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Vatican Punishes French Priest for Being a Freemason
BBC ^ | 5/24/13

Posted on 05/25/2013 3:31:08 PM PDT by marshmallow

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To: marshmallow

I think there is a big difference between euro-masonry and what we have in the US, at least that’s the impression I get. That said, I’ve always wondered why a group that requires faith to join would even want anyone to join them who would be violating the rules of their faith to join. Seems like it’s defeating the purpose kinda.

Freegards


21 posted on 05/25/2013 5:58:29 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: marshmallow

Too bad the Vatican wasn’t so zealous about kicking clergy out of the Church for molesting children.


22 posted on 05/25/2013 6:11:10 PM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: RetiredArmy
Not hard to comprehend, if one is educated at all in spiritual matters.

Toying with occult forces is an extremely dangerous endeavor.Dabbling with evil has consequences. Those “secret fraternal” societies claiming kinship with and/or advanced knowledge of arcane secrets of Judaism and Christianity are not what they claim, and are neither Jewish or Christian.

While I do not profess myself to be a Christian, much less a Catholic Christian, I do have immense respect for their belief system. If simple strictures are followed, one is insulated from spiritual evil to a large degree.

In the battle of good versus evil, there are many foot soldiers trying their best to protect mankind.

Personally, an atheist doesn't trouble me as much as the individual who professes to believe in God, cloaks himself under cover of any established church, and secretly works to undermine that church, and it's teachings.
Who is really the evil one, in Gods eyes?
The atheist who honestly does not have any faith in the existence of a God or of Demons, but still conducts himself as a moral human being, deeming certain actions and behaviors intrinsically either right or wrong?
OR
The person who does firmly believe in God and Demons, but chooses to negotiate with evil elements, for their own personal amusement and advancement, knowing the potential costs to all of mankind?

An honest atheist did not commit a mortal sin, in this case.
That sin would be the dishonest priests.

God will judge us all by his laws, which are only dimly understood by mankind.

Judgement Day will be very interesting...not sure how we can plan to sit in the same section, but hey, I promise we will all meet up there!

23 posted on 05/25/2013 6:25:33 PM PDT by sarasmom (The obvious takes longer to discover for the obtuse.)
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To: Texas Fossil; jimfree; Eric in the Ozarks; Maine Mariner
As long as I’ve been a Mason I have had to deal with people who profess to know what we Masons are up to....the list of conspiracies is long. Some who condemned the Masons the most had a change of heart when I or a fellow Mason went to bat and got their child or a child of one of their friends or family into a Masonic childrens hospital. Such is the way of things!!!!
24 posted on 05/25/2013 6:30:09 PM PDT by ontap
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To: marshmallow

25 posted on 05/25/2013 6:47:38 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: ontap

The way of the Masons is always low key.


26 posted on 05/25/2013 7:19:24 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (NRA Life Member)
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To: ontap

Yes. I have observed what you stated.

And there is the nonsense put on TV that purports to reflect history related to this. 10% factual 50% total lies 25% Pure ignorance 15% Twilight Zone.


27 posted on 05/25/2013 7:38:44 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: ontap
This post is not meant to bash you or your fraternal organization, but just to provide some links to resources (books) which explain why Catholics and some other Christians will not become Masons, which you might want to check out sometime.    The first two books were written by a former Mason and are addressed mainly to Catholics, while the third book additionally explains why some Protestants and Orthodox also will not become Masons.

   Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge - John Salza

   Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons - John Salza

   Christianity and American Freemasonry - William Joseph Whalen

29 posted on 05/25/2013 7:40:18 PM PDT by Heart-Rest ("You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:32)
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To: RetiredArmy

Freemasons will go to Heaven if they’re good people, too - that is, if they follow the Commandments and abide by the Law, because they honestly can’t know any better. They have substituted a sort of ritualistic, statist Unitarianism for belief in Jesus Christ, but they’re in a state of what used to be referred to as “invincible ignorance.” So while it’s no blame to them, it would be blameful for a knowledgeable Catholic, especially a priest, to become a Mason.

Most US Masons have no idea what’s behind their group. Protestants never had any problem with Freemasonry, even though it’s technically atheistic or esoteric, but that’s because most of them were unaware of the deeper connections. They liked the ritual, which was missing in the Protestant churches, and also the all-male secrecy part of it. Most US Masons, I suspect, have always just regarded it as a social and benevolent club. So they’re not to blame, and the only people to blame are we Catholics because we haven’t made the message clear.


30 posted on 05/25/2013 7:41:49 PM PDT by livius
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To: RetiredArmy

What’s screwed up are the simple minded people who take everything they read about the Church in the DLEMM as gospel. Don’t trust the DLEMM unless of course they are reporting about the Church. Brilliant.


31 posted on 05/25/2013 7:51:36 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro can't pass E-verify)
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Comment #32 Removed by Moderator

To: knarf; Salvation

The Knights of Columbus have nothing to do with freemasonry. It is a fraternal organization with 3 degrees and you have to be a pratical Catholic to join. The KofC is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, you don’t see that with the masons. Also, it was formed to be a benefit organization for widows and orphans and continues today with its AAA-rated Insurance products.


33 posted on 05/25/2013 7:53:42 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: knarf

no


34 posted on 05/25/2013 8:00:44 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: ontap

You don’t worship the devil? You have never killed anyone?


35 posted on 05/25/2013 8:01:55 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Redleg Duke
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Quaesitum est

DECLARATION ON MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS, (Click link for full statement)
by Joseph Card. RATZINGER, Prefect (now Pope Benedict XVI)
Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 1981 pp. 240-241; English language edition of L’Osservatore Romano, 9March 1981).
 

1. Cf. AAS 73 (1981) pp. 240-241.
As the declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Masonry says, no Catholic may be a Mason. By grave sin the Church means that to continue as a Mason in contempt of this decision of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope John Paul II, is grave matter, which together with knowledge of that fact and free choice makes for mortal sin. Such a person would be unable to receive Holy Communion until such time as he renounced Masonry and went to Confession.

You will also notice that the statement of Cardinal Ratzinger says that the local priest or even a bishop has no authority to change this.   Someone who was not aware of these facts would, of course, not be guilty of mortal sin. However, once a Catholic is aware of the Church’s position, he is obliged to follow it. From that point forward, to disregard the judgment of the Church would be, as the Congregation declares, seriously wrong.

 
Some have tried to say that American Masonry is different from European Masonry, which has a history of plotting against the government and the Church. The basic problem with all Masonry, however, is that it is a society which fosters a religious- philosophical attitude of indifference to religious truth, even substituting its own naturalistic dogma and rituals for those of Christianity.

Such indifference is incompatible with belief in the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation. We may not “play-act” in the lodge of the Great Architect on Thursday night, then worship “in spirit and in truth” on Sunday morning at the altar of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the unique Lord and Redeemer of the Universe, the Word-made-flesh who reveals the Father, and who together with the Father sends the Holy Spirit. The Creed and the Masonic oath are irreconcilable!

 
Masonry is not the Jaycees, in which people of all religions and philosophies come together to work on local business problems. Masonry has its own religious and philosophical worldview, its own religious language, its rituals and its morality.

In the library of every lodge you will find Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma. A top American Mason, he is the greatest writer on the real meaning behind Masonic beliefs and rituals. Even the title of his book shows that Masonry has a morality and a doctrine. If they are not Catholic morality and Catholic doctrine, and in fact they aren’t even Christian, a Catholic or any Christian may not follow them.

This is why, since the 1700s the popes have consistently rejected Freemasonry as incompatible with the faith. The motives and works of most masons may be good and benign, but this does not change the choice which the Catholic has to make between the religious philosophy of masonry and that of Catholicism.

36 posted on 05/25/2013 8:02:02 PM PDT by Coleus
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Comment #37 Removed by Moderator

To: ontap

The Catholic Church is a private organization (and those Catholic FReepers know how much I like messing with them) that can make their own membership standards. Actually when it comes to pro-abortion politicians, they need to enforce them.


38 posted on 05/25/2013 8:11:24 PM PDT by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: livius

Some Protestant Christians have a problem with being Masons, others don’t. At least that’s what I’ve observed on the mason threads on FR.

Freegards


39 posted on 05/25/2013 8:12:09 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: DixieOklahoma; reuben barruchstein; theprophetyellszambolamboromo; Alusch; house of cards; ...
About the Knights of Columbus                   History of the Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus: Celebrating 125 Years of Faith In Action
 
 
    

 

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be
added to or taken off  the Knights of Columbus ping list

40 posted on 05/25/2013 8:17:32 PM PDT by Coleus
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