Carl Sandburg)
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To: Skooz
To be a Mason, a man has to be of GOOD CHARACTER and believe in GOD .

It is not now, nor has it been , for 300 years, a " trade " organization, nor a " guild ".

All of the kings of England have been Masons AND the head of the Anglican ( C of E ) church.

A great many of the Founding Fathers of this nation , as well as the men who organized and pulled of the Boston Tea Party, and many of the subsiquent presidents, governors, mayors, Senators, Representaives, and other highly respected people, of this nation, have been and are Masons. Everyone who claims that they " worship the devil " , has to then acknowledge that George Washington, Harry Houdini, and Will Rogers are now all burning in hell. I, OTOH, do not.

The reason that the Roman Catholic church is anatiMasonic ( it is NOT the case, the otherway around ! ), is a money & Power thing. The Catholic church has used the Masons as a scapegoat, right along with Jews, for centuries. Some off the wall, fringe , conmen " preachers " have also used them to spread fear and make money.

These are easily proven facts ; unlike the ridiculous smear jobs , filled with spurious,libelous bilge, which is posted to thread after thread on FR, by liars and fools.

The Masons don't care one whit about a man's race, religion, wealth ( or lack of it ), but DO care, very much, about a man's behavior and his love and devotion to GOD. It is NOT a cult. It is NOT a religion ! It is NOT anything but a social and philenthropic fraternity; not unlike the Elks and Rotarians.

They are NOT some nefarious " power ", that secretly " rules the world ".

They ARE a group of men, who have done more good, than the pack of craven poltrons, here, singly or all put together, who keep bad mouthing them at every chance.They don't do it for " the glory " and a great deal of their charity is not publicized. They are patriotic, love this nation, and many were/are CONSERVATIVES , as well as devout Christians or Jews or some other religion.

254 posted on 04/22/2003 10:20:28 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Qwerty
One does NOT have to be a Christian to be a Mason. That's one important thing, that the Catholic church and others, that don't like Masonry . You are VERY mistaken and in error.

As a matter of fact, the Grand Lodge, in Manhattan, hold a combined Passover & Easter service, known as the " FEAST OF THE PASCLE LAMB ", every Spring, for Masons and their families. Christ celebrated Passover, after all, just before HE was crucified, so it isn't a stretch, to hold such a luncheon. Both a Rabbi and a Minister presides and it is a joyous, beautiful, blessed lunch. No Mason foists his religion on anyone else. Each respects others' religions. That is another thing, which galls some Christian officials. It has only been VERY recent, that Catholics were allowed to go to a wedding or funeral in a church/ temple of another's faith.

These are facts ; not opinions.

255 posted on 04/22/2003 10:27:12 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: honway
Where did you get this quote from ? Name the source.
256 posted on 04/22/2003 10:28:46 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Polycarp
Since the Catholic church has mad Saints out of pagan gods and goddeses, mythological figures, mentally ill nuns, who had epiletic seizures, ate their own vomit, etc., then it's no wonder that they would do so for Mexican murderers.
257 posted on 04/22/2003 10:35:02 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: anniegetyourgun
Yes, actually, mpore or less it does. They don't accept people who thing that Zeus, or a rock is " god ".
258 posted on 04/22/2003 10:37:23 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: patent
FreeMasonry is NOT a religion !

Can you, or anyone else, who is just " curious ", go read some book, that will tell you what the " ritual " is to join any fraturnity, be it a college one, or for adults ? NO, you can't. So WHY should the Masons allow anyone and everyone to read their PRIVATE records ?

OTOH, you can visit the Masonic Museum, in Mahattan and even have a guided tour, anytime you want to. Ask me, and I'll set it up for you, or anyone else who is interested. And NO, I am NOT a Mason; I only men can be Masons.

259 posted on 04/22/2003 10:41:27 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Cap'n Crunch
Clinton was NEVER a Mason and he begged and weedled his way into becoming an " honorary " De Molay, which was stripped from him.

Why are you spreading filth, lies, and calumny here ? You are as bad, if not worse than Clinton ever dreamed of being, with this noxious post of yours.

260 posted on 04/22/2003 10:50:39 PM PDT by nopardons
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