Sheesh. Some “hate-mongering” from
This Rock, (
catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9306qq.asp)
*
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 or punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiation 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.*
The above mentioned piece of hate-mongering from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reads as follows: (
ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFMASN1.HTM)
*CLARIFICATION CONCERNING STATUS OF CATHOLICS BECOMING FREEMASONS
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
On 19 July 1974 this Congregation wrote to some Episcopal Conferences a private letter concerning the interpretation of can 2335 of the Code of Canon Law which forbids Catholics, under the penalty of excommunication, to enroll in Masonic or other similar associations.
Since the said letter has become public and has given rise to erroneous and tendentious interpretations, this Congregation, without prejudice to the eventual norms of the new Code, issues the following confirmation and clarification:
- the present canonical discipline remains in full force and has not been modified in any way;
- consequently, neither the excommunication nor the other penalties envisaged have been abrogated;
- what was said in the aforesaid letter as regards the interpretation to be given to the canon in question should be understood—as the Congregation intended—merely as a reminder of the general principles of interpretation of penal laws for the solution of the cases of individual persons which may be submitted to the judgment of ordinaries. It was not, however, the intention of the Congregation to permit Episcopal Conferences to issue public pronouncements by way of a judgment of a general character on the nature of Masonic associations, which would imply a derogation from the aforesaid norms.
Rome, from the Office of the S. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 17 February 1981.*
And finally, a rash of benighted, papal hate mongerers and their documents on the topic:
Clement XII In Eminenti, const. 24 Apr. 1738
Benedict XIV Providas, const. 18 May 1751
Pius VII Ecclesiam a Jesu Christo, const. 13 Sept. 1821
Leo XII Quo Graviora, const. 13 Mar. 1825
Pius VIII Traditi Humilitati, encyc. 24 May 1829
Gregory XVI Mirari Vos, encyc. 15 Aug. 1832
Pius IX Qui Pluribus, encyc. 9 Nov. 1846
Leo XIII Humanum Genus, encyc. 20 Apr. 1884
Leo XIII Dall’ Alto Dell’ Opostolico, Seggio, encyc.
Leo XIII Inimica Vos, encyc. 8 Dec. 1892,.
Leo XIII Custodi Di Quella Fede, encyc. 8 Dec. 1892
[SIGN] I submit my judgement to that of the Holy See[/SIGN]
