Firstly, freemasonry was explicitly anti-Catholic in recent history and in some parts of the world, still is. It aimed to undermine the Catholic Church. For this reason, the Code of Canon Law of 1917 (canon 2335) mentioned freemasonry explicitly and stated that membership carried a penalty of excommunication. The revised Code of Canon Law of 1983, does not mention freemasonry explicitly but it is implicit in canon 1374.
As the revised code does not mention freemasonry explicitly, some got the idea that the penalties for freemasonry membership had been revoked but this is not the case. In fact, The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement to this effect on November 26 1983.
The second issue with freemasonry is that, it can lead to indifferentism, i.e. that a person can be equally pleasing to God while adhering to any faith. It also masquerades as a quasi-religion itself.
As the "New Catholic Encylopedia" states...."Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival to the religion of the Gospel. It includes temples and altars, prayers, a moral code, worship, vestments, feast days, the promise of reward or punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiation and burial rites."
This is from England:
http://www.ugle.org.uk/static/masonry/freemasonry-and-religion.htm
Freemasonry and Religion
Introduction
The following information is intended to deal with a topic mentioned in the leaflet ‘What is Freemasonry’.
It explains the United Grand Lodge of England’s view of the relationship between Freemasonry and religion.
Basic Statement
Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It demands of its members a belief in a Supreme Being but provides no system of faith of its own.
Freemasonry is open to men of all religious faiths. The discussion of religion at its meetings is forbidden.
The Supreme Being
The names used for the Supreme Being enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as each sees Him) without the terms of the prayer causing dissention among them.
There is no separate Masonic God; a Freemason’s God remains the God of the religion he professes.
Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together. There is therefore no composite Masonic God.
Volume of the Sacred Law
The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open at every Masonic meeting.
The Obligation of Freemasonry
The Obligations taken by Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume of the Sacred Law, or the book held sacred by those concerned. They are undertakings to help keep secret a Freemason’s means of recognition, and to follow the principles of Freemasonry.
The physical penalties, which are purely symbolic, do not form part of an Obligation. The commitment to follow the principles of Freemasonry is, however, deep.
Freemasonry Compared with Religion
Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion.
a) it has no theological doctrine, and by forbidding religious discussion at its meetings will not allow a Masonic theological doctrine to develop.
b) It offers no sacraments.
c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by secret knowledge or by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition and not with salvation.
Freemasonry Supports Religion
Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practice it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other duties his duty to God, by whatever name He is known. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religions.
Freemasonry is thus a supporter of religion.
see also: http://www.ugle.org.uk/what-is-masonry/frequently-asked-questions/
these are from wikipedia footnote links.
This is simply not true Proposeed members are told explicitly that Masonry is not a substitute for religion and does not claim to be.
freemasonry was explicitly anti-Catholic in recent history and in some parts of the world, still is.
Any Mason who proposes to be anti-Catholic and claims masonry as the reason is speaking on his own behalf and has no standing in Masonry for any such belief. There are Catholics who are members of the Masonic Lodge and I suppose are right with their own conscience. As a Mason I and my fellow Masons would welcome them and would ask nothing of them that they would be uncomfortable with. We bear no ill will toward Catholicism