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.
Nah, the lies told about the Holy Catholic Church are legion. I just posted the TRUTH about American Freemasonry, you are invited to review Albert Pike’s book and comment using FACTS instead of polemics.
I see you have been reading your Alinsky.
Alinsky was a Mason, no?
Get a life!!
Go peddle your Revolutionary Theology elsewhere.
Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.
Thanks, I do. That IS the point of following Our Lord, no?
You seem to think Pike was the Holy Roman Emperor of Freemasonry and he was not. I’ve got a whole bookshelf of Biblical commentaries by Matthew Henry. Some of it I agree with, some of it I don’t. Henry makes some interesting points but it isn’t inspired, it isn’t scripture - it’s commentary. Same goes with Pike
Whatever facts you think you’ve worked out there by reading Pike are entirely subjective.
Ancient craft freemasonry is largely unchanged since way before Pike ever dotted an i or crossed a t.
Hey, your brother Apron Wearers felt strongly enough to give this book out to EVERY new candidate for over 100 years. Why do you not acknowledge that fact?
Why should I? It’s immaterial.
It’s a commentary - nothing more. Morals and Dogma is not an officially sanctioned text for freemasonry. I did not receive the book but I understand it was usually given out after the so-called 14th degree of Scottish Rite, which I’m not a member of.
That’s an appendent body - it is not blue lodge masonry. Morals and Dogma is simply extra-curricular.
I wouldn't dare work another KofC BBQ w/o one!!! ;o)
Katlics UnTie ! The Templars are back!
Why is a belief in a supreme being required?
How is a fact a mockery? Are not aprons and honored party of robing a Mason?
It’s immaterial.Not according to over 100 years of Masonic history in the United States. Why do you have trouble acknowledging what Masonry teaches? Here is an excerpt, does it fit with what you would want brother Mason's to believe?
From Chapter One:
Masonry has its decalogue, which is a law to its Initiates. These are its Ten Commandments: I. God is the Eternal, Omnipotent, Immutable WISDOM and Supreme INTELLIGENCE and Exhaustless Love. Thou shalt adore, revere, and love Him ! Thou shalt honour Him by practising the virtues! II. Thy religion shall be, to do good because it is a pleasure to thee, and not merely because it is a duty. That thou mayest become the friend of the wise man, thou shalt obey his precepts ! Thy soul is immortal ! Thou shalt do nothing to degrade it ! III. Thou shalt unceasingly war against vice! Thou shalt not do unto others that which thou wouldst not wish them to do unto thee ! Thou shalt be submissive to thy fortunes, and keep burning the light of wisdom ! IV. Thou shalt honour thy parents ! Thou shalt pay respect and homage to the aged! Thou shalt instruct the young! Thou shalt protect and defend infancy and innocence ! V. Thou shalt cherish thy wife and thy children! Thou shalt love thy country, and obey its laws! VI. Thy friend shall be to thee a second self ! Misfortune shall not estrange thee from him ! Thou shalt do for his memory whatever thou wouldst do for him, if he were living! VII. Thou shalt avoid and flee from insincere friendships ! Thou shalt in everything refrain from excess. Thou shalt fear to be the cause of a stain on thy memory! VIII. Thou shalt allow no passions to become thy master ! Thou shalt make the passions of others profitable lessons to thyself! Thou shalt be indulgent to error ! IX. Thou shalt hear much: Thou shalt speak little: Thou shalt act well ! Thou shalt forget injuries! Thou shalt render good for evil ! Thou shalt not misuse either thy strength or thy superiority ! X. Thou shalt study to know men; that thereby thou mayest learn to know thyself ! Thou shalt ever seek after virtue ! Thou shalt be just! Thou shalt avoid idleness !
Which of these require you to believe in a supreme being?
What is the "Celestial Lodge Above"?
I reject your assertion that this was handed out to every freemason for over 100 years. Total hogwash.
You’re clearly not understanding the structure of freemasonry or the various Grand Lodges.
Just because this book is handed out in the Scottish Rite in some areas of the country does not mean anything to masonry as a whole. And any real student of history knows the axiom, never say never and never say always.
Scottish Rite is an appendent body of masonry - meaning extra-curricular. What they do in that group, I don’t know. They aren’t bigger or better masons because of it. Their additional degrees don’t make them higher among masons.
How about if I start quoting some of the Gnostic Gospels? Are you prepared as a good Catholic to support whatever assertions were made in the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Truth just because the authors may have asserted they were inspired?
I reject Pike’s commentaries as anything more than just commentary - as do all the freemasons that I personally know.
What in what I have posted as excerpts do you deny as representative of the Masonic belief system?
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.