Freemasonry's Influence in Europe

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."

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.

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.

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.

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

You impugn good men who honor God.

Every Shrine meeting I have been to, including initiation, has had prayer made in the name of Jesus Christ.

Muslims hate Freemasonry (as do all who defend tyranny whether in religion or the state). In fact, Islamists bombed a Masonic Lodge in Turkey not too long ago. Muslims hate the Shriners and believe it is a mockery of their religion.

Orthodox Christians - Protestant and Catholic, mainline and fundamentalist, etc. have had adherents who have been and are now Masons.

I am sorry you chose to buy into the conspiracy theories and poor theology of anti-Masons, but you must follow the dictates of your own conscience. By your own admission you were in a spiritually confused condition when you joined the Lodge and were 'running from God.' How could you have made solemn vows before and confessed faith and belief in God when by your own admission you were fleeing His presence? From your own testimony, it does sound like you were in a conflicted and confused spiritual condition which no doubt contributed to your later dramatic decisions.

Friend, I speak from my own experience as you do from yours - I have read widely in Masonic as well as anti-Masonic literature. I am a Freemason. I am a Shriner.I understand what orthodox Christian theology is and is not. I reject Islam as a false religion and Mohammed as a false prophet. I would not take an oath that bound me to anything Islamic, nor participate in activities that promote Islam. Again - Islamists hate Freemasonry and they hate the Shrine. Doesn't that tell you something? There is NOTHING in Freemasonry or the Shrine that conflicts with the Christian confession. To care for widows and orphans and those in distress is the very definition of real and acceptable religion before God. Freemasonry supports all that the Church teaches are the duties of the confessing disciple of Jesus Christ.

From the website http://www.masonicinfo.com --

Some religious intolerants, in attempting to show even more 'evils of Freemasonry', point to the red fez worn by North American Masons who are members of the Shrine. Because of their choice of headgear, Shriners are supposedly 'worshipping Satan'.

Where does this charge originate? Anti-Masons have fabricated a story that in the 8th century, Muslim hoards overran the city of Fez in Morocco and butchered 50,000 Christians - and that the streets ran red with blood. The claim further states that the murderers dipped their caps in the blood to honor Allah and that the blood-stained caps were called 'fezzes' and became idols dedicated to Satan.

The facts, however, are far different - and come from four different perspectives:

The Shrine was founded in 1872 in New York City. It arose from a luncheon group which included a physician and an actor and from which a huge, philanthropic group grew. The history of the Shrine became somewhat clouded in its early years as some attempted to ascribe actual connections of the organization to places such as Mecca and elsewhere in the Middle East while others recognized it much as it was: an organization founded for the purpose of 'having fun' which adopted fanciful theatrics from a little-known part of the world. (1) With a name such as "Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" as well as some past controversy about origin and a history of 'fun' which in some cases perhaps bordered on rowdiness, the Shrine is in a unique position for charges which would present it in an evil light.

Historically, there is no basis in fact for the charge. The city of Fez was founded by an invader, Sultan Idris I. Idris, who won a war against resident pagans at the very end of the eighth century. All of the conquered were converted to Islam and if there were any Christians, history does not record this. The cap itself wasn't begun until after the second sultan, Idris II, expanded the town to the other side of the river as he attempted to encourage local craft industries. It is important to remember that the dyes of that time were not particularly bright colors but the Moroccans had several good dyes whose formulas were secret. One of these was a bright red and was used in the manufacture of that brilliant red cap which was named after the city of its manufacture, Fez.

Blood, particularly in the hot Middle East, dries particularly fast. The concept of 'running blood' almost defies imagination. Further, any material (particularly the felt type of material used in the fez) when dripped in blood would turn a deep, dark color of red bordering on the brown. With the prevalence of flies and other insects, does it make sense that anyone would dip a piece of headgear so essential to protect oneself from the elements into a fluid which would subject them to all sorts of pestilence - and ruin a piece of clothing vitally necessary? The simple facts obviate the foolishness of this story.

The jealousy surrounding the wonderful Shriners' charities lead some to revel in the opportunity to present those who perform such good works in an evil light. Rather than build something up, they attempt to make themselves look large by diminishing others.

Many love to repeat again and again this horrid claim. We've yet to see any of them produce proof of their charge. The claims about the fez are simply more lies in the arsenal of the anti-Mason.

Shrine-Masons wear their fez proudly knowing that it represents a century of good works and fun.""

Masonic Information
http://www.masonicinfo.com
Anti-Masonry
http://www.msana.com/micanti.htm
Anti-Masonry Refuted
http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/index.htm

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.