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I hope this thread is in the right place...

While I am still unable to fully grasp what the Masonic, the research that I have done stats that the Catholic Church forbids membership to this movement and yet even more:
-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Now I don't really know how other churches deal with this, but I know for a fact that many, many, of the key persons at local churches in here are actually Masonic, furthermore I hear of a priest which is or was one.

Could anyone explain to me please what should the church do?
and
I believe that many people who belong to such group are unaware of its doctrine, actually, most join because of the very good "connections" they can make and eventually do.
any comments on that?

Masonary is forbidden by Canon Law, pure and simple!
Stephanos I
When I return home I will see if there is any Canonical penalty attacthed for those people who join such organizations.

"Masonary" [sic] is essentially a 'fraternal organization' accompanied by a lot of rituals. Scholars opine that the Freemasons arose as a social group, and the rituals were established to accommodate a real human need for the substance of ritual. (Cf. the Romanian/American anthropologist Mircea Eliade: "Myth, Ritual and Reality").

If I remember accurately, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops had a statement about this a number of years ago. Their perspective was that 'social' organizations, including the 'dress up and do ceremonial things' were not harmful in themselves, as long as they did not come into conflict with basic Christian and Catholic values.

The Shriners, for example, ride around on little cars with fezes on their heads (an abomination for Greeks!!), but they raise a lot of money for children's hospitals. Same with the Lions Club that focuses on vision problems. Or the "Odd Fellows" - originally a group of wealthy men in England who anonymously donated to the poor and to charitable causes and would make no public announcements - hence the name "Odd Fellows". Same with the Elks Club, the Moose and even the Knights of Columbus. All groups of men who get together, drink (probably) too much beer, and invest their time in helping others.

It would seem that as long as there are no human or animal sacrifices, or worship of strange gods, then there should be no harm.

OK! All together now: "In heaven, there is no beer.....Opsha! Opsha!!"

With (smiling) blessings for all!!

Dr John

PS: Is the Chicken Dance a 'ritual'?

What about the secret oaths which members of the Masonic orders take?

Those secret oaths where the candidate gives permission for his throat to be slashed or his entrails to pulled out should he violate the secret rules or fail to obey his superiors in the Masonic order -- these alone should raise serious questions.

Several Catholic priests have written about the dangers of associating with members of the masonic order.


I knew an Orthodox hieromonk who used to accompany his Bishop on pastoral visits. There was one parish they visited where the members were cold and unwelcoming. The parish was obviously dying. When the Bishop and hieromonk looked at the ring on the finger of the parish priest, they were surprised to see not a wedding ring, but a masonic ring. In that parish, rituals were observed to the letter of the law, but there was no love.

The KofC is a bit different.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians was initially founded in Ireland to hide priests from British soldiers, who were summarily executing them.

The Irish migration to the US was unusual in that the women came first (the pattern for all other groups was men first, who made money and sent it back for the women to join them). The AOH requested that the AOH in America be formed to protect the women (one of big things to protect them from was marrying Protestants . . .).

Fr. McGivney was involved in the AOH in America, but wanted an organization open to all Catholic men. At the time, catholics had the most dangerous jobs (particularly the Irish--they were used for jobs in the south that were considered too dangerous for slaves, such as draining swamps). The origin of the KofC is primarily a Catholic self-defense group and to protect the widows & orphans--the KofC life insurance goes all of the way back tothe beginning.

Today, now that being Catholic is not so dangerous, the KofC is much like the other fraternal groups, but with a Catholic focus.

hawk, active KofC and former AOH

(1.) Masonry denies that Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation, i.e., "there are many roads to God".

(2.) There are wings of Masonry which, mostly in Europe, which are atheistic and especially hostile to Christianity. They engage in political activity to remove the influence of the Church in society. (St. Pio of Pietrelcina was involved in the conversion of one such individual). I know a man born in Sicily who had become a freemason there, but who left and returned to the Church. He said that the initiation rite into his Lodge involved spitting upon a crucifix.

(3.) The leaders of the French Revolution were up to their necks in "Illuminist" Freemasonry. The goal was to create a "new world order", overthrowing the old Christian social order.

(4.) William Whalen wrote a book on Masonry a few years ago. He points out that the worst Supreme Court decisions in the U.S. (removal of prayer from Public Schools, Roe v. Wade, etc.) were the work of Masonic justices.

Masonry is not a benign force. That is why, until recently, it was an excommunicable offense for a Catholic to join a Masonic lodge. It is still considered to be seriously sinful to do so, as pointed out above.

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

Actually after this the Pope reinstated the Canon forbidding membership in organizations like the Masons, although they were not mentioned by name the implication was clear.

And far from being a faternal organization (the veneer they present) Masonism is an occult anti christian religion.
I known because I obtained some of their secrect books from my grandfather.
That is the big danger you see they lure people in under the clothing of being merely a benign "fraternal brotherhood" which they are not.
Stephanos I
Everyone should be aware of the dangers and delusions of Masonary! It's a serious issue to the salvation of one's soul.

Hello all...

Stephanos is absolutely correct that Freemasonry is an occult...

In higher leves of Freemasons (30 to 33)...they worship the devil.

My friend who practices witchry (because she's an Indian aka Native American), she says that Freemasons are devil worshippers.

I even challenged my friend on witchry, she says there are good witches and evil witches.

But that's NOT the point, the point I'm trying to make, is that my friend who is not a Christian professes that Freemasons are "hidden" satanists. Very interesting.

I wonder for a long time in the Greek Church...there is a group called A.H.E.P.A. (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association). IS that the same as Freemason??? Or is it similar to Roman Catholic's Knights of Columbus. That's the question I've been wanting to ask someone on this forum for a long time but didn't know when's a good time...but now that Freemasonry is the topic...it's a perfect time for me to ask.

I want to mention that we need to remember that the FOUNDATION of our Country...United States of America...is strongly Freemason. So, there are a lot of hidden anti-Christian elements of our country (the U.S. Constitution, laws, government, etc. etc. etc.).

I remember that Pope of Rome (don't remember which one) wrote either an Apostolic Letter or Encyclical (or Papal Bull) declaring that the United State's separation of religion and state is heresy. Of course, I am sure that Freemasonry is a root of that.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

Dear SPDunas,

While I don't doubt that Masons had a lot to do with the founding of the USA, I think the current Pope would disagree with your assesment of the country.



Not quite as bleak as that other Pope's point of view.

Dear Shane,

NO--AHEPA is nothing like the Freemasons...

Regards,
Alice

William Whalen's book, mentioned by Dn. Robert, is titled Christianity and American Freemasonry. It is available from Ignatius Press. ISBN 0-89870-672-6

It's original copyrite is from 1958, more than a few years ago, although it was revised (presumably updated) in 1987. It is an excellent book. I read it in one sitting and highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.

Living His Life Abundantly on EWTN recently did a very informative program on Freemasonry from the perspective of a Catholic who joined Freemasonry for the commaraderie and eventually saw how it jeopardized his Catholic faith.

John Salza on Freemasonry [womenofgrace.com]

wow,

You guys have clarified many things for me, and for that I am most thankful.

I am still wondering about the present stand of the Church in this matter, and how a simple person like me, and my priests should deal with this?

I have heard the claim that Freemasons are #1 charitable per capital, though I wonder if we should accept such charity that clearly has nothing to do with love or Christian ideology.

I don't know about them being #1 charitable...if they are, then we need to ask...what kind of charity? Is it relating to charities that promote pro-abortion, or something that's not agreeable?

I know that the Catholic Church ranks the highest in charities in the world, so I find it hard that the Freemasons are #1.

Secondly...I'd like to point out that their charitable endeavers, however nice it is, is probably a major cover-up front to show that they are "good" people. Even the devil can be very nice and charming to people, can even be helpful, but there are underlining motivations.

So, we can't allow ourselves be swayed by their "generosity."

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

I feel that in all fairness I have to point out that here in the UK they are very very charitable .

I know where fees were paid for 2 Children to continue at independant [ Fee Paying Schools outside the State System ] for 5 years after their Father's business collapsed. They were then supported through University . Not only were their fees paid for - but all necessities for School and Uni were provided.

Various Hospitals are also set up here - free when necessary to Masonic members and their families, Also Schools [ boarding ] which have excellent reputations and again for needy cases everything is provided.

Yes - my Father and his brother were Masons so I did come across some of these activities and I do know the emphasis that was placed on the fact that charity was given freely and frequently anonymously

I doubt whether the 2 children I quoted ever knew that it was not their parents who put them through School and Uni.