www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Masonic Lodge in Italy appoints Catholic priest as chaplain

From Catholic News Agency Link to original [catholicnewsagency.com]

Rome, Aug. 08, 2005 (CNA)
Catholic News Agency

In an unusual show of �openness� to the Catholic Church, a Masonic lodge in Italy has announced the appointment of a Catholic priest as chaplain. The news was announced during an address to members of the lodge by Grand Master Fabio Venzi of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Italy.

During his address announcing the appointment of the priest, whom he did not identify by name, Venzi explained what he considers to be the relationship between freemasonry and the Catholic Church. �If we examine the documents at our disposal and if we look at the contrasts of the presumed incompatibility of the Catholic Church with freemasonry, we might get the impression that we find ourselves in the presence of a comedy of errors,� he said.

�The documents of the Holy See,� he continued, �are often based on Masonic realities which we consider �irregular,� and therefore not representative of true Masonic tradition.� �The rituals that have been studied and are considered typical of Masonic thought are not known exactly, but this does not appear to be a question of little importance, since we know that rituals can vary from lodge to lodge.�

Likewise, Venzi stated that �the first chapter of the book Freemasonry, by Zbigniew Suchecki of the Pontifical Lateran University and published by the Liberia Editrice Vaticana, notes: �During the last century, the Grand Eastern Lodge of France and the Grand Eastern Lodge of Italy were among the most anti-clerical Masonic lodges in the world.� We hope that in the future, these lodges, which historically have represented the Anglo-Saxon Masonic tradition, not be considered typical.�

On the other hand, Venzi continued, �When a small opening was conceded, this was not done with much intelligence or common sense. I am referring to Canon 2335 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Under this norm, there was a sanction for Catholics who were members of organizations that in fact machinantur contra Ecclesiam, that is, that �plotted against the Church�.�

Venzi noted that �we have always treated the Holy See with great respect, and we have even named a lodge after Pius II, Enea Silvio Piccolomini. This is unique in the history of freemasonry.�

At the end of address, Venzi announced the appointment of a grand official �who will probably be a part not only of the history of Italian freemasonry, but also of the history of freemasonry in the world, and I don�t think I am wrong. The grand official I am appointing is a priest of the Catholic Church. Let me say it again, of the Catholic Church.�

With this appointment, Venzi claimed to be �making a gesture of openness. Never before has a Masonic lodge made such a gesture towards the Catholic Church, distancing itself from other irregular Masonic lodges that, with their anti-clericalism, have caused much harm to the image of freemasonry in the world.�

�We have played our part and we hope the Church will lay the groundwork and have the patience to deal with the peculiarities and differences within the world of freemasonry,� Venzi said in conclusion.

Please correct me if I am wrong but, wouldn't that Priest be automatically excommunicated? I find this a dangerous move from freemasonry to confuse faithful Catholics. Any thoughts?

God bless

Dear Bernardo,

I understand that there were and are Roman Cardinals who are members of the Freemasons.

The Masons were acceptable to all Catholics until 1707, I believe, when they were excommunicated.

Until that time, even Popes belonged to them and they were known for devotion to the "Four Holy Crowned Ones" martyr-masons at the Temple of Solomon.

This was an off-shoot of the Templars, who were themselves put down earlier in France, but whose membership escaped and joined "reconstituted" knighthoods in other countries, such as Portugal with its "Order of Christ" - which has the same insignia as the Templars.

Alex

Very interesting that France would have one of the first lodges to go anti clerical...makes sense to me.

On the whole issue, however, actions speak a heck of a lot louder than words. If they're not against us, they need to show it in a large way. Until then I'm still convinced that the Masons are out to destroy Christianity.

Nathan,

I'm convinced the Masons are out to destroy Christianity as well, especially the Catholic Church.

Anyway, I surmise that this isn't any showing of "openness" to the Church; I'm sure this priest is secretly a Mason!

I don't know why any self-respecting Italian would be a member of this evil sect!

Logos Teen

Shades of Msgr Bugnini!

Incognitus the Inquisitive Inquisitor

Overeaction. How are they out to destroy Christianity??? Masons may have been a powerful boys club once, but I find that ones around me are full of old men and are quickly dying out and closing. Interestingly enough, several former "temples" around here are now dance schools. I don't think that young people feel the need to join social lodges such as Masons, Elks, Moose, or even Knights of Columbus for that matter.

Just my $.02

Masonry has always been a powerful
enemy of the Church and has been
condemned by a number of Popes:

http://olrl.org/doctrine/vsmasons.shtml


antonius

John,

And I believe your stance is an underreaction.

First of all, you're right in acknowledging that youth do not find any need in social clubs like the ones you mentioned. Honestly, ISTM that people under the age of sixty or so don't in general.

And don't these clubs seem - "gooberish" - for lack of a better term? They certainly do to me.

So, yes, the Masons in modern-day America have evolved into something much different than what they've historically been. As Antoninus pointed out, Freemasonry has been roundly condemned by the Holy Church. Perhaps you should tell the numerous churchmen, from priest to pope, that their writings against Freemasonry were all part of a big "overeaction [sic]."

Logos Teen

I dunno, the Rainbow Girls (or whatever the heck they're called) bring litle kids into the Masons.....

See my responses interspersed below:

Well so be it, then, John. Whatever blows your skirt up. But, for the record, I'm definitely not one of those prone to conspiracy theories and generally find them unappealing. I do not term the Masonic issue as conspirational, however. And, like I said, it seems neither did many hierarchs of the Church.

I do agree that, nowadays, it's perhaps not the most pressing issue facing the Church; but I do think Masonic infiltration of the Church and Modernism go hand-in-hand.

Logos Teen

I would agree that Masons are not as virulently anti-Catholic as in past times. Probably, the European lodges were more so than the American ones. Most of the Masons I know are in the harmless doofus category. But it seems to me that their purposes are mostly secular, not particularly religious.

OK Teen--

When you find out where the Masonic infiltration of the Church is happening, please let me know so that I can put my filters on!

Personally--modernism ain't all that bad...ever see "Thoroughly Modern Millie?"

Cheers!

John K

Sorry--duplicate post. The Masons made me do it!

Glory be to Jesus Christ!

As a point of info, John K,these are'nt the "same old theories". There was a time when the Masons really did want to destroy the Catholics, and a time when the Catholics didn't like the Masons all that much either. Things may have changed since the 1960's (the last time I heard about hostility).

But I higly doubt it.