34. Catholicism and Masonry (III)

We ended up with these lessons devoted to the position of the Church against Masonry. Now we expose some of the major pronouncements of the hierarchy of the Church, placing special emphasis on the most recent developments after the Second Vatican Council. Finally, we offer some of the reasons why it is so attractive, without forgetting that it is the devil who is always behind everything that is detrimental to the Church.

Past the Second Vatican Council, the German Church initiated an approximation to Masons to see if it was possible to establish some kind of dialog. After the contacts made, there was an official declaration, published in L’Osservatore Romano on 9 July 1980: “Between the Catholic Church and Freemasonry there have been held official talks in the years 1974-1980, commissioned by the German Bishops’ Conference and the Grand Lodges gathered. In the course of those talks, attempts have been made to see if the Masonry has undergone changes over time, such that consent may be given for Catholics to belong to it. The talks have been developed in an atmosphere of cordiality and with great openness and objectivity. We have studied the first three stages (degrees) of belonging to the sect. After careful study of these three stages: first, the Catholic Church has shown that there are fundamental and intractable contrasts. In its essence the Masonry has not changed. Membership in Freemasonry puts into doubt the foundations of the existence of Christ; the meticulous examination of the Masonic rituals and fundamental allegations, as well as the objective finding that today there has been no change in masonry, leads to this obvious conclusion: We do not support the membership in the Catholic Church and at the same time in Masonry.”

The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on February 17, 1981, issued a clarification on the status of Catholics who are associated with the freemasonry which reaffirms the church’s traditional position about Freemasonry.

However, the current Code of Canon Law (promulgated in 1983) does not speak explicitly of Freemasonry but is limited to the following general warning against that kind of partnership: Canon 1374: “Who is part of an association that schemes against the Church should be punished with a just sentence; who promotes or directs that association, has to be punished with prohibition.”

Some bishops thought that this canon was no longer applicable to the freemasonry because they don’t name it explicitly. They believed that Freemasonry had evolved and that is no longer “plotting” against the Church. They suggested that the prohibition could be repealed against the entry of Catholics into the Masonic lodges. In the face of these doubts, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a note on 26 November 1983, in which it was stated: “It has been questioned whether there has been any change in the decision of the Church in regard to the Masonic associations since the Code of Canon Law, unlike the previous one, did not expressly mention them. This Sacred Congregation is in a position to respond that this is due to the editorial discretion that was followed also in the case of other associations that are not mentioned in terms that are contained in broader categories.

Therefore, the negative judgment of the Church on the Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church (“earum principia semper iconciliabilia sunt cum Ecclesiae doctrina”) and therefore continues to prohibit a member of them. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion. Is not in the competence of local ecclesial authorities to provide a judgment about the nature of the masonic associations which might imply a repeal of what has been decided above, and this is in line with the declaration of this Sacred Congregation promulgated on 17 February 1981. In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this statement, which has been decided at an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.” The note was signed by Cardinal Ratzinger, the present Pontiff, the then Prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith.

It is also worth wondering why so many are going to Freemasonry; what is its appeal?

Freemasonry is a product of the alienation from God into which men have fallen. Their influence on Hispanics, for example, is favored by the machismo that considers the practice of Christianity ‘as only for women.’ The participation in the masonic lodge has been presented as an alternative for men, where, instead of submitting to God, talk business and make contacts according to their interests. This has deepened the crisis of false masculine identity. The consequences have been severe for both family and society.

It must be borne in mind that many enter the masonry looking to take advantage of its powerful network of contacts and influences. It is a great temptation to perceive the opportunities that are opening up in the business and jobs for the members of the lodge. The Masons tend to help each other and have some charities. It is also attractive to men in the belief that they can enter into an elite group of free thinkers. Without a doubt, many are confused and believe that they can be Catholics and masons. Are sincerely appalled to know the position of the Church against Freemasonry. When you explain the reasons, they can’t believe it. They say that his lodge is not like that. It is true that some lodges do not have traditional aggressiveness against the Church, but the philosophy remains the same. One has also to take into account that the low-ranking members do not know the dark reality of freemasonry because it is hidden until they achieve a higher degree and are more influenced and committed.

A mason, who is called Catholic, wrote an article by ensuring that the degrees of Freemasonry are complementary with the beliefs of “any religion that believes in God.” I could not understand the “fanaticism” of “some” in the Church condemning Freemasonry. Later in the same article reads: “Masonry has inspired me to be tolerant and to learn from other religions. I read with great interest the Kabbalah, the Qur’An… all Masons worship the same God.” It Seems by this writing that his lodge does not directly attack the Catholic Church, but something happened that sometimes is worse: they’ve managed to confuse you so that you do not see the difference between reading the Bible and the Cabal (writings of the occultism).