Sandra Miesel explains why Catholics can't be Masons

Insight Scoop ^ | September 17, 2009

[NYer]

From a September 2006 article featured on the Our Sunday Visitor website:

No pope has ever been a Mason. The Catholic Church has warily monitored Freemasonry from the time it penetrated Europe. In 1738, Pope Clement XII condemned the Craft for its dependence on mere natural virtue while ignoring Christ's unique role as Savior. He also denounced the rash oaths it demanded of members to protect trivial Lodge secrets.

Catholics who joined the Masons were excommunicated, with reconciliation reserved to the pope. This decree had little effect, however, because it wasn't published in every land, nor was it always taken seriously where it was published. Eight subsequent popes would have to repeat the message, most forcefully Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Humanum Genus (On Freemasonry).

Denouncing the Lodge as "a deceitful and crafty enemy," Pope Leo declared, "Let no man think that he may for any reason whatsoever join the Masonic sect, if he values his Catholic name and his eternal salvation as he ought to value them." The 1917 Code of Canon Law included these stern prohibitions.

After the Second Vatican Council, however, the long hostility between Lodge and Church seemed to be easing. A reinterpretation of the anti-Masonic canons in 1974 led some Catholics to think that only Masonic groups actively plotting against the Church were forbidden to them.

Even so, some Freemasons had actually been plotting against the Vatican through its bank. In 1981, two of the pope's top financial advisers - known all along as Masons - were unmasked as members of a secret Lodge called Propaganda Due that was plotting a fascist takeover of Italy. Both men later died mysteriously. The Vatican lost $240,000 with the collapse of its bank.

Changing views

Rome's softer view of Masonry was abruptly reversed in 1981 just before the financial scandal broke. Although the current Code of Canon Law issued in 1983 fails to mention the Craft by name, in the same year the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith firmly reiterated the original ban:

"The Church's negative position on Masonic associations therefore remains unaltered since their principles have always been regarded as irreconcilable with the Church's doctrine."

Read the entire piece.

Sandra, by the way, has already finished reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol (I'm on page 30 and don't know if I have the strength to continue). I spoke to her yesterday shortly after she had reached the underwhelming conclusion of the novel, and she noted it was a sort of "love poem" to Masonry, with occasional swipes at Christianity. And today she wrote: "I finished THE LOST SYMBOL, which is a tad better than DA VINCI CODE despite being rah rah pro-Masonic propaganda.By no means is it a 'good' book, even for popcorn reading." She is working on a piece about the novel, the Masons, and other esoteric topics for Catholic World Report (so subscribe now!).

For a more detailed examination of the Masons, consider Christianity And American Freemasonry, by William J. Whalen:

What is it about Freemasonry that would cause churches to forbid or openly discourage seventy million Americans from membership? Why have eight popes condemned the Lodge? Why has the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Masonic order been strained for centuries? Christianity and American Freemasonry answers these and many other questions and describes why Christ ianity and Freemasonry are incompatible.

Today over two million American men belong to the Masonic order, the largest and oldest secret fraternal society. In earlier history the Freemasons boasted a prestigious membership, including fourteen American presidents and such founding fathers as Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, and Alexander Hamilton. This is the most complete reference book available on the subject. Chapters discuss the rituals and oaths, the Scottish and York rites, allied organizations such as the Shriners, and the historic antagonism of Christianity toward Masonry. It is thoroughly documented with facts from:

• the three most noted experts on Masonry in America
• Masonic ritual books, encyclopedias, and histories
• three former Masons, now active Catholics, who contributed firsthand knowledge of Masonic ritual and structure.

[x_plus_one]

Most masons are sure that they are pillars of their communities. It’s hard to get the point across that universal brotherhood is a trojan horse. Arguing just makes them defensive. They are usually not well-enough informed to speak to the issues save for their own eye witness.

[ravenwolf]

Probably the people who are against the masons, must surely be athiests, mad men or even fools.

---

I have not guite decided if I am a madman or a fool, but one thing is certain, I am not an athiest, I have been a member of the masonic lodge, and also a member of the moose lodge and a few other religions, because thats really what they are, When I joined the moose lodge, the religious hocus pocus scared me away. I guit the masons for other reasons.

I have heard that most highway patrolmen are masons, wonder what that means?

where does the money go?

Do you know what the religion you belong to supports,

Anyone of any religion can be a mason, which means they are not a Christian organization, because Christianity is not a religion.

Where does it say any thing good in the Bible about religion?

I am not knocking the masons or any other club, or for that matter any church, but when people start talking about Christianity and clubs and religion I think maybe they should do a little bit more reading of the Bible so they could see the differences between them.

The Bible says that the scriptures are of no private interpretation,The Roman church turns that around to mean the opposite of what it plainly means.

Did peter and paul and the others preach privately to a few indviduals? no they taught to the multitudes and it was written so everyone could read it.

But people seem content to let the hiarchy in the churches to read it for them and tell them what it means instead of reading it for themselves, and using a little common sense in decifering it.

Oh, sure we can,t all be every thing, some people are better off to let some one else work on thier car and thier other possesions but the most valuable possesion we have is our own soul,

Are we going to leave that to some one else too, just because they have some high masters degree or some high name that is supposed to impress every one?

I have heard people who are associated with a particular Church comment that they did not agree with the church on this or that, why are they a member then? there are people who go to church and there are members of the church, not the same thing.

Not all Christians were ever intended to be Church members,
in fact very few, but the hiarchy tries to get every one to be a member.

We can not worship God and baal.

[Brookhaven]

Can someone post a short “Why Catholics Shouldn’t Be Masons” post? I have had and do have the opportunity to join. Many of our Founding Fathers were Masons. So why is it heretical? (And I’m not looking for “because Pope XXX said so,” rather the WHY as it relates to today.)

---

Isn’t because “Pope XXX said so” enough? Isn’t that the same position the current Pople holds?

I am not Catholic, but there seems to be a clear Biblical message that you should submit to the leadership of your church (within Biblical guidelines of course, if my church leadership said I had to start approving of gay marriage, I would have grounds for not submitting to that leadership.)

Turn the question on its head. What grounds are there for you not submitting to your church’s leadership in this instance? Are there Biblical grounds for you to say you MUST join the Masons?

If the Pope said you must not join the PTA, you might have Biblical grounds for going against that prohibition (as parents are mandated in the Bible to guide their child’s upbringing, which would include (imho) participating in organizations that influence how your child is educated.)

What Biblical mandate can you give that would require you to ignore the Pope’s prohibition on joining the Masons? Unless you can show that you’re church’s leadership is proposing something that is counter to what is found in the Bible, you should attempt to follow their leadership as best as possible.

[piytar]

No, “Pope XXX said so” isn’t enough. And even if it was, I’d still want to know the “why.” It’s that whole intellectual curiosity thing.

PS Others have adequately answered my questions.

[jjm2111]

I am told that excepting grave crimes like murder, rape, etc. a Mason has to side with another Mason in any dispute. Is that true?

[muawiyah]

No idea. I am not a Mason nor is any current member of my family a Mason. Still I suspect rich guys watch each other’s backs, right?!

[muawiyah]

Henry VIII's grandfather, Rene d'Anjou, was a Greatgrandson (I believe it was) of Louis X of France.

Henry VIII was therefore a first cousin of the Duc d'Guise.

It is the d'Guise faction (more political than religious) whose behavior fomented the French "religious wars".

So, that gives you an idea of where the French and English Protestant Reformations as well as the French and Italian Counter Reformations occurred first ~ WITHIN A GROUP OF COUSINS who, BTW, owned everybody and everything and had all the power.

[muawiyah]

BTW, not all Protestants agree with what you believe to be the Protestant view of Transubstantiation. Some agree with the Roman Catholics, some with the Lutherans, some with the Calvinists, and others have their own supplemental revelations (presumably from the Holy Spirit).

It is a serious error on the part of Roman Catholics to believe that ALL Protestants believe anything in particular about anything at all. I assure you there are groups all across the board.

My favorite are the ol'boys who take the "Lift up Serpants" as seriously and literally as Catholics take the "Lift up the Son of Man as a Sign".

Well, really, the snake handlers aren't my favorites but if you ever wondered why they have the beliefs they do it's because they read the Bible the same way the RC's do ~ but with fewer editors.

The editors make all the difference. Ever get bit by a poisonous snake in church? It's a real howler!

[editor-surveyor]

"Many of our Founding Fathers were Masons. So why is it heretical?"

Masonry holds that all paths lead to God. One that holds such a belief will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Either you're lying to your lodge brothers, or you're lying to God.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

I only worship God as do, many other masons. Catholics 54% supported Obammy and I did not along with the other 46%. I am catholic and a mason to which I am very proud.

If you chose to leave masonry, then that was your choice. The hypocrisy about Catholics comes to light when the idiot priest’s glorified Ted OldsMoSUb Commander at his funeral.

You seem like an alright person Ravenwolf, take care have a good evening.

Sincerely,
NSNR

[No Surrender No Retreat]

You must have been turned down as an applicant for free masonry.
Take your anti-masonic comments elsewhere. I have no need for your tripe of disinformation on masonry.

Molon Labe,
NSNR

[stfassisi]

Gee! And I was just thinking about converting to Catholicism!

Dear friend, If you were truly thinking about converting to Catholicism you would realize that Christ is only truly present in the Eucharist in only the Catholic Church,thus you would want to follow the teachings of the Church and want ti leave freemasonry because you want to receive Christ in the true Eucharistic presence.

Instead you serve freemasonry and it keeps you away from Christ truly present in the Eucharist

[terycarl]

pay real close attention....you are either a Catholic or a Mason...you cannot possibly be both...you cannot be a momber of the klan and a catholic either....you cannot be an abortionist and a Catholic...see how it works? you cannot pick and choose which Catholic teachings that you approve of....Freemasonry and Catholocism are mutually exclusive.....MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHICH YOU ARE a Catholic or a Mason....pretty simple

[terycarl]

good answer !!! but I don’t think any of those wonderful people were Catholic...I didn’t say good people couldn’t be Masons I just said that Catholics could not be Masons....not my decision...the decision of the church itself. You need to get over the opinion that you can make Catholic rules as you go along...you can’t rules are rules and we are all subject to the same ones. CATHOLICS CANNOT BE MASONS AND MASONS CANNOT BE CATHOLIC see how easy it is when the letters are real big!!!

[Redleg Duke]

I am pleased that the Roman Catholic Church exists. Otherwise, there would be no place suitable for narrow-minded bigots like you.

My ex-Mother-in-Law is a hard-line Catholic from Mexico. She has laid up her store in heaven by driving her daughter insane and influencing her to verbally, emotionally and physically abuse her only child, a boy with hemophilia. His crime? Being confirmed in a Lutheran Church.

Yes, you belong to the only true church alright. A church that teaches its cult members that it is just peachy to destroy marriages and children in the name of God. To pronounce that hemophilia is God's punishment on parents who stray from the "one true church".

You must be so proud. Now I shake your dust from the hem of my garment. Be off with you!

[stfassisi]

You’re blaming the actions of sinners for keeping you away from the Catholic Church,dear friend.Thus keeping you away from the True Presence in the Blessed Sacrament

The Church does not teach people to sin and there are those who pretend to be Catholic who do not follow what the Church teaches.

I’ll pray for you to see through the hurt that others caused you.

I wish you a very Blessed day

[Redleg Duke]

No. I have no desire to associate with the Roman Catholic Church. I do not consider it "the true faith". While it might have been the start, it was perverted by man's sins, hence the need for the reformation.

As long as man is running a church, a reformation is always in order to get back on track.

What part of good-bye are you having trouble understanding. I know you would like to be waving at me while I am being burned at the stake, but that isn't going to happen.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

In regards to your opinion, well everyone has one and I do not need your’s. So please do not bother me with anymore of your heretical philosophies.

This conversion is hereby closed according to my rules of order.
Never,
NSNR

[BelegStrongbow]

I think you would find ‘Illuminatus!’ by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea to be very enlightening and entertaining. It would also be closer to the truth than your post.

[BelegStrongbow]

Masonry also believes that man can achieve salvation by his good works, independent of God’s gift of grace.

As a Certified Lecturer, I say this is patently false. We hope to improve ourselves by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of God.

You may now excise that sentence from your discussion.