a little dilemma...

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chuck001

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I am really enjoying RCIA and find myself reading many articles, testimonies, etc. about catholic living. However, I never really knew there was tension between the RCC and freemasonry. I’ve been a mason since 2010 and shriner since 2013. I haven’t been involved in it very much but I am contemplating continuing membership because I want my life centered on Christ via the RCC. Before anyone throws a hot iron at me, please understand that I have never encountered anything anti-catholic at all within the blue lodge and the shriners. At the same time, I am good friends with masons back in my hometown and feel a little guilty about leaving it. So, I’m a little torn right now as confirmation is getting closer.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced this.

Thanks
 
Most US Masonic Lodges probably are not overtly anti-Catholic but Freemasonry as an institution is very much at odds with Catholicism.
 
Most US Masonic Lodges probably are not overtly anti-Catholic but Freemasonry as an institution is very much at odds with Catholicism.
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This was probably true a few hundred years ago. I can think of dozens upon dozens of institutions and organizations that are far more threatening to the Church today than the modern version of the fraternity.

It is a bit puzzling why the list isn’t longer.

You could come up with a long list of organizations whose tenets and philosophical outlook are completely at odds with the Church. (You can start with the religious zealots that are chopping off Christian heads in the Middle East, for example.) These organizations are far more threatening than 80 year-old Shriners driving motorcycle scooters in my local hometown 4th of July parade.

I understand the Church’s position - historically. It just might want to update its list of arch-enemies to reflect modernity. Not a criticism of the Church - Just an observation.
 
chuck001 said:
I am really enjoying RCIA and find myself reading many articles, testimonies, etc. about catholic living. However, I never really knew there was tension between the RCC and freemasonry. I’ve been a mason since 2010 and shriner since 2013. I haven’t been involved in it very much but I am contemplating continuing membership because I want my life centered on Christ via the RCC. Before anyone throws a hot iron at me, please understand that I have never encountered anything anti-catholic at all within the blue lodge and the shriners. At the same time, I am good friends with masons back in my hometown and feel a little guilty about leaving it. So, I’m a little torn right now as confirmation is getting closer.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced this.

Thanks
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I am providing a link that might help with you decision.

freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/RomanCatholics.html

I have found Freemasons are not anti-catholic SMIB.
 
StGerardMajella said:
This was probably true a few hundred years ago. I can think of dozens upon dozens of institutions and organizations that are far more threatening to the Church today than the modern version of the fraternity.

It is a bit puzzling why the list isn’t longer.

You could come up with a long list of organizations whose tenets and philosophical outlook are completely at odds with the Church. (You can start with the religious zealots that are chopping off Christian heads in the Middle East, for example.) These organizations are far more threatening than 80 year-old Shriners driving motorcycle scooters in my local hometown 4th of July parade.

I understand the Church’s position - historically. It just might want to update its list of arch-enemies to reflect modernity. Not a criticism of the Church - Just an observation.
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I agree.
 
Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska put out a list of prohibited organizations in 1996:
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ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/BRUSKWTZ.HTM
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Well, many of the organizations listed on this list are already Masonic organizations. For example, Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, De Molay, and Job’s Daughters are all masonic organizations.

SSPX is a bit unusual, considering they were one iota from coming into full communion with the Church under Pope Benedict. They are, however, unrelated to Masonry.

It wouldn’t be prudent for me to list all of the organizations that have philosophical tenets that are diametrically opposed to the Church. For starters, there are far too many. My personal opinion is that the Church needs to upgrade its list of organizations to which it opposes.

Take most fraternal organizations - Moose, Elks, Kiwanis, even Rotary. All of these are secular organizations that do not have compatibility with the Church. Why doesn’t the Church condemn secular fraternities?

How about Greek college campus fraternities that encourage the destruction of our youth, in the form of alcoholism and other forms of depravity?

It’s kind of ironic to be condemning Masonry when there are far, far worse enemies of the Church right now, especially with what is happening to Christians in the Middle East. Masonry isn’t even on the radar, and certainly not in the West. Historically perhaps, but not in the current environment. Secularism and modernism are far, far worse.
 
chuck001 said:
I am really enjoying RCIA and find myself reading many articles, testimonies, etc. about catholic living. However, I never really knew there was tension between the RCC and freemasonry. I’ve been a mason since 2010 and shriner since 2013. I haven’t been involved in it very much but I am contemplating continuing membership because I want my life centered on Christ via the RCC. Before anyone throws a hot iron at me, please understand that I have never encountered anything anti-catholic at all within the blue lodge and the shriners. At the same time, I am good friends with masons back in my hometown and feel a little guilty about leaving it. So, I’m a little torn right now as confirmation is getting closer.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced this.

Thanks
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One of the conditions of making a “good Confession” 1 Jn 1:6-7; 1 Jn. 5: 16-17 & John 20:19-23] is to commit to what the Church explains as the near occasion of sin."

It’s a matter of Prudence and fidelity.

Different chapters of Masons perhaps stress different points; BUT a core belief is that they themselves are responsible ONLY to themselves and other Mason’s. That my friend is idolatry. It is also denial of God’s Sovereign right to BE God.

My long past grandpa used to say
“IF YOU LOOK FOR TROUBLE YOU’RE FAR MORE LIKELY TO FIND IT”…

Along the line of when “you play with fire you WILL get burned.”.

Very much study has gone into the Churches position. Might I suggest that you log on to
newadvent.org

**CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Masonry (Freemasonry) **

And read just why the RCC holds to what She Teaches on the matter. Then if you have further questions, PLEASE let Me know and we can discuss it.

God Bless you, PRAY much!

Patrick
PJM
 
BUT a core belief is that they themselves are responsible ONLY to themselves and other Mason’s. That my friend is idolatry. It is also denial of God’s Sovereign right to BE God.
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This isn’t entirely accurate. Each Mason has to profess a belief in God, or they are not permitted to join the fraternity.

While there are admonitions in their degree work to take care of their fellow fraternal brothers, they are also admonished to care for widows, orphans, etc. They are admonished to be upright citizens and obey the laws of the government. This is no different than church members taking care of their church community.

This is not a defense of Masonry, but we should be accurate and transparent in our discussions concerning the fraternity. The Founding Fathers - many of whom were Protestant Freemasons - were hardly idolaters.

As Catholics, we need to be very careful about making blanket generalizations against whole groups of people, whether we disagree with them or not. Accusing others of “idolatry” isn’t exactly conducive to the cause of the Church.

Masons don’t worship statues, and they don’t worship each other either. To suggest otherwise would be a gross misinterpretation of the tenets and philosophy the fraternity espouses, or engaging in “conspiracy theories” about an organization whose tenets are - especially in the advent of the electronic age - well-known and easily researched.

In answer to the original post, Catholics are still forbidden to be Masons on penalty of ex-communication from the Church.

If you have an interest in maintaining membership in a fraternal organization, while still being a Catholic in good standing, the Knights of Columbus (“K of C”) is the equivalent fraternal organization for Catholics.
 
StGerardMajella said:
This isn’t entirely accurate. Each Mason has to profess a belief in God, or they are not permitted to join the fraternity.

While there are admonitions in their degree work to take care of their fellow fraternal brothers, they are also admonished to care for widows, orphans, etc. They are admonished to be upright citizens and obey the laws of the government. This is no different than church members taking care of their church community.

As Catholics, we need to be very careful about making blanket generalizations against whole groups of people, whether we disagree with them or not. Accusing others of “idolatry” isn’t exactly conducive to the cause of the Church.

Masons don’t worship statues, and they don’t worship each other either. To suggest otherwise would be a gross misinterpretation of the tenets and philosophy the fraternity espouses, or engaging in “conspiracy theories” about an organization whose tenets are - especially in the advent of the electronic age - well-known and easily researched.

In answer to the original post, Catholics are still forbidden to be Masons on penalty of ex-communication from the Church.

If you have an interest in maintaining membership in a fraternal organization, while still being a Catholic in good standing, the Knights of Columbus (“K of C”) is the equivalent fraternal organization for Catholics.
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One is uninformed in claiming that the Masons and the K of C “ARE EQUIVALENT”

FROM EWTN:
ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/BACAFM.htm

Cardinal Ratzinger’s Declaration [Later Pope Benedict XVI]

Following the promulgation of the new Code, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a new declaration: (1) the new Canon 1374 has the same essential import as the old Canon 2335, and the fact that the “Masonic sect” is no longer explicitly named is irrelevant; (2) the Church’s negative judgment on Masonry remains unchanged, because the Masonic principles are irreconcilable with the Church’s teaching (“earum principia semper iconciliabilia habita sunt cum Ecclesiae doctrina”);** (3) Catholics who join the Masons are in the state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion and (4) no local ecclesiastical authority has competence to derogate from these judgments of the Sacred Congregation.** 3

With these official statements of the Universal Church now on record,4 it should be clear that the lamentable confusion of so many Catholics regarding Freemasonry must be seen as only a temporary aberration—to be written off as one most costly consequence of a mindless “spirit of Vatican II.” But we may hope that, as in other issues that have plagued the Church in the last score of years, there is a providence in this, a veritable blessing in disguise. For now, more clearly than ever before, we should see just why the Catholic Church has been—and will always be—so opposed to Masonry.

Beginning in 1738 with Clement XII’s encyclical (just twenty-one years after the establishment of the Grand Lodge of England, the event usually recognized as the commencement of the modern Masonic movement) and running through ten successive pontificates, the Church’s case against Freemasonry finds its culminating statement in 1884 in Leo XIII’s encyclical Masonic deceitfulness regarding its real objectives in society—and its consequent policy of secrecy regarding the authorities of Church and State, and including even the rank-and-file of its own membership—has always been noted by the popes, and most tellingly by Leo XIII.5 And in the century since then and in our own country this conspiratorial policy has been amply documented.6

Continued Blessings,

PJM
 
One is uninformed in claiming that the Masons and the K of C “ARE EQUIVALENT”
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You are misinterpreting my statements, and making a false assumption.

If you are a Protestant, you may very well become a Mason, usually through family or professional ties.

It is not uncommon for Masonic membership to carry from generation to generation, usually among the men among the family, but sometimes also the women.

Catholics, however, are not permitted to join Freemasonry upon threat of ex-communication from the Church.

Key point: As a result, the Church instituted the Knights of Columbus (“K of C”) as an alternative fraternal order for male Catholics who might otherwise show an interest in joining Masonry.

Many men are attracted to fraternal orders for the camaraderie, fellowship, and goodwill among members. The Church filled that need in the form of the Knights of Columbus.

The level of equivalency to which I referred had to do with the fact that both organizations are fraternal orders to which men may belong, and nothing more. I made no such value judgment as to the nature of each organization.

It’s best not to jump to rash judgments and make false accusations. In the future, it would be best to ask for clarification if you fail to understand a response.
 
StGerardMajella said:
You are misinterpreting my statements, and making a false assumption.

If you are a Protestant, you may very well become a Mason, usually through family or professional ties.

It is not uncommon for Masonic membership to carry from generation to generation, usually among the men among the family, but sometimes also the women.

Catholics, however, are not permitted to join Freemasonry upon threat of ex-communication from the Church.

Key point: As a result, the Church instituted the Knights of Columbus (“K of C”) as an alternative fraternal order for male Catholics who might otherwise show an interest in joining Masonry.

Many men are attracted to fraternal orders for the camaraderie, fellowship, and goodwill among members. The Church filled that need in the form of the Knights of Columbus.

The level of equivalency to which I referred had to do with the fact that both organizations are fraternal orders to which men may belong, and nothing more. I made no such value judgment as to the nature of each organization.

It’s best not to jump to rash judgments and make false accusations. In the future, it would be best to ask for clarification if you fail to understand a response.
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I’m SORRY:blush:

Here is your quote:
If you have an interest in maintaining membership in a fraternal organization, while still being a Catholic in good standing, the Knights of Columbus (“K of C”) is the equivalent fraternal organization for Catholics.
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What my friend did I miss?
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God Bless you,
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Patrick
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Here is your quote:
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If you have an interest in maintaining membership in a fraternal organization, while still being a Catholic in good standing, the Knights of Columbus (“K of C”) is the equivalent fraternal organization for Catholics.
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If a Catholic man is interested in joining a fraternal order for the fellowship, social ties, and camaraderie, instead of joining the Masons and face ex-communication from the Church, he should look to join the Knights of Columbus instead.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal order just like the Masons are a fraternal order. Nothing more.
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