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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: SpirituTuo
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

26 posted on 06/25/2014 10:48:12 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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