C
Cloudald
Guest
To who it may concern,
I believe myself to be a practical Catholic. I do my best to adhere to the church’s precepts and of course to our Lord’s commandments.
Recently while researching and subsequently writing a paper on Southern architecture, I came to find that Masonic Halls were typically the only buildings spared the torch during Sherman’s march. Of course I wanted to know the reasons why, to better explain the significance of the architecture of the period, etcetera.
Caveat: I am not and have never been a Free Mason. I am completely aware of the 1983 proclamation of the continued incompatibility of Free Masonry with the Church.
My concern became that I am a member of AA.
Free Masonry is apparently still banned because it MAY (I believe it likely actively does)encourage deism according to Cannon Law examiner Rev. Thomas C. Anslow.
I found an explanation of cannon law helping to explain the reason why due to a fear that I may be “practicing” deism by being with AA.
It is as follows: [Note: For the last 18 months prominent online California “E-Mason’s” have been posting copies of an ambivalently written letter by a Californian Roman Catholic Judicial Vicar on the Church’s current position in regard to Masonic membership and Roman Catholics.]
RETRACTION OF LETTER
On 15 September 2000 I wrote a letter in which I gave my opinion in answer to the question you had asked, “whether a practicing Catholic may join a Masonic lodge.” As you know, I gave a qualified affirmative reply “at least for Catholics in the United States, I believe the answer is probably yes.” My qualification was based on two points, uncertainty about the beliefs and teachings of Freemasonry, especially as this may vary locally, and uncertainty about the interpretation and application of the statement issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 26 November 1983. I concluded that the historical development of the Church’s law was away from a blanket prohibition to a case-by-case assessment of what constitutes an association forbidden to Catholics.
As a result of my letter having been posted on several Masonic websites and of various inquiries this generated, it has come to my attention that my analysis was faulty, and accordingly I need to retract my opinion. I realize this will create much consternation, and I apologize for that. Please let me explain.
In early 1985 the Congregation mentioned above published an explanation of its position as given in the November 1983 statement. The explanation can be found in the English edition of the Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano (11 March 1985, page 2) under the title “Irreconcilability between Christian faith and Freemasonry. Reflections a year after declaration of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.”
The key point in the argument is that the system of symbols common to Freemasons around the world (centering on the Architect of the Universe and given added weight by the rule of secrecy) tends to foster a “supraconfessional humanitarian” way of conceiving the divine that neutralizes or replaces the faith dimension of our relationship with God. Even though given lodges may abstain from endorsing any particular position, including one that considers religious faith to be a matter of indifference (i.e., nothing more than a matter of personal preference), the contemporary world’s social atmosphere of moral and religious relativism creates a climate in which a merely humanitarian symbol system works to undermine the religious faith by which we receive God’s revelation.
It was for this reason that the Congregation declared that local church authorities are not competent to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations, and has reserved to itself the right to make any such pronouncements. Because of the serious danger posed to individual Catholics by the subtle but real influence of symbols described above, the Congregation declared that it would be objectively a grave sin for a Catholic to join a Masonic lodge. The prohibition from receiving Holy Communion is meant to highlight the gravity of the situation.
That being held true- “Even though given lodges may abstain from endorsing any particular position, including one that considers religious faith to be a matter of indifference (i.e., nothing more than a matter of personal preference), the contemporary world’s social atmosphere of moral and religious relativism creates a climate in which a merely humanitarian symbol system works to undermine the religious faith by which we receive God’s revelation.”
HOW THEN- can I continue in good conscious within a group that is considered by many states within the Union AS A Religion. ALCHOHOLICS ANYOMOUS IS CONSIDERED A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION BY MANY STATES FOR TAX PURPOSES.
Furthermore- more often than not-
Clergymen of practically every denomination have given A.A. their blessing.
Edward Dowling, S.J.,* of the Queen’s Work staff, says, “Alcoholics Anonymous is natural; it is natural at the point where nature comes closest to the supernatural, namely in humiliations and in consequent humility. There is something spiritual about an art museum or a symphony, and the Catholic Church approves of our use of them. There is something spiritual about A.A. too, and Catholic participation in it almost invariably results in poor Catholics becoming better Catholics.”
I KNOW AA TO ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE ITS MEMBERS TO PRAY TO A GOD OF THIER UNDERSTANDING. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE (and often to help the newly sober member accept the tenants of AA) CHRISTIAN I.E. THE HOLY TRINITY.
AA HAS ITS OWN RELIGOUS TEXT “THE BIG BOOK.” AA ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES DIESM AND MORAL RELATIVITY BUT IS PRAISED BY THE CHURCH.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF CANNON LAW SAYS I MUST QUIT AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SAVED MY LIFE.
What should I do?
I believe myself to be a practical Catholic. I do my best to adhere to the church’s precepts and of course to our Lord’s commandments.
Recently while researching and subsequently writing a paper on Southern architecture, I came to find that Masonic Halls were typically the only buildings spared the torch during Sherman’s march. Of course I wanted to know the reasons why, to better explain the significance of the architecture of the period, etcetera.
Caveat: I am not and have never been a Free Mason. I am completely aware of the 1983 proclamation of the continued incompatibility of Free Masonry with the Church.
My concern became that I am a member of AA.
Free Masonry is apparently still banned because it MAY (I believe it likely actively does)encourage deism according to Cannon Law examiner Rev. Thomas C. Anslow.
I found an explanation of cannon law helping to explain the reason why due to a fear that I may be “practicing” deism by being with AA.
It is as follows: [Note: For the last 18 months prominent online California “E-Mason’s” have been posting copies of an ambivalently written letter by a Californian Roman Catholic Judicial Vicar on the Church’s current position in regard to Masonic membership and Roman Catholics.]
RETRACTION OF LETTER
On 15 September 2000 I wrote a letter in which I gave my opinion in answer to the question you had asked, “whether a practicing Catholic may join a Masonic lodge.” As you know, I gave a qualified affirmative reply “at least for Catholics in the United States, I believe the answer is probably yes.” My qualification was based on two points, uncertainty about the beliefs and teachings of Freemasonry, especially as this may vary locally, and uncertainty about the interpretation and application of the statement issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 26 November 1983. I concluded that the historical development of the Church’s law was away from a blanket prohibition to a case-by-case assessment of what constitutes an association forbidden to Catholics.
As a result of my letter having been posted on several Masonic websites and of various inquiries this generated, it has come to my attention that my analysis was faulty, and accordingly I need to retract my opinion. I realize this will create much consternation, and I apologize for that. Please let me explain.
In early 1985 the Congregation mentioned above published an explanation of its position as given in the November 1983 statement. The explanation can be found in the English edition of the Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano (11 March 1985, page 2) under the title “Irreconcilability between Christian faith and Freemasonry. Reflections a year after declaration of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.”
The key point in the argument is that the system of symbols common to Freemasons around the world (centering on the Architect of the Universe and given added weight by the rule of secrecy) tends to foster a “supraconfessional humanitarian” way of conceiving the divine that neutralizes or replaces the faith dimension of our relationship with God. Even though given lodges may abstain from endorsing any particular position, including one that considers religious faith to be a matter of indifference (i.e., nothing more than a matter of personal preference), the contemporary world’s social atmosphere of moral and religious relativism creates a climate in which a merely humanitarian symbol system works to undermine the religious faith by which we receive God’s revelation.
It was for this reason that the Congregation declared that local church authorities are not competent to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations, and has reserved to itself the right to make any such pronouncements. Because of the serious danger posed to individual Catholics by the subtle but real influence of symbols described above, the Congregation declared that it would be objectively a grave sin for a Catholic to join a Masonic lodge. The prohibition from receiving Holy Communion is meant to highlight the gravity of the situation.
That being held true- “Even though given lodges may abstain from endorsing any particular position, including one that considers religious faith to be a matter of indifference (i.e., nothing more than a matter of personal preference), the contemporary world’s social atmosphere of moral and religious relativism creates a climate in which a merely humanitarian symbol system works to undermine the religious faith by which we receive God’s revelation.”
HOW THEN- can I continue in good conscious within a group that is considered by many states within the Union AS A Religion. ALCHOHOLICS ANYOMOUS IS CONSIDERED A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION BY MANY STATES FOR TAX PURPOSES.
Furthermore- more often than not-
Clergymen of practically every denomination have given A.A. their blessing.
Edward Dowling, S.J.,* of the Queen’s Work staff, says, “Alcoholics Anonymous is natural; it is natural at the point where nature comes closest to the supernatural, namely in humiliations and in consequent humility. There is something spiritual about an art museum or a symphony, and the Catholic Church approves of our use of them. There is something spiritual about A.A. too, and Catholic participation in it almost invariably results in poor Catholics becoming better Catholics.”
I KNOW AA TO ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE ITS MEMBERS TO PRAY TO A GOD OF THIER UNDERSTANDING. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE (and often to help the newly sober member accept the tenants of AA) CHRISTIAN I.E. THE HOLY TRINITY.
AA HAS ITS OWN RELIGOUS TEXT “THE BIG BOOK.” AA ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES DIESM AND MORAL RELATIVITY BUT IS PRAISED BY THE CHURCH.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF CANNON LAW SAYS I MUST QUIT AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SAVED MY LIFE.
What should I do?
