What are the differences between Free Masonry and K of C?

[sambos671]

I’m really curious. Both do charitable works. I know Masons can’t be Catholics but K of C are exclusionary Catholics. I’ve always considered the Masons to be another gospel to the real one and in that sence anti-christ. How are the K of C differen’t, better, or the same?

 

[wcknight]

The KC are not exclusionary except for the fact that it is all male, all Catholic and you have to join.

The only provision that we require is that you are male, over age 18 and a practical Catholic as defined by the Church.

IF you can legitimately go to communion each week, you can join.

I have no clue what Masons are into, but thousands of priests are members of the KC including many bishops and cardinals. We have no hidden agenda, we support the Church 100%. We are commited to the Church and Church values. Although our main reason for being is to promote charitable works, we also hold many social and community events

We are basically one huge multi-tiered club of Catholic men.

 

[Della]

wcknight is right but I have to correct him on one point–women can also be a part of the KCs by joining the Ladies Auxiliary (which is a subcommittee of their local KC council). I have twice been president and twice vice president (the position I currently hold) and twice a trustee of our council’s LA.

I would suggest the OP go to: kofc.org/un/index.cfm for an overview of all the great things the KCs and Auxiliaries do for the Church and the wider community.

 

[PatThePoet]

The Knights of Columbus are not occultist or follow the wacky teachings of Albert Pike

youtube.com/watch?v=2i_VqRLhEAI

Fight Masonry

Why has the Church fought the Masons for centuries? Because the Church hates evil.

 

[spoiltvictorian]

Unlike the Masons the Knights of Columbus have never done any political plotting in South America.

 

[ralphinal]

Unlike the Masons, the KoC are not active in the KKK in the Deep South of the United States.

 

[SecularHero]

The Knights of Columbus are not occultist or follow the wacky teachings of Albert Pike

youtube.com/watch?v=2i_VqRLhEAI

Fight Masonry

Why has the Church fought the Masons for centuries? Because the Church hates evil.

You do realise that George Washington and Ben Franklin were Masons right? If you think the Founding Fathers are “evil” you are free to leave the US anytime you want.

Besides if the church really hated evil so much why sentance innocent people to death and steal their property?

And the Masons I know are very christian, just not the kind of christian that the pope would approve of. I thought about joining but heard somewhere you have to believe in God to join. I have no problem with that since Masonry is a private fraternity and not, say, a public office where an Atheist should have a right to run for without anti-Atheist prejudice from constituents.

 

[SecularHero]

Wow alot of anti-Mason conspiracy nuts here. These things go in cycles. Sometimes it’s The Jews, other time New Agers, other times Freemasons, then Wiccans, etc, etc, who’s the next group to take over the world? Muslims? Scientologist? the WGA?

 

[theistgal]

You do realise that George Washington and Ben Franklin were Masons right? If you think the Founding Fathers are “evil” you are free to leave the US anytime you want.

Since they weren’t Catholics, they weren’t obligated to follow the Church’s prohibition against joining the Masons. Catholics are.

Besides if the church really hated evil so much why sentance innocent people to death and steal their property?

That is a whole other topic which you should discuss in a separate thread.

And the Masons I know are very christian, just not the kind of christian that the pope would approve of. I thought about joining but heard somewhere you have to believe in God to join. I have no problem with that since Masonry is a private fraternity and not, say, a public office where an Atheist should have a right to run for without anti-Atheist prejudice from constituents.

I’m sure there are many Christians who are Masons; however, Masons are not required to be Christians. There are Islam Masons.

 

[ralphinal]

Wow alot of anti-Mason conspiracy nuts here. These things go in cycles. Sometimes it’s The Jews, other time New Agers, other times Freemasons, then Wiccans, etc, etc, who’s the next group to take over the world? Muslims? Scientologist? the WGA?

Come to Alabama. Do some research. All of the legendary bigots and segregationists were Masons. This is known as FACT here. Not conspiracy.

The reality is when you have a group that votes people in only when they were invited to apply, you end up with a bunch of clones. Birds of a feather and all that. The Masons in Alabama quickly became racist and bigoted, and thus the Klan was filled with members.

The current governor of Alabama is a member of a lodge that will not allow minority members. When this was exposed by a local talk radio show, the show was cancelled that week. It was the 3 highest rated show in the state. You tell me about conspiracy.

 

[Brian_C]

There were plenty of Catholic bigots in the South as well. Masons don’t hold exclusive territory over that term. Rather since Masonry was an organization made up of “leading men” of many communities, it was only logical that the prevailing segregationalist view would be echoed by lodge members.

That being said, the Catholic Church has REAL reasons to condemn Freemasonry. It is essentially a heresy and to take the oaths that Masonry requires you to take, you are basically disregarding Catholic teaching. Freemasonry does not, to my knowledge currently exclude Catholics. On the contrary, we’ve had plenty of misguided Catholics on here post about how they are Masonic lodge members and don’t understand the Church’s prohabition. However, depending on time and place, there have been varying degrees of anti-Catholic setiment in the organization.

You might look into the P2 conspiracy to see how even in modern times, certain Masons have used (or misused) the organization for less than honorable means.

KofC, on the other hand, requires you to be a practicing Catholic. It is a men’s organization that encourages faithfulness to Church teaching, and places a strong emphasis on charitable works. There is nothing in its teachings or ceremonies that conflicts with Catholic teaching.

Perhaps you should search for past threads on freemasonry and knights of Columbus here. There are many!