Why are we here?

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Peter is you want to clarify your organisation’s relationship to Rome in regards to whether Catholics can join your group why not contact the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?

William Cardinal Levada
Piazza del S. Uffizio, 11, 00193 Roma, Italy
 
From the linked site …

The Grand Lodge of All England is responsible for initiating candidates using the **secret **ancient Outer and Inner Orders of Free Masonrie.

These rituals trace their origins back to pre-Davidic times. The Holy Order dates back over 3,000 years. Once qualified, a Free Mason may visit lodges at home and overseas, meeting within a word-wide and unique fraternity, taking part in Masonic initiation ceremonies that prepare those who are called to The Holy Order.

It’s very difficult to assess ceremonies that are conducted in secrecy.
 
From the linked site …

The Grand Lodge of All England is responsible for initiating candidates using the **secret **ancient Outer and Inner Orders of Free Masonrie.

These rituals trace their origins back to pre-Davidic times. The Holy Order dates back over 3,000 years. Once qualified, a Free Mason may visit lodges at home and overseas, meeting within a word-wide and unique fraternity, taking part in Masonic initiation ceremonies that prepare those who are called to The Holy Order.

It’s very difficult to assess ceremonies that are conducted in secrecy.
Quite so.

This should explain it to you:

"This church and the civilization introduced by the Romans were swept away by the Picts and Saxons, and the members, called Culdees, were compelled to hide in the wilderness of Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the small islands between Great Britain and Ireland; chiefly in Anglesey and Iona, where they preserved their Apostolic institutions, which were modeled after the **most ancient **Christian church, which, it is well known, was the secret or Masonic form. *(SOURCE: The Mysteries of Britain: Secret Rites and Traditions of Ancient Britain Restored: 1905) *

“From a Masonic document now in my possession, I can prove that no very long time ago the Culdees of York were Freemasons, that they constituted the Grand Lodge of England, and that they held their meetings in the Crypt under the great Cathedral of that city. The circular chapter-house did very well for ordinary business, but the Secret Mysteries were carried on in the crypts. The Lodge, which was the Grand Lodge of All England, had been held under the Cathedral in the Crypt at York.” (SOURCE: p.718, Anacalypsis Vol. 1, Godfrey Higgins: 1833-1836)

Rituals - ceremonies of birth, death, marriage, initiation, healing, harvest, or religious observance - are found in all known cultures, and appear to have been performed for tens of thousands of years. They speak to people’s core emotions and reveal values that a society holds dearest. Because their expression is conventional and obligatory, they join the individual in solidarity with the group. As such, they are part of a society’s “essential constitution”. (SOURCE: The Legal Function of Ritual, by Geoffrey P. Miller, Comfort Professor of Law at New York University)
 
… called Culdees, were compelled to hide in the wilderness …
…as Catholics were compelled to do (not in the wilderness but in catacombs) in Rome during the first centuries. When the need for hiding was eliminated, so also was the need for secrecy. Thus, it’s not an “apostolic tradition” but rather a local custom which was required for a specific historical need. The need is no longer present (unless modern day Culdees feel they need to continue to hide) …

The more relevant discussion is with regards to the need for Apostolic unity with Rome.

Catholics who become Freemasons are excommunicated, but that’s the same result as happens to those who join any number of sects which break from Catholic unity.

All of this is somewhat off-topic because I believe your concern was with the tone of the discussions. You wondered if it was impermissable to “question” Catholic belief, and I hope you can see that questions about the Catholic Faith are permitted here on CAF.

After that, a discussion on the nature of Freemasonry (or your particular version of it) should be opened up on a new thread, in my opinion.
 
Yes. That is my only concern, and it seems that forgiveness is in season.

Peter.
 
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