Catholic Word of the Day: FREEMASONRY, 06-25-14

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FREEMASONRY

The teachings and practices of a secret international organization whose modern origins date from the first quarter of the eighteenth-century. Freemasonry began as a fraternity of Deists in Europe, and its basic orientation has been naturalistic, i.e. supernatural, ever since. Its hostility to the Catholic Church has evoked numerous declarations of the Holy See, notably of Popes Clement XII (1738), Pius IX (1864) and Leo XIII (1884). The Code of Canon Law (1918) decreed that no Catholic may join "Masonic sects or any other similar associations which plot against the Church" (Canon 2335). The most recent statement is from the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Cardinal Prefect Joseph Ratzinger, of November 26, 1983: "It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous code. This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance is due to an editorial criterion which was followed as also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories. Therefore, the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church, and therefore, membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion. It is not within competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the declaration of this sacred congregation issued February 17, 1981

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.>

Not Masons with a capital 'M'

but masons with a small 'm'

Fear not; be not dismayed. With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too I have provided. To these you must add. You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, and iron From a templemount website.

Alleged because over half of them have been proved innocent. For example, in my area, the jury convened after the hearing and the foreman stated (according to attorneys who talked with other jurors.) “Well, he’s a Catholic priest, not let’s prove that he’s guilty.”

Trouble was this priest was also employed by the state to work at the boys reform school and had state dates to back him up. He wasn’t even at the school when the alleged misdeeds took place.

Dear SpirituTuo,

Actually, although many American Masons are nice enough, I can think of at least two times in US history that American Masons have acted with grave hostility toward Catholics and the Catholic Church.

In the last part of the 19th century, in the upper northwest, Masons, along with other nefarious groups, tried to close down Catholic parochial schools by making all private schools illegal, and forcing all school-aged children to attend public schools.

This was overthrown by the Supreme Court, but it survives in the Blaine Amendments of various states that forbid the expenditure of public funds to help provide for the educational needs of any child going to a Catholic school, named after James G. Blaine, Republican presidential candidate in 1884 (”Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine! The continental liar from the state of Maine!” - I still remember SOMETHING from high school US history).

As well, Masons gave rise to the anti-Catholic government of Mexico in the early part of the 20th century that ultimately murdered many Catholic priests, many thousands of Catholic laity, and forbid the open practice of Catholicism in Mexico, outside of church buildings, including Catholic education and catechesis.

sitetest

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