Talking to teens about the Masons

[JackVk]

At the parish where I volunteer, there is one teen guy who has started coming to youth group. Tonight at the confirmation program (which he volunteers at as well), he was wearing a suit and a lapel pin that read, “shriner’s bowl”. Naturally, this gave me pause, considering my knowledge of the Church’s prohibition on joining the Masons.

For now, I’m not going to say anything for several reasons:

1.I’m only just getting to know him
2. He’s only 15ish, so there’s no way he’s a member
3. He’d probably related to someone in the Shriners, so he probably has no clue.
4. The Masons don’t seem as threatening to the Church as they were 100-150 years ago.

But for when the time comes, do you have any suggestions on what to say, if anything?

 

[asia53]

Today, I attended a lecture at my parish about Healing the Family. The Masons was part of the lecture. I’ll tell you what the lecturer said, and you can make up your own mind.

She said, there has been an alarming rising trend of Masons contacting Catholic male youth. A short of outreach presenting the Masons in a light appealing to the youths.

Probably, it is #3 on your list. However, you could ask him. Then, you’ll know what to do.

 

[Tomdstone]

At the parish where I volunteer, there is one teen guy who has started coming to youth group. Tonight at the confirmation program (which he volunteers at as well), he was wearing a suit and a lapel pin that read, “shriner’s bowl”. Naturally, this gave me pause, considering my knowledge of the Church’s prohibition on joining the Masons.

For now, I’m not going to say anything for several reasons:

1.I’m only just getting to know him
2. He’s only 15ish, so there’s no way he’s a member
3. He’d probably related to someone in the Shriners, so he probably has no clue.
4. The Masons don’t seem as threatening to the Church as they were 100-150 years ago.

But for when the time comes, do you have any suggestions on what to say, if anything?

I read that there were Catholic clergy who were members of the masons and that a Masonic Lodge in Italy had appointed Catholic priest as chaplain.
redicecreations.com/article.php?id=8572
catholicnewsagency.com/news/masonic_lodge_in_italy_appoints_catholic_priest_as_chaplain_claims_openness_to_catholic_church/

 

[L_Marshall]

I read that there were Catholic clergy who were members of the masons and that a Masonic Lodge in Italy had appointed Catholic priest as chaplain.
redicecreations.com/article.php?id=8572
catholicnewsagency.com/news/masonic_lodge_in_italy_appoints_catholic_priest_as_chaplain_claims_openness_to_catholic_church/

If memory serves, this priest was removed from ministry because he refused to resign from his chaplaincy with the masons.

Catholics who join the freemasons are in a state of grave sin, and cannot receive Holy Communion. This prohibition still stands. Certain masonic ideologies are irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine.

 

[JackVk]

I did ask him. It was something that he got in a marching band thing. No membership so I warned him, gave him the rundown on the church and the Masons. so, problem solved.

 

[pianistclare]

Why do you have a 15yr old as a volunteer with other youth?
In our Archdiocese this is prohibited. Invite him to become a member of youth group, and then you can properly catechize him.

 

[Hannouch]

Hello,

In my opinion I also believe there is no present threat from the masons nor is an indication that there will be in the future. But I assume the Church still holds its stance against them based of the fact that masons believe in a ‘oneness’ of all faiths as they accept any believer of a higher power. This is a contradiction to the Church’s teaching and logical belief that there is an absolute truth.

This is my assumption unless anyone can find further reason for the Church to deny membership with masons today. Nonetheless, i see no benefit to our lives in ever joining a lodge.

 

[mikeeh]

She said, there has been an alarming rising trend of Masons contacting Catholic male youth. A short of outreach presenting the Masons in a light appealing to the youths.

Their membership must be declining fast if they have to turn to Catholic youth for new members. I heard many lodges have changed in recent years to make their meetings more “interesting.”

msana.com/msastats.asp
ethosmagonline.com/archives/13750
usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-31-masons31_ST_N.htm

 

[on_the_hill]

I did ask him. It was something that he got in a marching band thing. No membership so I warned him, gave him the rundown on the church and the Masons. so, problem solved.

Sounds good to me.

 

[benjohnson]

Hello,

In my opinion I also believe there is no present threat from the masons nor is an indication that there will be in the future…

As a Mason, it would agree in that assessment as far as American Masonry - it’s basically group of old men acting out baroque morality plays and giving to charity.

In my opinion, American Masonry has two problems for the Christian: 1) Skirting close to the heresy of Indifferentism. 2) Mistakenly thinking it’s a church.

However Masonry on the European continent can be just plain bonkers and can be entirely antithetical to the Christian life. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_Due for an example.