Lifting of Freemasons' excommunication

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PazzoGrande

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I’m not a mason and would never dream of joining them, but I know Catholics who are and I want to learn about what they’d need to do.

I don’t fully comprehend whether or not they are excommunicated. Canon Law has no explicit proscription on them anymore. I know that Cardinal Ratzinger said they shouldn’t receive Eucharist, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re excommunicated. Likewise while an abortion supporter isn’t necessarily excommunicated (as opposed to the mother and doctor who make the abortion happen), an abortion supporter should exclude himself or herself from Communion. It’s self-exclusion as opposed to excommunication. I don’t understand which one freemasons would be categorised under.

If indeed they are excommunicated, is this a type of excommunication that could be lifted by the Bishop, or can any priest do it in Confessions?
 
PazzoGrande said:
I’m not a mason and would never dream of joining them, but I know Catholics who are and I want to learn about what they’d need to do.

I don’t fully comprehend whether or not they are excommunicated. Canon Law has no explicit proscription on them anymore. I know that Cardinal Ratzinger said they shouldn’t receive Eucharist, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re excommunicated. Likewise while an abortion supporter isn’t necessarily excommunicated (as opposed to the mother and doctor who make the abortion happen), an abortion supporter should exclude himself or herself from Communion. It’s self-exclusion as opposed to excommunication. I don’t understand which one freemasons would be categorised under.

If indeed they are excommunicated, is this a type of excommunication that could be lifted by the Bishop, or can any priest do it in Confessions?
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Peace and All Good!!

I’ve been told by several Priests & laymen, who have qualifications in Canon Law etc that though the exact wording of Canon Law has been changed regarding Masonry, the excommunication itself still applies, since the reference is now to “secret societies” & Masonry is viewed as included under that more general title, rather than being mentioned by name as it was previously.

Also, John Salza, a well known former 33rd degree Mason who is also a Canon & Civil Lawyer, has written a lot about the incompatibility of Masonry & Catholicism and the issue of Excommunication

So, I’m by no means an expert but it’s my understanding based on all this, that a Catholic who becomes a Freemason has to formally renounce his Membership of the Lodge to which he belongs & Confess having been a Mason. Once he’s received absolution from the Priest (I don’t think in this case the Bishop has to be involved) , he can then receive Holy Communion and the excommunication is lifted

Hope this helps! God Bless
 
PazzoGrande said:
… I don’t fully comprehend whether or not they are excommunicated. Canon Law has no explicit proscription on them anymore. I know that Cardinal Ratzinger said they shouldn’t receive Eucharist, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re excommunicated. Likewise while an abortion supporter isn’t necessarily excommunicated (as opposed to the mother and doctor who make the abortion happen), an abortion supporter should exclude himself or herself from Communion. It’s self-exclusion as opposed to excommunication. I don’t understand which one freemasons would be categorised under.

If indeed they are excommunicated, is this a type of excommunication that could be lifted by the Bishop, or can any priest do it in Confessions?
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Hello,

The current law does not impose an automatic penalty of any kind on Masons and does not mandate any particular penalty for a “rank and file” member: “Can. 1374 A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict.”

Since a promoter/director is to be punished with an interdict (a penalty which is less severe than excommunication), it would seem unjust for an ordinary member to be excommunicated.

If an excommunication was imposed, however, then “the Ordinary” who imposed it could lift the penalty as could “the Ordinary” of the place where the offender actually is (c. 1355). “The Ordinary” means bishop, vicar general or episcopal vicar. The ability to remit such a penalty could be delegated to other priests.

Dan
 
It puzzles me as to why someone would be excommunicated simply for being in a “secret society.” Is it because all secret societies known about are anti-Christian and or anti-Catholic, or does the fact that a society is secret, make it so sinful by default? I understand why Freemasonry is very wrong (to some extent; of course their exact current agenda is unknown to outsiders,) but what if there was a society that was not anti-Catholic or anti-Christian–one that was simply secret because they like being mysterious or for some other reason that is not immoral?
 
ChibiViolet said:
It puzzles me as to why someone would be excommunicated simply for being in a “secret society.” Is it because all secret societies known about are anti-Christian and or anti-Catholic, or does the fact that a society is secret, make it so sinful by default? I understand why Freemasonry is very wrong (to some extent; of course their exact current agenda is unknown to outsiders,) but what if there was a society that was not anti-Catholic or anti-Christian–one that was simply secret because they like being mysterious or for some other reason that is not immoral?
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On that note, I wonder what that means for Skull and Bones. John Kerry was a member.
 
ChibiViolet said:
It puzzles me as to why someone would be excommunicated simply for being in a “secret society.” …
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Hello,

The law makes no mention of “secret societies.” The criminal quality of a society or association is that it engages in “plotting against the Church”, secretly or otherwise.

Dan
 
ChibiViolet said:
It puzzles me as to why someone would be excommunicated simply for being in a “secret society.” Is it because all secret societies known about are anti-Christian and or anti-Catholic, or does the fact that a society is secret, make it so sinful by default? I understand why Freemasonry is very wrong (to some extent; of course their exact current agenda is unknown to outsiders,) but what if there was a society that was not anti-Catholic or anti-Christian–one that was simply secret because they like being mysterious or for some other reason that is not immoral?
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Most of the “secret societies” are called “secret” because they require oaths and sometimes blood oaths which are contrary to Catholic and/or Christian beliefs. Sometimes, it’s at the higher levels or throughout.

Secret Societies also typically require you to pledge your loyalty to the society above all other things, including the Church, family, etc.

The secrecy is often not just to protect their initiation rituals, but also to hide their agenda too. Plus “secret societies” like the Masons also have a religious or spiritual dogmas/doctrines regarding God, which are often part of their oaths and conflict with the Catholic Church and/or Christianity as a whole.
On that note, I wonder what that means for Skull and Bones. John Kerry was a member.
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College Fraternities are different. They were founded for originally academic and social reasons. Not for trade & religious reasons. The main reason for the secrecy is to simply foster a shared experience to foster brotherhood. They typically don’t have anything to truly hide in their rituals (though an outsider could mis-understand). Most do not have a religious or spiritual requirement. view, other than believing in God. And the ones that do, only require believe in God; but not requiring any specific religion, dogma, doctrine, etc.

However, with all this said: when College Fraternities can be anti-Christian due to the sinful actions of their local Chapters. In a way, College Fraternities are the opposite of the Masons. The Masons are anti-Catholic, anti-Christian at the top and can have local chapters who are devout Christian men. While College Fraternities/Sororities are not anti-Christian at the top, but can be at the local Chapter.

NOTE: I don’t know much about Skull and Bones other than how they are portrayed in the media. Also Skull & Bones is only one Chapter, not a comprised of multiple chapters linked together via 1 ritual and national/international fraternity wide board. So, it’s hard fro me to say what kind of organization they truly are, but I would guess that they are more akin to college fraternities than the Masons.
 
johnnyt3000 said:
catholic.com/video/does-excommunication-condemn-someone-to-hell

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-does-the-church-say-about-freemasonry
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These links give good information!

Many people are puzzled about freemasonry, and do not understand the various steps that a member goes through. A long time ago I read a book by a former (very high degree) mason who got out of it and then wrote a book about the ceremonies, and why they are unchristian.

I’m sure there must be more details about masonry on the internet. Of course, it matters where the person is coming from in how they view it.
 
ChibiViolet said:
It puzzles me as to why someone would be excommunicated simply for being in a “secret society.” Is it because all secret societies known about are anti-Christian and or anti-Catholic, or does the fact that a society is secret, make it so sinful by default? I understand why Freemasonry is very wrong (to some extent; of course their exact current agenda is unknown to outsiders,) but what if there was a society that was not anti-Catholic or anti-Christian–one that was simply secret because they like being mysterious or for some other reason that is not immoral?
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The Church is clear about which “secret societies” the faithful must avoid.

In 1983, Prefect Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the personal approval of Pope John Paul II, issued a Declaration on Masonic Associations, which reiterated the Church’s objections to Freemasonry.[29] The Declaration states:
Code: 
"The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion...." and "...the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association(s) remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden."[29]
If the teachings of said “secret society” go in any way against the teachings of the Catholic Church THEN we are forbidden from participating.
The problem arises when many so called “secret societies” try to disguise their true beliefs in order to gain adepts, then slowly move them away from the Church.
And we have to be objective with so many Catholics barely understanding their faith this is unfortunately very often the outcome.

So many of these societies entice people to join by promising wealth, status in society by allowing the member to make “connections” with “powerful” people.
 
At this link catholic.com/quickquestions/what-does-the-church-say-about-freemasonry we read:
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).
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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.
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No, the CDF did not say the penalty was still in force. It said:
It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church’s decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.
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This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance in due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.
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Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
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It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 1981 pp. 240-241; English language edition of L’Osservatore Romano, 9 March 1981). vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19831126_declaration-masonic_en.html
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There is no statement saying excommunication is still the penalty for Masonic membership. Being prohibited from receiving Hole Communion is not the same as excommunication.

Dan
 
eamonnroma said:
It is often said that Prelates of the Church were and are Freemasons. There are many lists available of famous Catholic Masons such as:

mumbailaity.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/list-of-masons-in-the-roman-catholic-church/

thepowerofgod777.blogspot.it/2009/12/list-of-masons-in-hierarchy-of-catholic.html

How much truth is there in this lists?
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When corruption is found in the Church it means that I must pray and fast for those involved.

Thankfully, when corruption is found it does not eclipse the truth of what the Catholic Church teaches.

Great sinners in high places in the Church will not cause our Lord to abandon us.

In all the approved private revelations of Our Lady she is always asking for prayer and penance.
 
eamonnroma said:
It is often said that Prelates of the Church were and are Freemasons. There are many lists available of famous Catholic Masons such as:

mumbailaity.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/list-of-masons-in-the-roman-catholic-church/

thepowerofgod777.blogspot.it/2009/12/list-of-masons-in-hierarchy-of-catholic.html

How much truth is there in this lists?
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Malachi Martin claimed that John XXIII and Paul VI were freemasons… yet he also made a bunch of other claims I find impossible to believe.

Personally I don’t believe lists like that at all. They’re always put together by someone with some kind of agenda.
 
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