Sorry it’s been a while, kind of been crazy here.
I found your comment interesting about the trigger to the Bishop’s statement. I figured you had asked him directly.
I do have a question in light of the Church’s stance. Do you see that ‘being a Mason’ is a sin as it is a prohibited organization for Catholics?
I guess I’m trying to understand your viewpoint with your last line. Do you see Being a Mason as giving into a temptation similar to other sinful temptations?
Been hectic here as well.
To answer your questions:
I do not view Freemasonry as a sin, and I do not include it in the temptation category either. I view the Ten Commandments as my rule and guide to my faith and practice without exception. I know that the majority of readers here will disagree with me, and I respect that, but I have never been tempted to do anything immoral, unethical, or illegal in a lodge. Every member that I have encountered has always been respectful of my faith. The fact that I make the sign of the cross when we finish a prayer has never been addressed or an issue. The fact that I sit with other Masons in mass has never caused me any distress or discomfort either.
Am I tempted with other sins daily in my life…Yes.
I joined the Freemasons because I saw a common thread of decency in the lives of people around me and a common (not complete) trait was that they were Masons. That was my personal opinion and my personal decision. I have become a better person as the result of my associations just as I have in the Knights of Columbus. I commented that the Church welcomes other sinners based on the recurring them that belonging to Freemasonry is a sin. I am not admitting that Freemasonry is sinful in design or principle but just wanted to ask the question that if it were a sin, why wouldnt we welcome Freemasons into the Church as well.
In my lodge we cannot truthfully decide whether we will have brisket or chicken for dinner before the meeting so I doubt we could mount a conspiracy to overthrow something as universal as the Holy Catholic Church. The average age of my lodge is 72 years of age. The vast majority of members use walkers so we wont be overthrowing any governments or Churches anytime soon.
Are we a secret group? If people know so much about us then we dont do a very good job of that either.
Do we have secrets? Yes. Primarily means of recognition between members.
Do we have violent oaths? Yes but we havent invoked the penalties ever that I am aware of.
Do we worship false gods and idols? No, we are free to pray to whomever we personally believe in without fail…
You have to be a higher degree to understand the “real” intent. I am pretty high up in several bodies and no conspiracies have ever been broached unless it was how to generate funds for the Dyslexia Learning Center we sponsor.
Personally I have sat in lodge with Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, and various churches of Christianity and the fact that we can all sit together in unity is a pretty amazing feat. One of the enabling factors is that we cannot discuss religion or politics in a lodge room so we dont bring disharmony into the room. I like that personally.
I know that there are disagreements concerning this topic and I am not the best person to speak on behalf of either the Church or Freemasonry. I am just trying to be a good person and surround myself with good people. Its that simple to me. I do a pretty good job and my family seems to be happy with the caliber of men I associate with. Thats how simple it is to me. I am sorry that I elaborated so freely with your questions but I hope I have answered them.
