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Marshmallow1
Guest
I’ve read some traditional Catholic pages claiming America is Masonic, is this true? Is it sinful to embrace American culture?
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ComicalCoco
Guest
Do you have links for these pages?
po18guy
Well-known member
Careful of the web. There are paranoiacs everywhere. Self-proclaimed prophets. And worse. I think that most conspiracy theorists are in need of time on the couch. We know who the enemy is and he is not American - rather, he is worldly.
America was founded as a Protestant majority nation. Masonic? I suppose that a certain number of the founding fathers were masons, as to most it seems a harmless fraternal organization.
American culture is not necessarily good. American ideals can be good, such as traditional morality, the work ethic, a sense of national unity. But each coin has a flip side.
America was founded as a Protestant majority nation. Masonic? I suppose that a certain number of the founding fathers were masons, as to most it seems a harmless fraternal organization.
American culture is not necessarily good. American ideals can be good, such as traditional morality, the work ethic, a sense of national unity. But each coin has a flip side.
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Marshmallow1
Guest
America Is A Masonic Nation
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: I always get a chuckle when I hear Evangelicals tell me that the United States of America was founded as a "Christian ...
catholicknight.blogspot.com
The other was on Twitter
Tis_Bearself
Patron
America isn’t terribly Masonic, and in addition, the Masons in USA have tended to be significantly different from Masons in Europe. US Masons are much less involved in anticlericalism or political upheaval, probably because the USA has never had a government-endorsed religion or one strong church.
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commenter
Guest
It’s wrong to totally ignore the Masonic influence, especially prior to the Civil War. It was a connection for many men.
But it’s more likely people over emphasize the Masonic influence. this is partly because of the Masons themselves; there’s a prominent statue in my downtown depicting George Washington as a Mason. But for him, as well as for countless others claimed, we don’t know if he was really influenced by it.
For many Americans it was something you automatically joined when you turned a certain age, but not necessarily ever attend again. In my town every male politician or local businessman joined the K of C, but I never see any at our meetings.
The other factor is the current media, which exaggerates, obsessed over the power of secret societies, secret anything. It attracts viewers.
Europe could be different.
But it’s more likely people over emphasize the Masonic influence. this is partly because of the Masons themselves; there’s a prominent statue in my downtown depicting George Washington as a Mason. But for him, as well as for countless others claimed, we don’t know if he was really influenced by it.
For many Americans it was something you automatically joined when you turned a certain age, but not necessarily ever attend again. In my town every male politician or local businessman joined the K of C, but I never see any at our meetings.
The other factor is the current media, which exaggerates, obsessed over the power of secret societies, secret anything. It attracts viewers.
Europe could be different.
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1ke
Guest
Stay away from nonsensical conspiracy theory websites.
No, America is not Masonic.
No, America is not Masonic.
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Genesis315
Guest
I would say in the sense that certain Masonic values, which are common with Liberalism and “Enlightenment” ideas in general, were founding principles and remain core values. Where those are at odds with the Catholic faith, we certainly cannot embrace them. But the USA has generally been more moderate in this regard than was European Liberalism.
But we should take an active role in social and civic life–that is our job as laity:
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Decree on Laity
But we should take an active role in social and civic life–that is our job as laity:
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
From the Second Vatican Council:
Decree on Laity
Pastoral Constitution
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You bet it is!
Root and branch. A Masonic mentality permeates the very core of the DNA of the American nation. Don’t talk about differences. Emphasize the good things that we all hold in common. Religion is up to the individual. Let’s all get along. Your religion is just between your ears. We’re all basically the same. We’re all equal.
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blackforest
Well-known member
America has a strongly Masonic history, (that part isn’t a “conspiracy”), but participation in these organizations has dwindled drastically.
Some Masons did overt evil, a.k.a. Ku Klux Klan, but most men joined out of perceived obligation to advance professionally and fit into their communities. I’m not condoning masonry, (it is against Catholic teaching), but most Masons did little, if any, scandalous harm to society. If you crawl back far enough in your family tree, chance are, you’re going to find Masons.
Some Masons did overt evil, a.k.a. Ku Klux Klan, but most men joined out of perceived obligation to advance professionally and fit into their communities. I’m not condoning masonry, (it is against Catholic teaching), but most Masons did little, if any, scandalous harm to society. If you crawl back far enough in your family tree, chance are, you’re going to find Masons.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
This is a relatively recent view in USA, only since about the 1970s “Come on people now, smile on your brother” era.
Which was a reaction against the opposite view which had permeated US culture for the previous 200 years.
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Marshmallow1
Guest
I suppose my problem is when i see people embrace heritage i also want to, but Even though i have a pretty good idea of all my roots, i wasnt really raised with them, except maybe irish? I’m half Hispanic but i can count on my two hands how many times i’ve actually see my dad face to face (which is much better than most people.) I would never embrace any part of American Culture that is contrary to Catholic teaching, but im beginning to wonder if its all just sinful and how can i be proud of a country that has such evil roots? I tend to take things to far, im definitely a bit dramatic, and now am afraid to even embrace the smallest things such as cowboys, cuisine, other small things
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C
commenter
Guest
I don’t doubt the founders had some Masonic influence, for instance deism. Some admired the French Revolution, but rejected it when it went really bad. But they were more influenced by the Natural Law, which is assumed in the Declaration of Independence and other documents.
The recent rise of secular humanism is compatible with Masonry but that is not necessarily cause/effect.
The stronghold of Masonry, the small towns especially in the Midwest and South, were not liberal or secular, at least prior to television and internet. The impact of Masonry in the US was more of guys having an excuse to party, or really party (Shriners), or really party (Jesters).
The recent rise of secular humanism is compatible with Masonry but that is not necessarily cause/effect.
The stronghold of Masonry, the small towns especially in the Midwest and South, were not liberal or secular, at least prior to television and internet. The impact of Masonry in the US was more of guys having an excuse to party, or really party (Shriners), or really party (Jesters).
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
Correct. Masons were for the most part God-fearing Protestants, to the point where I doubt that someone who wasn’t at least paying lip service to being a God-fearing Protestant in the Midwest and South would have even been welcome at the Lodge.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
You can be proud of it because first of all, the Immaculata is the patroness of the USA and we’re under her protection, and second of all, the US in large part saved the world from the Nazis and the Communists, again with God’s help.
Would you prefer to be worshipping a picture of the Fuhrer or Stalin rather than Jesus today? I don’t think so.
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It saddens me to hear this. I am with my son every day of the world. Once or twice a year, I go out of town overnight and he stays with his mother or my parents. Every two or three years, he goes overseas with his mother to see his grandparents and cousins for a couple of weeks. We burn up the phone with calls and Skype.
It’s not “all just sinful”. This is a wonderful, amazing, fabulously wealthy, beautiful country, and Our Lord can bring, and has brought, many very good things out of evil beginnings. Love our precious country and embrace it with your whole heart.
Very true. These Protestants don’t grasp what is wrong with Freemasonry. To them it’s just a lodge, and a social and philanthropic organization to which all the good, decent, responsible “pillars of the community” belong. The Masons do a lot of good things — the Shriners’ Hospitals are wonderful — but this can’t erase the problems that are deep in the heart of Freemasonry.
In a perfect world, they would all convert to Catholicism, join the K of C en masse, and devote their fine hospitals and fine efforts to the Alhambra.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
It really seems to have been a toss-up whether the Masons, Elks, Moose, or Lions happened to be the men’s group for the area. Neither the Elks, Moose, nor Lions have ever had any weird quasi-occult or political overtones, and the Lions were specifically founded to be a non-political business group.
Catholic men have always had their K of C of course.
Catholic men have always had their K of C of course.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
Far more than Masonry, many wise people can give you arguments that the Revolutionary War did not meet the reqs of the Just War Doctrine.
My son was conceived in a sinful way, out of wedlock. Ought I not be proud of him because of the sinful circumstances?
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Mary888
Guest
1/2 Masonic, since it’s a Capitalist country. According to …the tongues… there is a blue wing of Masonry - that is Capitalism, and a red wing of Masonry - Communism or Socialism as you will.
Fully Masonic is … one and the other…
Is USA Masonic today? Well that depends still on your angle. But its counterparts (China, Russia, the Koreas, Iran, EU) are fully Masonic if you ask me. Where will USA stand?.. In competition (conflict) or in harmony (completion)?
Fully Masonic is … one and the other…
Is USA Masonic today? Well that depends still on your angle. But its counterparts (China, Russia, the Koreas, Iran, EU) are fully Masonic if you ask me. Where will USA stand?.. In competition (conflict) or in harmony (completion)?
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