Anglican rift deepens over Episcopalian ordination of lesbian bishop

The Times ^ | 5/17/2010 | Giles Whittell in Washington, and Ruth Gledhill

[Claud]

I’m not positive, but the divorces might not be a problem if neither of you were Catholic to begin with.

But yeah, the Freemasonry would be a problem.

[elpadre]

Bishop Bruno, the head Bishop in LA was once a professional football player and I wonder if he collided with some of those 350 pound defensive linemen too often. He is the ring leader in the progressive movement there.

[PalmettoMason]

But yeah, the Freemasonry would be a problem.

That's what I have heard. I don't necessarily understand the reasons behind it, but it would be an impediment.

As I said in a post yesterday, I have tried other denominations, but the church services just don't feel like "worship" to me. I have gotten spoiled on the ritual and reverence in the Anglican Mass.

So, I suppose my choices are down to staying with the Episcopal Church and ignoring what is going on (not likely), giving up an organization that I enjoy and KNOW to be harmless (also unlikely), or continue to stay away from church altogether and just try to live the best life I know how (most likely).

Maybe NOW would be a good time to take up golf. The courses should be a little less crowded on Sunday mornings. LOL.

[SaraJohnson]

It’s the gay sex church now. What progress!

[Cronos]

I keep saying this to all Traditional Anglicans who come to enrich The Church - Thank you! Thank you for coming in and strengthening the Church with your conservativeness, your faith and your energy.

[Cronos]

If you were both married outside the Catholic Church then the Church wouldn’t consider your prior marriages as valid Church marriages, so no worries about that. The Freemason bit — that’s what would not be allowed.

[Cronos]

From Catholic.com

Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic faith. Freemasonry teaches a naturalistic religion that espouses indifferentism, the position that a person can be equally pleasing to God while remaining in any religion.

Masonry is a parallel religion to Christianity. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states, "Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival to the religion of the Gospel. It includes temples and altars, prayers, a moral code, worship, vestments, feast days, the promise of reward or punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiation and burial rites."

Masonry is also a secret society. Its initiates subscribe to secret blood oaths that are contrary to Christian morals. The prospective Mason swears that if he ever reveals the secrets of Masonry - secrets which are trivial and already well-known - he wills to be subject to self-mutilation or to gruesome execution. (Most Masons, admittedly, never would dream of carrying out these punishments on themselves or on an errant member).

Historically, one of Masonry's primary objectives has been the destruction of the Catholic Church; this is especially true of Freemasonry as it has existed in certain European countries. In the United States, Freemasonry is often little more than a social club, but it still espouses a naturalistic religion that contradicts orthodox Christianity. (Those interested in joining a men's club should consider the Knights of Columbus instead.)

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).

[PalmettoMason]

Yeah. I am amazed that the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy are OK, but a member of a organization that is harmless is not. Oh well, it’s their “club”, their rules.

[Cronos]

Nancy and Ted are not ok -- both are/were CINOs and should be hounded out of The Church

however, here we're talking about organizations not individuals. You as an individual cannot be placed in the same despicable category as Nance, but the Freemason organization, the deeper you go, is contrary to Christian morals. In the United States, Freemasonry is often little more than a social club, but it still espouses a naturalistic religion that contradicts orthodox Christianity, but it has a more malevolent image in Europe.

[PalmettoMason]

Sorry, I am posting via Blackberry. Will respond when I get to my laptop.