Is it okay to receive an award from the Shriners?

[NikoDonburi]

My daughter is 8-years-old and attends a local Catholic school. The school recently had its students enter a drawing contest sponsored by the ZaGaZig Shriners as part of the “circus comes to town” public relations campaign. As you may know, the circus is the Shriners’ fundraiser for their children’s hospital.

My daughter won the drawing competition. In addition to being given a bicycle and free tickets to the upcoming circus, the Shriners have asked that she attend the circus and be honored as the winner of the drawing contest. All of her classmates were given tickets to also attend the circus.

My research has indicated that (a) Shriners are all Master Masons and (b) Catholics enrolled in Masonic associations are involved in serious sin and may not approach Communion. Does this also mean that it would be morally impermissible for her to attend the circus and receive the bicycle?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Accepting a bicycle from Shriners and attending their circus does not constitute membership in the Masons. Nor does standing up and allowing the Shriners to introduce you as the winner of their contest. I see no reason why you can’t allow your daughter to receive the bicycle, attend the circus, and be introduced as the winner of the contest.

That said, it is scandalous that your daughter’s school is fostering a relationship with the Shriners. Perhaps you should present your research to the school’s principal and ask that the school reconsider its relationship with and promotion of the Shriners and their activities. I hope that you didn’t know that your daughter was entered into the contest before she won it, because you then have a stronger case to protest this and can say, “I don’t want to disappoint my daughter by unnecessarily depriving her of her prize, but I must express my concern…”