cartermia Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 Okay my uncle was a freemason, so I was just wondering what one was and why (if) the are excommunicated from the church? Please enlighten me on this topic that I know nothing about.
Basilisa Marie Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/camason1.htm Basically, freemasons essentially espouse that all religions are basically the same, God isn't personal but naturalistic, and European freemasons are really anti-Catholic (American freemasons not so much, but then our country has a more religiously tolerant history). Catholics aren't allowed to join any oath-based secret society, that is, any society where you have to swear an oath to keep some rite or ceremony or whatever secret. Oddfellows, masons, etc.
Nihil Obstat Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 I believe joining the Freemasons and affiliated groups entails latae sententiae excommunication. Although I may be wrong about that.
LouisvilleFan Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 Okay my uncle was a freemason, so I was just wondering what one was and why (if) the are excommunicated from the church? Please enlighten me on this topic that I know nothing about. Another good resource here from Fr. Seraphim, a professor at Franciscan University. He is dry, but entertaining in his own way :) http://catholicunderthehood.com/2008/10/07/168-the-masons/ My grandfather was also a Mason and professed Christianity, and definitely not a Catholic. However, there was a Catholic sister at the hospital where he went for dialysis who seemed to soften him up a bit, and he always supported my own decision to convert. Instead of tackling the debate of Freemasony head on (wasn't going to win that outside of a miracle), I chose to emphasize the truths about Christ that he appreciated, especially how we are redeemed through suffering, and thus why Christ is our only salvation. After his funeral, the Masons celebrated a funeral rite which all the family were invited to witness. It was quite beautiful and poetic, with heavy use of metaphors for this life, death, and eternal life. I didn't notice any contradictions to Christianity, or any deistic faith for that matter. Of course, the contradictions to Christianity run more through the philosophy of Freemasonry, and I have read they more explicit in the higher degrees.
4588686 Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 I'm meeting a bunch of people in a mason lodge tomorrow. The head of the lodge wants to cooperate with an organization I'm a Fellow for to do something to combat the lack of access to decent healthcare in rural North Carolina. Glad to see that the Church has its priorities straight.
PhuturePriest Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 I believe joining the Freemasons and affiliated groups entails latae sententiae excommunication. Although I may be wrong about that. No excommunication. The Church simply states that those who join the Freemasons are in a state of Mortal sin and cannot receive the Eucharist. I'm meeting a bunch of people in a mason lodge tomorrow. The head of the lodge wants to cooperate with an organization I'm a Fellow for to do something to combat the lack of access to decent healthcare in rural North Carolina. Glad to see that the Church has its priorities straight. That's very nice of them. I am glad they are doing it. It doesn't change the fact that they are heretics, though, which is the issue the Church takes with the Freemasons, not the good things they do.
4588686 Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 After his funeral, the Masons celebrated a funeral rite which all the family were invited to witness. It was quite beautiful and poetic, with heavy use of metaphors for this life, death, and eternal life. I didn't notice any contradictions to Christianity, or any deistic faith for that matter. Of course, the contradictions to Christianity run more through the philosophy of Freemasonry, and I have read they more explicit in the higher degrees. I called the head of this lodge. He didn't answer. He called back later to apologize and explain that he couldn't answer because he was in church.
PhuturePriest Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 I called the head of this lodge. He didn't answer. He called back later to apologize and explain that he couldn't answer because he was in church. Mightn't it be nice if you would explain where the floopy (And I typed "floopy" for any moderators reading) you are going with this?
4588686 Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Mightn't it be nice if you would explain where the floopy (And I typed "floopy" for any moderators reading) you are going with this? The idea that the Masons are an especially nefarious organization is just silly. I understand saying that Catholics can't be Masons because they (some claim, I don't know) have deistic beliefs.
PhuturePriest Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 The idea that the Masons are an especially nefarious organization is just silly. I understand saying that Catholics can't be Masons because they (some claim, I don't know) have deistic beliefs. I can't recall when anyone said they did no good deeds.
4588686 Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 I can't recall when anyone said they did no good deeds. I can't recall where I said anyone did. I did find some of the links somewhat hyperbolic.
Winchester Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Functionally, it's a boy's club. And they do charity work. Going back in its history, you'll find other stuff. Some masons might be bastards. Some priests molest children. It's almost like individuals make their own choices, or something.
Papist Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 I'm meeting a bunch of people in a mason lodge tomorrow. The head of the lodge wants to cooperate with an organization I'm a Fellow for to do something to combat the lack of access to decent healthcare in rural North Carolina. Glad to see that the Church has its priorities straight. I see your point since the Catholic Church has accomplished nothing in the field of medicine/healthcare. All those hospitals are a front to brainwash weak patients into submitting to antiquated dogma.
KnightofChrist Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) Freemasonry played a direct role in the persecution of the Church in Mexico before and during the Cristero War. They do not always show such open aggression against the Church, but they are enemies of the Church. Edited January 8, 2013 by KnightofChrist
4588686 Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) I see your point since the Catholic Church has accomplished nothing in the field of medicine/healthcare. All those hospitals are a front to brainwash weak patients into submitting to antiquated dogma. Stop attaching strawmen. I never even suggested that was even close to the case. They do not always show such open aggression against the Church, but they are enemies of the Church. This would be the sort of attitude I was talking about, Futurepriest. Edited January 8, 2013 by Hasan
Papist Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Stop attaching strawmen. I never even suggested that was even close to the case. This would be the sort of attitude I was talking about, Futurepriest. Ok. What does this mean, Glad to see that the Church has its priorities straight. after saying this? I'm meeting a bunch of people in a mason lodge tomorrow. The head of the lodge wants to cooperate with an organization I'm a Fellow for to do something to combat the lack of access to decent healthcare in rural North Carolina.
4588686 Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Ok. What does this mean, after saying this? That plenty of Mason lodges do good work and the hysterical reaction to the Masons that exists, at time, within the Church is weird and misplaced. What does that have to do with whether or not the Church does good social work of its own?
KnightofChrist Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 That plenty of Mason lodges do good work and the hysterical reaction to the Masons that exists, at time, within the Church is weird and misplaced. What does that have to do with whether or not the Church does good social work of its own? Seemed like some type of guilt trip, ie the Masons do charity work, therefore it is wrong to be against them. The KKK is another secret organization and enemy of the Church, that today is not so openly aggressive and does charity work. The Church isn't going to make it ok to belong to these groups just because the do charity work.
Papist Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 That plenty of Mason lodges do good work and the hysterical reaction to the Masons that exists, at time, within the Church is weird and misplaced. What does that have to do with whether or not the Church does good social work of its own? Ask yourself that. You are the one whining about the Church's priorities.
PhuturePriest Posted January 14, 2013 Posted January 14, 2013 (edited) Stop attaching strawmen. I never even suggested that was even close to the case. This would be the sort of attitude I was talking about, Futurepriest. Edit. Edited January 14, 2013 by FuturePriest387
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