Posted on 07/05/2005 9:01:32 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
I saw the movie
I'm a freemason, and roman catholic (good standing in one and not-so-good on the other).
My neighbor asked our pastor if I can be both, a freemason and catholic, he replied affirmatevely as long there is nothing that would contradict church doctrine. There is nothing in Freemasonry that would be against any religion.
What is the Catholic Church's official position on Freemasonry? Are Catholics free to become Freemasons?
Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic faith. Freemasonry teaches a naturalistic religion that espouses indifferentism, the position that a person can be equally pleasing to God while remaining in any religion.
Masonry is a parallel religion to Christianity. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states, "Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival to the religion of the Gospel. It includes temples and altars, prayers, a moral code, worship, vestments, feast days, the promise of reward and punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiative and burial rites" (vol. 6, p. 137).
Masonry is also a secret society. Its initiates subscribe to secret blood oaths that are contrary to Christian morals. The prospective Mason swears that if he ever reveals the secrets of Masonry--secrets which are trivial and already well-known--he wills to be subject to self-mutilation or to gruesome execution. (Most Masons, admittedly, never would dream of carrying out these punishments on themselves or on an errant member).
Historically, one of Masonry's primary objectives has been the destruction of the Catholic Church; this is especially true of Freemasonry as it has existed in certain European countries. In the United States, Freemasonry is often little more than a social club, but it still espouses a naturalistic religion that contradicts orthodox Christianity. (Those interested in joining a men's club should consider the Knights of Columbus instead.)
The Church has imposed the penalty of excommunication on Catholics who become Freemasons. The penalty of excommunication for joining the Masonic Lodge was explicit in the 1917 code of canon law (canon 2335), and it is implicit in the 1983 code (canon 1374).
Because the revised code of canon law is not explicit on this point, some drew the mistaken conclusion that the Church's prohibition of Freemasonry had been dropped. As a result of this confusion, shortly before the 1983 code was promulgated, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement indicating that the penalty was still in force. This statement was dated November 26, 1983 and may be found in Origins 13/27 (Nov. 15, 1983), 450.
http://www.newadvent.org/library/almanac_thisrock93.htm
I am also worthy and well qualified.
That's pure B.S. Go take a dump somewhere else.
"That is a bold-face slander."
Actually, you're correct. The candle representing Jesus is not snuffed out in the 33rd degree ceremony, but in the Maundy Thursday ceremony of the Scottish rite--
(As described by one participant)"On Thursday evening we gathered at our home Temple and dressed for the ceremony. . .
Dressed in long, black, hooded robes, we marched in, single file, with only our faces partly showing, and took our seats. . .
As I had done so many times before, I said, "We meet this day to commemorate the death of our 'Most Wise and Perfect Master,' not as inspired or divine, for this is not for us to decide, but as at least the greatest of the apostles of mankind." . . .
Once we were assembled at the table, I elevated (lifted high) the plate of bread, took a piece, put my hand on the shoulder of the man in front of me, gave him the plate and said, "Take, eat, and give to the hungry." . . . (i.e., not exactly the words of Jesus about the meaning of the bread. . . .)
There was a large Menorah (candlestick with seven candle holders) in the center of the room, with seven candles now burning.
Standing again, I said, "This is indeed a sad day, for we have lost our Master. We may never see him again. He is dead! Mourn, weep and cry, for he is gone."
Then I asked the officers to extinguish the candles in the large Menorah. One by one they rose, walked to the center of the room, extinguished a selected candle and left the room.
Finally, with only the center candle still burning, I arose, walked sadly to the Menorah and extinguished the last candle - the candle representing the life of Jesus, our "Most Wise and Perfect Master."
That's amazing! But I guess it shouldn't be.
In the movie version of The Man Who Would be King by Kipling two men were traveling on a train in India. One of the men stole a watch that had a Masonic inscription and then had to figure out how to do a reverse pickpocket move before the man realized it was gone. I think Masons are all around the globe - maybe not Iraq or Iran.
Garbage! I'm a 32nd degree Mason, and what you say is nonsense. My uncle was a Methodist bishop and was a 33rd degree.
I highly recommend "How The Scots Invented The Modern World (And Everything In It)" by Arthur Herman.
Albert Pike's instructions, ‘Instructions’ issued by him, on July 14, 1889, to the 23 Supreme Councils of the world (recorded in A. C. DeLaRive in La Femme et l'Enfante dan la Franc-Macconerie Univeselle page 588)
‘That which we must say to the crowd is — We worship a God, but it is the God that one adores without superstition. To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st, and 30th degrees . . .
"Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also God. For the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the absolute can only exist as two Gods: darkness being necessary to light to serve as its foil as the pedestal is necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive.
"In analogical and universal dynamics one can only lean on that which will resist. Thus the universe is balanced by two forces which maintain its equilibrium: the force of attraction and that of repulsion.
"These two forces exit in physics, philosophy and religion. And the scientific reality of the divine dualism is demonstrated by the phenomena of polarity and by the universal law of sympathies and antipathies.
"That is why the intelligent disciples of Zoroaster, as well as, after them, the Gnostics, the Manicheans and the Templars have admitted, as the only logical metaphysical conception, the system of the two divine principles fighting eternally, and one cannot believe the one inferior in power to the other.
"Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and pure philosophic religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay. . ."
“I do not see how any Christian, most of all a Christian minister, can go into these secret lodges with unbelievers. Do not do evil that good may come. You can never reform anything by unequally yoking yourself with ungodly men.” (Dwight L. Moody)
I don't have time to read it all right now.
What's the conclusion? Will someone be excommunicated for becoming a Mason?
Masons make the man better. And its a great place for business connections/networking.
33rd degree initiation (as described by a participant)
"The first day was devoted to registration, briefings and interviews. We were called into one of the offices, one at a time, and interviewed by three members of the Supreme Council.
"When my turn came I was ushered into the office and seated. The very first question I was asked was, "Of what religion are you?" Not long before this I would have answered with something like, "I believe the Ancient Mysteries, the 'Old Religion,' and I believe in reincarnation." However, without thinking at all about how to answer, I found myself saying, "I am a Christian."
Then, to my sup rise and theirs, I asked them, "Are you men born again?" The man in charge quickly stopped me by saying, "We're not here to talk about that - we are here to ask you questions."
"After they sent me back out I sat down and thought about it. When the next man came out, I asked him, "Did they ask you if you are a Christian?" He said, "Yes, they did."
"What did you tell them?" I asked, and he replied, "I told them 'Hell no, and I never intend to be!'"
"Then he said a strange thing to me, "They said I'm going higher," and he left through a different door, looking pleased.
"(The second day) the representative candidate was dressed in black trousers, barefooted, bareheaded and draped in a long, black robe . . . During the initiation he was led around the stage, conducted by two men with swords, as the degree was performed for us.
"Instructions and signs were given. Upon the altar were four "holy books" (the Bible, the Koran, the Book of the Law and the Hindu Scriptures). At one point the "candidate" was told to kiss the book "of your religion" and, representing us all, he leaned forward and did so. . .
"One of the Conductors then handed the "candidate" a human skull, upside down, with wine in it. "May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me, as the Hemlock juice drunk by Socrates, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate the same" (the oath). . .
The Sovereign Grand Commander closed the meeting of the Supreme Council "with the Mystic Number," striking with his sword five, three, one and then two times. After the closing prayer, we all said "amen, amen, amen," and it was over.
post#43
I thought that was Hiram Abiff.
bump
The key to becoming a Mason is really tricky.......you have to ask to join. In the past it was considered strictly forbidden for a Mason to ask another to join, as it was supposed to be of his own free will and accord. Many Masons took that to mean that they could not discuss membership at all.
This is no longer the case and most Masons will be glad to discuss Masonery and it's benefits and obligations to anyone who asks.
The other requirement is that you profess a belief in a higher being. (In my case, God.) You are not required nor encouraged to discuss your particular beliefs beyond this however.
Hope this helps, and I would encourage you to talk more to your grandfather.....you may find some pretty amazing things!
Secret Societies rule dude!
Not sure if you would be excommunicated for becoming a Mason, as our current Master of the Lodge, has a similar position in the local K of C.
I believe there is a Papal Edict ordering the murder of all Masons, fortunately for us, the local Catholics have not been to good about carrying out this Edict.
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.