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I've certainly heard that. In fact, my friend has used that to "prove" the Vatican/Mason connection a number of times. He's quite amusing, especially after a few pints down the pub.

And, of course, the sedevacantist element uses the same Vatican/Mason connection alot, too...

Masonic Catholics used to confuse me quite a bit. One of the altar boys at my parish used to talk about how he couldn't wait to be a Mason like his father. But, then again, Masonry in this country doesn't have the same stigma it does in the Old World. And after the discussions we've had about the "unmentionable word" in other threads, I'm just about ready for anything calling itself Catholic nowadays. I don't like it, but it doesn't shock me as much .

Dear Mikey,

As you know, the Masonic Order was originally quite Catholic and even Popes belonged to it until its condemnation by the Church in 1707.

This medieval Guild of Masons promoted a special devotion to the "Four Holy Crowned Ones" or Christian Martyrs killed near the Temple of Solomon.

Much of the enduring Masonic ritual was taken from that of the Knights Templar, condemned with Vatican approval in France.

Most of the Templars escaped however and regrouped in countries like Portugal where they were known as the "Order of Christ" with exactly the same Rule of Life first written for the Templars by St Bernard of Clairvaux.

Christopher Columbus belonged to this Order and so the Crosses on the sails of his three ships that discovered the Western continents were Templar Crosses . . .

In some ways, the symbolism and emblems of the Masons and the Knights of Columbus are the same.

The Catholic Church has never been against such societies, but only when they espoused an anti-Catholic agenda.

Alex

Yea, yea, yea. And now the historians say Columbas was a secret Jew.

Dear Mikey,

That he could have been a Crypto-Jew is entirely possible.

Jews were terribly persecuted in the Iberian peninsula and often accepted Baptism to protect themselves.

They often practiced aspects of Judaism in secret, such as lighting candles in private on Friday evenings.

As a matter of fact, descendants of these Crypto-Jews have begun studying Judaism in Spain and numbers have actually returned to Judaism with the help of Rabbis.

What twigged their interest is why their families maitained such traditions as lighting candles on Friday evenings, when they came to realize this wasn't part of Catholic tradition.

Sorry for the shock . . .

Alex