Posted on 01/30/2005 7:07:08 PM PST by AncientAirs
Incompatible With Christian Religion, Says Historian
MADRID, Spain, JAN. 30, 2005 (Zenit.org).- To understand what is happening in Europe, the phenomenon of Masonry must be taken into account, says Protestant historian César Vidal.
The director of the program "La Linterna" of the Spanish bishops' COPE radio network, Vidal has just written a book, "Los Masones: La Historia de la Sociedad Secreta Más Poderosa" (The Freemasons: History of the Most Powerful Secret Society), published by Planeta.
Among other things, the book addresses the Masonic influence in the most important events of recent Spanish history, especially since the election last March of the Spanish Socialist Labor Party (PSOE).
Vidal says that "the secularist current promoted by the government headed by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero shares more than enough Masonry's rank anti-clericalism."
The author explains that the Freemasons have an enormous role in the European Union and, by way of example, says that "the project of the European Constitution has been driven by a Freemason," Valéry Giscard D'Estaing, "who has excluded mention of the continent's Christian roots and, in addition, has insisted on the inclusion of an article that subjects the churches of the different nations but frees 'philosophical organizations' from that obligation."
Vidal has doctorates in history, philosophy and theology, and a law degree.
Q: Which outstanding personalities in Spain were and are Masons, a fact known by very few people?
Vidal: The list would be too long and some, only some, are mentioned in my book "The Freemasons." Suffice it to say by way of illustration that the Grand Master of the great Spanish east is Dr. Josep Corominas, PSOE deputy; that the special five-member commission that established Felipe González as the PSOE's secretary-general has three Masons among its members -- one of them the future president of the Senate -- and that Rodríguez Zapatero's grandfather was a Freemason.
Q: Can it be said that Masonry is behind the secularist current that is being witnessed in Spain?
Vidal: What can be said without danger of exaggeration is that the secularist current promoted by the government that José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero heads shares, more than enough, Masonry's rank anti-clericalism.
Q: What role does it have and might have in the European Union?
Vidal: Enormous if one takes into account that the project of the European Constitution has been promoted by a Freemason who has excluded mention of the continent's Christian roots and, in addition, has insisted on the inclusion of an article that subjects the Churches to the different nations but frees "philosophical organizations" from that obligation.
Q: In what way, over the last century, has Masonry been present in the history of Spain?
Vidal: Repeatedly and lamentably. A very important role must be attributed to Masonry in the pro-independence movements of Cuba and the Philippines, in anti-clerical and secularist campaigns, in the erosion of the parliamentary monarchy of the Restoration, going so far as to take recourse to terrorism, in the proclamation of the Second Republic and, very especially, in the redaction of a Republican Constitution which created a social break that led to the Civil War.
Q: Can you tell us about concrete events that prove its struggle against Catholicism?
Vidal: That is the history of Masonry since the 18th century, but suffice it to recall, by way of example, that Rodolfo Llopis, Freemason and Socialist, became secretary-general of the PSOE [and] promoted the anti-Christian educational legislation of the Second Republic; or scandals such as that of the Banca Ambrosiana which were linked directly to the Masons' action.
Q: What were Masonry's origins?
Vidal: The real origins of Masonry date back to the end of the 17th and early 18th centuries, when groups of individuals attracted by occult gnosis founded meeting places in which, supposedly, it was transmitted.
Of course, they talk about origins that refer to pagan religions, to gnosis, to a nonexistent personality of Solomon's time and also to the druids.
Q: What are its most characteristic features, objectives and present structure? Is it a religion?
Vidal: Though Freemasons deny it, the truth is that the Masonic cosmo-vision is not one proper to a philanthropic society as they often say, but that of a religion. That circumstance explains, precisely, the repeated condemnations of the Holy See and of the other Christian confessions, which consider membership in Masonry incompatible with Christianity.
Masonry might be described as a secret society, with an initiative structure, a gnostic cosmo-vision, and an existential manifestation which makes it easy for its members to help one another when it comes to occupying important posts in society.
Q: What percentage of Freemasons are there at present?
Vidal: Without a doubt, very small. In France it is said that they are not more than 0.6% of the population. However, that has not prevented their controlling the Socialist International or their spreading in the Right itself, through personalities such as Giscard D'Estaing.
Q: In what vital points of our society -- especially in economic, political and intellectual circles and the media -- are Freemasons present?
Vidal: There are sectors that have always been of interest to Freemasons. Needless to say, politics where they control the Socialist International and have entered powerfully in parties of the Right. No less is their weight in the world of communications and, very especially, their interest in education, justice and the armed forces.
In France, for example, the "affaire des fiches" revealed to what extent Masonic officers were promoted and Catholics, on the contrary, blocked from promotion. ZE05013020
No,my mind isn't cemented shut...it's bursting with knowledge and historical facts.When you present some facts,instead of emotional clap trap,we'll discuss them.;^)
Perhaps you meant Nimrod?
Actually, they can be traced (as witches and gnostics) back to Tubal Cain, the first witch mentioned in the Bible. His name was their primary password for over 200 years. Read Pike's "Morals and Dogma" to understand Masonry; it'll turn your stomach, I guarantee it.
The light shone into the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not...
A long and often rambling tome.
The Masons can really only be traced back to the 17th century,even though thier own myths have them going back to the building of the Temple of Solomon.
Masons don't practice witchcraft any more than the Knights Templar worshiped the devil. And Pike isn't THE authority that you naysayers claim him to be.
What should turn everyone's stomach,is the continual spewings of libel and calumny by you and your ilk!
These nutters post vile,malicious lies and when countered with facts,go off into so rolling of the eyes,foaming at the mouth, weird religiosity. It would be a funny show,if it wasn't so blatantly malignant.
Don't grant them with having a good imagination,though,this is just regurgitation of garbage others have fed them.
Young man, obviously you are a very intolerant and rude person. I have probably forgotten more than you've ever known, and my experience in life no doubt far exceeds yours, so why don't you just calm down, stop casting aspersions on someone you don't even know. You'll never win anyone over the way you are going about it, and your reactions to my posts tell me far more about you than I want to know. Have a nice evening.
You used not only a pathetic anecdotal story as "evidence" and refutation,but a superstitious one,worthy of a primitive culture redolent of air strip/coke story.
Your grandfather died almost 90 years ago.The Spanish flu would probably have killed him,even had he not previously had a stroke.Yet you hang onto your family's mythography,as though it was proof positive of something other than their and your own ill educated musings.And you want "tolerance" for that,when you are maligning others,for no good reason? ROTFLOL
Here's some unsolicited advice,that will stand you in good stead...don't assume anything about posters you don't know here.You're certain to make terrible mistakes and look the fool,as you do now,by posting your pathetic assumptions.
Class dismissed...now run along and do try to stay out of trouble. :-)
>when I was a bitty girl :-)<
I should have known. A man's tongue is usually not as lethal as a "bitty girl's." LOL!!
Time was,newbies didn't post straight out of the box,but lurked a long time and learned who was who and what was what here.And we didn't take on the old timers either.LOL
I haven't been a "bitty girl" in a very long time and I'm only "lethal" to those who don't know what they're talking about.
Ya'll have 33-34 degrees to go through? Sheesh.. In the KofC we only have four (I'm 3rd degree--only haven't gone 4th yet b/c I have yet to find a tux I'd like to keep for it)..... I'd go insane after 9th or 10th (if I were a mason..)...
Try going from the fourth to the 32nd degree all in one weekend.
I tell you I am getting to start to wonder at times about FR and what it allows and doesn't allow. It all depends on the mod on duty as to what is allowed or not. All we can do is complain to the management.
If your grandfather really did receive the 33rd degree he got it only because of his hard work for the lodge. That degree is earned, not given.
He died probably heartbroken that his family was so ignorant.
Does this site have anything on snake handling?
Very nice. LOL!
Bottom line -- again, in my opinion -- it is really about power and money, not about religious belief.
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