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Same ol', same ol'.
Posted on 10/30/2009 9:01:19 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
A few years ago I was told that at the ceremony of induction of the vicar of one of the local Anglican churches, the Bible which was handed to him had embossed on its front cover the emblem of the Freemasons, the square and compasses. It subsequently came to light that nearly all the male members of his Parochial Church Council were "on the square", and his predecessor as vicar had been a Mason as well. This is not a "low", or Evangelical, church, but very firmly in the Anglo Catholic tradition, where a number of clergy and lay people over the years have talked of becoming Catholics.
Why is all this a problem? The reason is that the Catholic Church teaches that Freemasonry and Christianity are incompatible. The Holy See in 1983 reiterated the traditional position that Catholics who are Freemasons are in a state of grave sin and may not receive the sacraments - the Declaration on Masonic Associations was signed by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and makes it clear that local bishops cannot dispense from its provisions. There were two reasons for this document: first, the new Code of Canon Law, which came out at the same time, no longer mentioned Freemasonry by name in its list of organisations which Catholics are forbidden from joining; second, mistaken advice had been given in the late Seventies in Britain and America which suggested that Catholics could be Freemasons if local lodges were not anti-Catholic; the 1983 rescript corrected that advice. Consequently, Anglicans or others who are Freemasons wishing to become Catholics will have to discard their aprons: this may keep the numbers of potential converts down.
It is often claimed by Freemasons and others that the reasons for the Catholic Church's hostility to Freemasonry are to do with politics - the political hostility between the Church and what is known as "Grand Orient" Freemasonry in the rest of Europe and Latin America; English Freemasonry is completely different, it is claimed; unlike the "Grand Orient" it has retained belief in the "Supreme Being". But this is nonsense: the Church's original condemnations from the 18th century related to English Masonic lodges in Florence and elsewhere in Italy.
The reasons for our teaching, expounded in teaching from many popes since the 18th century, are theological. In the first place, Freemasonry is a naturalistic religion. Its rituals and constitutions present the member as a man who is able to advance towards enlightenment through his own efforts - a good parable of this is the depictions of the trials of Tamino in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. The Mason can earn his salvation through rites of initiation and the activities of the lodge (including charitable giving); it is thus, in a way, the perfect religion for the "self-made", middle-class professional man. It is totally at odds with the Christian vision, in which we need God's grace, through the death and resurrection of Our Lord, to grow in holiness.
Second, the prayers in its rituals specifically exclude reference to Our Lord. They are often prayers of Christian origin which have been vandalised.
In order to encompass adherents of other faiths the Saviour of the world is simply removed and set aside: he is not important. How can any Christian go along with this?
Third, the oaths required in the initiation rites require the new Mason to promise to keep secret the organisation's rituals, even though he does not at that point know what they are. These oaths are what Christian moral theologians call "vain" - they are not acceptable and cannot bind the person making them, even if they are done in the name of God. This is the problem with the oaths, not (as is sometimes claimed) the dire penalties which used to be referred to in the rituals.
These are the principal reasons why we teach that Freemasonry and Christianity are not compatible. In addition, we could cite the reactionary world view espoused in the rituals, supportive of the status quo and urging members to "keep to their station" in society. This, coupled with the make-up of lodges and the mechanisms of social control identified in exposés written in the Eighties reveal the movement as being somewhat at odds with the social teaching of the Catholic Church and our witness for justice and peace in the world. The "preferential option for the poor" would not find a place in the lodge. One could also point to the exclusion of women from lodge membership and the strain placed on many marriages by the commitments demanded of Freemasons: in spite of claiming to be a "system of morality" infidelity and adultery seem often to be viewed with some indulgence.
It is important that Catholics rest their challenge to Freemasonry on the clear theological arguments which I have advanced and that we are well-informed about the subject: sometimes criticisms of Freemasonry are inaccurate and frankly hysterical, and we should avoid conspiracy theories. It is also true that it is somewhat weaker than it was, partly as a result of the books written 20 years ago and pressure for Freemasons to reveal their membership, particularly in the police and the legal profession. Because of the decline, Freemasonry is very conscious of its public image and superficially less secretive than in the past.
Although it is weaker than in the past, Freemasonry still seems to have some influence in the Church of England. A study written by Caroline Windsor, Freemasonry and the Ministry (Concilium publications 2005), has shown that it is still quite strong in cathedrals (a big Masonic service was held in St Paul's Cathedral in 2002, with the Dean preaching) - and also that many parishes where Freemasons are active are weak in terms of Christian witness. If we are serious about ecumenical dialogue, the issue of Freemasonry has to be addressed; the same is true of interfaith relations, as Freemasons are sometimes involved in interfaith organisations - if they are there, we are talking about dialogue which is three-way, not two-way.
The overriding problem is that in spite of what Freemasons claim, their way of life is a religion, with all of religion's hallmarks. You can no more be a Freemason and a Christian than you can be a Muslim and a Christian. Catholics are committed to inter-faith dialogue and mutual respect, but this requires Freemasons to be honest about what they are. For Catholics, thinking about the reasons for the gulf between us can deepen our understanding of the Christian faith.
Look, I don’t want to get in a fight. I’m just laying out the facts.
And the fact is that the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (the current Pope) revalidated the Church’s position in 1981 and again in 1983 (after the current code of canon law was enacted).
So it is what it is. If you are a Catholic and are a Freemason, you are in a state of mortal sin. Period. It is an established Magesterial teaching. Not simply that one encyclical...but since 1738.
I’m not going to get in a rant about it. I just posted this information to make sure any Catholics (or those considering becoming that way) know what the Church’s position is.
I agree with you. As noted in my first post: rules are rules.
I would state the reasons for the rules, however, are historical accidents or simple bad information.
Good Christian people should work together to clear up these misunderstandings.
Which of course has absolutely nothing to do with God or Jesus.
Canon law....piffle.
This is ironic considering that Fundamentalist Protestants (many of whom are doubtless Masons) regard the Catholic Church and its doctrine as "Pelagian."
NB: This is merely an observation. I am not criticizing the Catholic position on Masonry.
” tend to believe that it is based upon the inherent Pelagianism in the group. Salvation through self-improvement with Jesus as an example rather than as our Lord, directly contradicts the Christian message of salvation through divine grace.”
Absolute nonsense. The fraternity has NO TEACHINGS or beliefs regarding salvation.
None.
Nada.
Zip.
That’s like saying the Marines or Boy Scouts are guilty of “Pelagianism” because they promise to make you a better man.
BTW, I saw a TV article where the Masonic temple in a large city opened their doors for a rare look at the rituals of Freemasonry.
On a table where a ceremony was taking place could be seen the Bible, the Koran, and the Bhagavad-Gita. These were said to be held as of equal value in giving laws and ethics unto mankind.
Would this be a correct observation?
“Would this be a correct observation?”
Not in my experience.
The only thing permitted in my Lodge (and in any lodge I’ve ever seen) is the Holy Bible, generally King James.
The Bible is called the “Great Light in Masonry” and presented to all masons -— and where masons are directed to set as a “rule and guide” to their lives.
It sounds like made-for-TV hooey.
What is the “Bhagavad-Gi” anyway?
In the movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" the doctor's daughter(the female lead part), a Greek girl living on the island of Kephalonia, was named Pelagia, pronounced Pela-hee-ia. Is there a connection with Pelagius, and is that pronunciation similar?
This encyclical is particularly out-of-date, in that the good-meaning pope based his conclusions about masons on the lies of Leo Taxil, who was a bitter anti-Catholic and intentionally misled the pope, “confessing” of his hoax a few years after the Enycical was published.
I believe you are mistaken here. It was the publication of Humanum Genus which inspired Leo Taxil to perpetrate his infamous hoax. It could therefore hardly be seen as a basis for any of the Pope's conclusions printed in that document.
Maybe so, but it was interaction between the two (I think maybe a letter that Taxil based his hoax on, or an earlier hoax of Taxil) that got it going.
I actually read about in a Roman Catholic magazine some years ago, and cut it out.
I’ll see if I can find it.
I respect your opinion, but I have to disagree.
As a life long catholic (and former alter boy) I take offense at the hypocrocy of the RCC.
1) I have traveled the world and have seen people laying hungry on the steps of a church full of gold statues. Why not use some wealth for the betterment of the people? I’m not talking about a meal, I’m taking real help. I seem to recall - “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he’ll eat every day”
2) Politicians who protect abortion should be forbidden to take communion. How come Ted “The Swimmer” Kennedy was given last rights? He wasn’t worried about all those innocent lives he helped snuff out by advocating abortion. What about Polosi? She was given an audience with the Pope. Don’t tell me politics has no influence on the Papacy.
3) Freemasons give a million dollars a day to charities. I have organized toy drives and other events. OK, I don’t do it through the church, but the needy get help. Maybe the chuch isn’t happy that they are not getting the cut?
4) The RCC sponsors hospitals and so do Masons. Most people do not know that the Shiners, as in Shiners Children’s Hopsitals, are Masons. If the RCC and the Free masons could look past their differences, we could help so many more people. Put the BS aside, lock arms, and get things done!
5) Don’t lecture me about “You need to be all in or all out”. Don’t tell me I have to swallow everything that Rome says. I live my life by being the best I can with a strong moral and ethical compass. If I followed as a robot, I would not be using the brains, reasoning, or compassion that God gave me at birth.
6) The priest that married my wife and I also baptized my two sons. Now he owns a gay bar in Deleware. Does this mean I’m not married or that my two sons were not baptized? I think not.
Like I said, I respect your opinion, but I disagree with the church. It doesn’t keep me from attending church or going to confession. I have NEVER done ANYTHING as a Freemason that needs confessing. I don’t have all the answers, but I can only call them as I see or have experienced them. My faith in God is strong and I thank him every day for my family and everything else - including the hard lessons.
PS - No man stands taller than when he is bending over to help a child.
PSS - If there is Mason Ping list, please add me.
FRiend, I am not stating an opinion. I am quoting an objective fact: the consistent teaching of the Church since 1738 (note: the objective part is that this is the teaching; it is for each of our individual judgments whether we assent to that teaching or not)
And the last document I cited above (post #17) says the following:
Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association 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 enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
That is substantively the same as was initially declared back in 1738 (approximately 21 years after speculative masonry began). If you are interested, you can read the pertinent quote from that Papal Bull in post #17, above.
You said, As a life long catholic (and former alter boy) I take offense at the hypocrocy of the RCC.
As I said in post #19, I really don't want to get into an argument about whether the AF&AM (or any Masonic body) is a "good," "bad," or "hypocritical" organization. So I really don't want to go there. I have known many, many people in my life who were members of the Craft -- most (but not hardly all) were fine, upstanding members of the community. And one would have a hard time not seeing the community projects (the one that comes most to my mind is the network of Shriner hospitals). And it is not to say that the leadership in the Church, particularly within the American Church, is spotless and without blame. You could take a look at any number of my posts within this forum to recognize that.
Having said that, being a faithful Catholic and being a practicing Freemason are mutually exclusive. That is not according to FReeper markomalley's opinion, that is according to the teachings of the Church, including the two small quotes I've given in this thread.
You go on to say, Don’t lecture me about “You need to be all in or all out”. Don’t tell me I have to swallow everything that Rome says…
I'm not lecturing you one way or the other. You inserted yourself in this conversation, not me. If you choose to stand in opposition to a teaching of the Church, that is between you and your God. As long as you don't cause a scandal, I don't personally want to get into your personal life one way or the other. But it does seem rather odd that you criticize the Church of hypocrisy for not denying communion to politicians who don't assent to the teachings of the Church while proudly proclaiming your own defiance.
You then say, It doesn’t keep me from attending church or going to confession. I have NEVER done ANYTHING as a Freemason that needs confessing.
I'm glad being a Freemason doesn't keep you from going to church. I would be surprised to find that any action you took would need confessing. But, again, since you spoke of anger toward pro-choice politicians not being immediately and unceremoniously booted from the Church, if these politicians honestly believe that they have voted for a pro-abortion piece of legislation, while maintaining the position of "I'm personally against abortion and would never do it, but I don't want to impose my religious belief on others" (the usual pro-"choice" cop-out), have they done something that requires them to go to confession?
You are, in essence, advocating the "supremacy of conscience" theory: if you don't believe it's wrong, then it's not wrong. And that is the same justification used by 100% of the pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians. Not telling you what to do here, FRiend, just pointing out that the line of thought you have expressed is identical to the one expressed by pro-choice Catholics.
Oh, and by the way, as for the gay former priest, you, as a former altar boy, I'm sure are familiar with the expression, ex opere operato (if not, you can Google it). So, as long as the sacraments were administered validly at the time, I wouldn't worry about it.
As far as a Masonic ping list, I think you should check with TheThirdRuffian or uglybiker. They could, I'm sure, get you hooked right up.
MASONIC
LIST
Send uglybiker a FReepmail if you would like on/off The Masonic PING List
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Same ol', same ol'.
Well said
No. I’ve only ever observed either a Bible or in one case a Talmud. The Gita definately not as that represents a polytheistic religion.
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Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Where’s Fred, Barney and the Grand Poobah?
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