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Catholic Word of the Day: FREEMASONRY, 06-25-14
CCDictionary ^ | 06-25-14 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary,

Posted on 06/25/2014 8:06:59 AM PDT by Salvation

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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.>



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic
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From the past: 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).

From the present: Ratzinger: 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.

1 posted on 06/25/2014 8:06:59 AM PDT by Salvation
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To: JRandomFreeper; Allegra; Straight Vermonter; Cronos; SumProVita; AnAmericanMother; annalex; dsc; ...

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2 posted on 06/25/2014 8:11:17 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Catholic Word of the Day: FREEMASONRY, 06-25-14
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Good Catholics should not wear aprons
Sandra Miesel explains why Catholics can't be Masons
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Is There No Help For The Widow's Son? Part two (Masonry and Mormonism) (OPEN)

Masonic rituals live on
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A Mormon Mason: New grand master is the first in a century who is LDS
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Masonic rituals live on

3 posted on 06/25/2014 8:15:02 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Masonic sects or any other similar associations which plot against the Church...

I'm curious as to just what that means. Does "plot" mean disagree with, or something more sinister?

Is there generally accepted evidence that the Masons have plotted against the Church in the past? What is that evidence? And do those plots continue to this day? Thanks in advance for any clarification.

4 posted on 06/25/2014 8:17:54 AM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: Leaning Right

**I’m curious as to just what that means. Does “plot” mean disagree with, or something more sinister?

Is there generally accepted evidence that the Masons have plotted against the Church in the past? What is that evidence? And do those plots continue to this day?**

Your questions are answered in the links above. Please read a couple of them — they are all FR links.


5 posted on 06/25/2014 8:22:48 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Leaning Right

I am not even an amateur when it comes to Masons and the Church, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

It is my understanding, that in Europe, during the 19th century, there were Masonic organizations actively working to harm the Church.

However, in the US, Masonry has been seen as generally benevolent, with no particular malice toward the Church. I had the opportunity to read portions of a Scottish Rite text (more of a commentary), that wasn’t terribly kind to the Church.

In the US (1970s-80s), Catholics asked the Church to allow members to be Masons, as their is no history of bad blood. The word came down that the Masonic system of beliefs was inconsistent with Catholicism, though it did recognize the generally positive nature of the organization.

It has been my personal experience that Masons are good people, patriotic, and charitable.


6 posted on 06/25/2014 8:29:51 AM PDT by SpirituTuo
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To: Salvation

This is going to ruffle a few feathers, or crease a few aprons, or whatever.


7 posted on 06/25/2014 8:30:07 AM PDT by Oratam
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To: Salvation

The Permanent Instruction of the Alta Vendita. The author quotes the actual Masonic document, which both Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) and Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) asked to be published. This document describes the Masons’ diabolical strategy to destroy the Church by infecting her leaders with Liberal ideas.


8 posted on 06/25/2014 8:33:12 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Oratam

LOL!

They need a scapular instead!


9 posted on 06/25/2014 8:35:26 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Leaning Right

I replied to a thread yesterday that seemed to imply that Vatican II was a Masonic plot. Of course, I’m not at all certain how a Roman Catholic in good standing can believe such a thing. It sounds sedevacantist. A lot of what passes for traditionalist Catholic posted to FR sounds sedevacantist. Sedevacantists believe that there has not been a valid pope since 1958.


10 posted on 06/25/2014 8:35:44 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Salvation

If it’s a choice between Masons and the Catholic Church, then I guess I have to pick Masonry.

At least they don’t put Marxists in their highest positions of authority.


11 posted on 06/25/2014 8:50:54 AM PDT by freerepublicchat
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To: freerepublicchat

Did you miss this post?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3172158/posts?page=8#8


12 posted on 06/25/2014 8:54:34 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Did you miss this post? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3172158/posts?page=8#8

That's funny. At the time "liberal" ideas meant things like free speech. Marxism only came to be regarded as liberal after 150 years of twisting the definition of liberal.

Marxism is better seen as leftist.

13 posted on 06/25/2014 9:07:44 AM PDT by freerepublicchat
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To: freerepublicchat

In Ratzinger’s time?

**At the time “liberal” ideas meant things like free speech.**

I don’t think so.


14 posted on 06/25/2014 9:10:54 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: freerepublicchat
From the present: Ratzinger: 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.

I guess you missed this too.

15 posted on 06/25/2014 9:12:19 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Well, the first few sentences are wrong, in that the Masonic organization pre-dates the Catholic church by many years.

Masons built King Solomon's temple. There were no Catholics around then.

Now let's see.... Shriners (part of the Masonic organization) raise millions of dollars per DAY to support the FREE burn and orthopedic hospitals for kids.

Catholic priests fudgepack the poor kids.

There's another new thread about another Catholic priest on the run in CA over this behavior.

Will the Catholics aver get their act together and purge the morons?

Most of the founding fathers of the USA were Masons.

The churches, Catholics and others demonize Masonry because they want to control the time and money of their members.

It also gives them a "straw man" to rant about in sermons. (Now I'm referring mostly to Protestant churches who are against Masonry.)

16 posted on 06/25/2014 9:16:18 AM PDT by Mogger (Independence, better fuel economy and performance with American made synthetic oil.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

(1)It didn’t imply VII was a masonic plot. It does imply that they were involved somehow. Given Protestants also had input, it’s not so far-fetched. At the very least, the article does show that The Masons sure do love it and Francis though. That in and of itself should concern Catholics.

(2) The source was not a sedevacantist site.

And LOL at “Freemasonry” being the “random” word of the day.


17 posted on 06/25/2014 9:26:49 AM PDT by piusv
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To: Mogger

Why are you trying to change the subject by mentioning alleged abuse?

Are you aware that abuse among non-Catholic ministers and teachers is much higher than for priest.

I agree no child molestation is OK, but it’s not just one group of people doing it.

Look to the homosexuals who are usually pedophiles in disguise.


18 posted on 06/25/2014 9:30:36 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: piusv

Sometimes “random” becomes a whole lot less random.


19 posted on 06/25/2014 9:30:49 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Mogger

I doubt there were any Masons back in King Solomon’s day either. LOL!


20 posted on 06/25/2014 9:31:30 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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