THE ANTI-CATHOLIC NATURE OF FREEMASONRY

Catholic Church Teaching on Freemasonry ^ | March 17, 1927 | MARTIN J. SCOTT, S.J.

[vox_freedom]

The Roman Catholic Church doesn't like the fact that Freemasonry doesn't insist on each member being active in the Roman Catholic Church.

Huh?
It would be helpful to see anything connecting this assertion with fact. No Catholic is allowed to be a Freemason, under direct threat of excommunication. Period. There are reasons for this including Masonic secret oaths and various beliefs that put the organization at odds with the Catholic religion and teachings.
That is fact, not some paronoia about "all Freemasons must be Catholic."
Oh, and the Catholic faith doesn't require Rotarians to be Roman Catholic either, or Chamber of Commerce members or Garden Club participants, or Kiwanians, etc., etc. yet none of those groups are forbidden.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

the prayers are to the Architect of the Universe.

Not in my lodge it wasn't, all prayers were directed to God. The one and only true God.

[Eastbound]

Thanks for the ping!

September 11th, today. Not really a good day for this.

[Cicero]

Well, to tell you the truth, it's not an issue that bothers me a whole lot.

I think about ten years ago, I got a letter from the Masons inviting me to join, I'm not quite sure why. I sent back a polite letter declining and explaining that I was a Catholic, and I never heard anything more.

That was the only time. On the other hand, I've had Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door and invite me to join five or six times. I feel sorry for them, because they believe that only 144,000 saints will be saved, and I suspect there are too many low-level door-to-door workers for all of them to be included in that number. If they make any new converts I'd think that would decrease their chances. Or maybe only the higher-ups in the organization will be saved.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Otherwise, I might get the idea that Masonic agents are purposefully quoting Catholics out of context to make them look bad. ;-)"

SORRY! (I'm Freeping on a blackberry in an airport and read too quickly.)

[vox_freedom]

Excellent, and thanks for the background.
The victory @ Lepanto was a miracle without a doubt and attributable to the Holy Rosary prayed by the men on the ships, and so many others including Pope St. Pius V, that fateful morning.
Don't you agree that if this battle were lost, Europe would have fallen like dominos towards Islamist domination?

[sitetest]

Dear MeanWestTexan,

FReeping on a BLACKBERRY in an AIRPORT??

Geez, you really got it bad.

;-)


sitetest

[MeanWestTexan]

"Wikipedia says that . . "

OK, stop right there. LOL.

Whatever the loonies tell you, the Masonic FRATERNITY -- and that's all it is, a fraternity --- is based on Judeo-Christian ethics, morals, and history.

Period.

Blue Lodge Masons pray, in the "name of the Lion of the Tribe of Judea" to the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob to open the lodge.

York Rite Masons pray to same God in the name of Jesus, the Christ.

Every blue lodge is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evanglist.

(No idea about the Scottish Rite.)

And Deist DON't PRAY. (Just trivia, Thomas Jefferson was likely a deist, and that's why he was never a mason.)

[MarkBsnr]

In the organizations that I have been part of, the focus seemed very different.

The Masonic focus was very inward - much emphasis placed on the secrecy and on the performance of the rites. The degrees and even the lodge opening and closing ceremonies had a tremendous emphasis. The welfare of the members was certainly of great importance. But there wasn't as much external focus as there is in the Knights.

Certainly the Shriners' Hospitals are a wonderful gift to humanity, but I never got the concern for the public, for the community, for individuals outside the Masonic world.

The Councils that I have been in (and headed) spend the majority of their time and business meetings in discussing, planning and carrying out good works both within the parish and without.

Now, nobody in the Masonic world ever approached me or showed me or implied that it or they was anti Catholic - a lot of them were actually fairly religious - normally a center or left Protestant denomination and I met a lot of very good and decent people. I don't want to be attacking them or implying that there is a great anti Catholic conspiracy to bring down the Vatican that is being perpetrated by these good folks. I've just never put it all together before.

I suppose I ought to spend some more time on the Vatican.va website.

Oh, and I've been Sir Knight for about 5 years now... :)

[MeanWestTexan]

He's partially correct.

The Freemasons (since joining with the KT) have been pretty-much non-denominational Christians, and (having been so badly mistreated by the King of France) tended to rail against corruption in government and Church, which put them at odds with those who believe that one must be a Roman-Catholic-or-you're-not-a-Christian (a position with which St. Paul would disagree).

[MotleyGirl70]

ROTFL! :)

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Certainly the Shriners' Hospitals are a wonderful gift to humanity, but I never got the concern for the public, for the community, for individuals outside the Masonic world.

Shriner's burn centers and orthopaedic centers are open to all.........

[sitetest]

Dear MarkBsnr,

Thanks for the info.

Indeed, the focus of any active Council will mostly be outward. I've always marveled at the way that the Order has shaped the activities at the Council level through the entire Surge for Service structure.

"I don't want to be attacking them or implying that there is a great anti Catholic conspiracy to bring down the Vatican that is being perpetrated by these good folks."

That's a good thing, I think. Although I'm interested in your experiences, and the differences that you perceive, I know good folks, too, who are Masons, and have no desire to trash all these good folks.

However, historically, it is true that Europeans Lodges have been anti-Catholic, and it's also true that some Masonic organizations in the United States have at times engaged in anti-Catholic action. See, "Blaine Amendments" and related topics.

The question is whether that adds up to a world-wide conspiracy against the Catholic Church. Maybe. But not proved.

I think that part of the problem is how we Catholics see things. When we see an organization or a human institution, we think "hierarchical," we think "head guy at top," we think in terms of authoritative magisterium.

But as I've gotten to know a little bit about Masonry, I've decided that there really isn't much of an authoritative magisterium to Masonry (I may be wrong on this, it's just my impression). I've known Masons who just laugh at the mention of Pike. They no more accept him as an authoritative Masonic source than they accept the pope as one.

This was at first a little bewildering to me as a Catholic.

However, as I researched, I found that unlike, for instance, the Knights of Columbus, there really isn't all that much discipline about what's done or said in the name of Freemasonry. So, you describe praying to the Great Architect of the Universe, others describe praying to a more explicitly-Christian God.

I've seen the degree ceremonials of different rites, and found that even within the same rite, there are often significant differences between ceremonials of the various degrees from one source to another.

Thus, although I think it's wrong for Catholics to become or remain Masons, and I think it's right to say that at many times and places, Masonic organizations acted against Catholics and the Catholic Church, I can't ascribe to these folks a secret world-wide conspiracy.

"Oh, and I've been Sir Knight for about 5 years now... :)"

Congratulations, Worthy Sir!


sitetest

[MarkBsnr]

Have you ever been to a Jewish or Islamic or Sikh or Buddhist lodge? Their Architect of the Universe is different from ours.

Going out to Deism.com, one finds that:

"What is the basis of Deism? Reason and nature. We see the design found throughout the known universe and this realization brings us to a sound belief in a Designer or God.

Is Deism a form of atheism? No. Atheism teaches that there is no God. Deism teaches there is a God. Deism rejects the "revelations" of the "revealed" religions but does not reject God.

If Deism teaches a belief in God, then what is the difference between Deism and the other religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.? Deism is, as stated above, based on nature and reason, not "revelation." All the other religions (with the possible exception of Taoism, although superstition does play a role in both Buddhism and Taoism) make claim to special divine revelation or they have requisite "holy" books. Deism has neither. In Deism there is no need for a preacher, priest or rabbi. All one needs in Deism is their own common sense and the creation to contemplate.

Do Deists believe that God created the creation and the world and then just stepped back from it? Some Deists do and some believe God may intervene in human affairs. For example, when George Washington was faced with either a very risky evacuation of the American troops from Long Island or surrendering them, he chose the more risky evacuation. When questioned about the possibility of having them annihilated he said it was the best he could do and the rest was up to Providence.

Do Deists pray? Only prayers of thanks and appreciation. We don't dictate to God.

How do Deists view God? We view God as an eternal entity whose power is equal to his/her will. The following quote from Albert Einstein also offers a good Deistic description of God: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God."

You may in your lodge pray to Jesus in name, but there is no compulsion or rule that says that you must pray to anything but the Supreme Being, whatever you make it to be.

I'd be interested to hear if you pray the Our Father in lodge. We do in our Council. Every meeting.

And, unless you're right and Deism.com is wrong, deists can and sometimes do, pray.

[MarkBsnr]

I didn't mean to imply that the Shriners hospitals are not open to all, I meant that the work of the individual lodge is much more self or inward directed, as opposed to the Knights which is much more outward directed.

[Brad C.]

The basic premise is that throughout the predominant religions of the world, there are common themes and believes. Once those are recognized as shared values, men can work together under them to the betterment of mankind.

As others have said here, there are good men in all faiths. Freemasonry provides a means for those who choose to to come together and work for the betterment of mankind.

Some may consider that to be anti-christian, but I will never understand why.

[sitetest]

Dear Brad C.,

For the Catholic Church, the difficulty comes from as much as what is NOT said as what is said.

The protests of Masons notwithstanding, it is my understanding that the ceremonials of the Lodge do impart lessons with religious content, urging men to recognize the Creator through His natural works.

For Catholics, the recognition of God through His creation is called natural revelation. We believe that all men can come to know of the existence of God through reasoned apprehension of natural revelation. And we believe that this knowledge is a good thing.

However, we believe that men should not be taught about natural revelation without also being taught about Divine revelation. At least, we don't believe that Catholics should be taught this way. We believe that the result of this sort of teaching is the error of naturalism, seeing only the natural revelation, and rejecting the Divine revelation.

Personally, I used to give short shrift to this argument. How can one condemn an organization for teaching that part of the truth that is most universally accepted, while leaving alone that part of the truth that is most universally controverted?

However, over the years, I've encountered a fair number of "Catholic Masons." These were Catholic men who had become Masons in good faith, not fully realizing the Church's prohibition against Masonic membership. In conversing with these men, they were initially unbelieving that Catholics may not hold Masonic membership. However, with a little bit of time, they all came to accept that the Catholic Church authentically prohibits Catholics from belonging to the Lodge.

But I then noticed a curious, and very alarming thing in these men. Almost without exception, these men began to bitterly ridicule the Catholic Church and Catholic Faith. They used naturalistic arguments against various doctrines and dogmas, including the Immaculate Conception, the Virgin Birth, the Incarnation, the Real Presence of the Eucharist, even the Resurrection.

These incidents happened years apart, and the men with whom I conversed didn't know each other, or belong to the same Lodges. Nonetheless, every single one of them chose to remain a Mason and to leave the Catholic Church, on the way, rejecting most of Divine revelation.

Whether this is an intentional result of Freemasonry or not is way beyond my ability to discern. I can only look at the results. It appeared that these men were so imbued with the natural revelation that they had come to disdain the Divine revelation, just as the Catholic Church had said men would.

I don't know whether the poster MarkBsnr was a Mason before becoming a Catholic, or vice versa. If the former, he is the first Catholic man to become a Mason, and to ultimately reject Masonry, of whom I'm aware.


sitetest

[Brad C.]

sitetest,

In several discussions I have had outside of the lodge room, others have said similar things to what what you have just written to me.

Basically, what it boiled down to was that in days of old, the RCC wanted to be the sole source of knowledge in these matters, and rejected any group that intruded into their domain.

While I am not Catholic, as you can probably tell; I have been a proud member of the Masonic community for a number of years. Through out those years, I can't begin to count the number of men that I have met and am honored to call my brothers.

On the other hand, my wife is Catholic and the church will not recognize our now 12 year marriage because her first has not been annulled. Despite the fact that her ex has committed unspeakable acts and sins, which were well known by the church at our previous home.

Didn't mean to get off track there, I do wish you the best and appreciate your reply.

[SaintDismas]

I'm so glad that this has appeared in FR for me. My husband, (I'm Catholic and he's not--though he's been going to Mass with me now for over 20 years!)was asked recently by the mayor of our small town to join the Shriners. He also mentioned it to me, and I really like our Mayor. I told him that I was Catholic and that my husband goes to church with me (he even works up there part time). The Mayor told me that there were Catholics in the organization. My husband never seriously considered it, but the troubling thing is, is as you mention, it's so secretive, not even the members are aware of these things about it.

A great learning and teaching moment has come for me now, my son asked me the yesterday what "shriners" are (he's 19)because I commented on the fact that Prez Bush was with some shriners at some event he was speaking at. They had there funny little read hats on. I was a little dumbstruck, not knowing all I needed to say. But now I can and I really appreciate the poster of this article

[sitetest]

Dear Brad C.,

"Basically, what it boiled down to was that in days of old, the RCC wanted to be the sole source of knowledge in these matters, and rejected any group that intruded into their domain."

No, I can't agree with that characterization. Rather, the Church is concerned when only part of the truth is taught, and the result is the denigration of other parts of the truth. This, I've personally seen.

"While I am not Catholic, as you can probably tell; I have been a proud member of the Masonic community for a number of years. Through out those years, I can't begin to count the number of men that I have met and am honored to call my brothers."

I personally know Masons whom I think are good folks, and whom I call friends.

"On the other hand, my wife is Catholic and the church will not recognize our now 12 year marriage because her first has not been annulled. Despite the fact that her ex has committed unspeakable acts and sins, which were well known by the church at our previous home."

Not knowing the circumstances of your wife's previous relationship, it is entirely beyond me to offer any comment other than that I pray that it can be worked out. I will only note that the validity of a sacramental marriage is not generally predicated on the virtue of those joined by it.

"Didn't mean to get off track there, I do wish you the best and appreciate your reply."

You, too.


sitetest