Presumably the local ordinary was expected to conduct an investigation to see whether a particular secret society in his diocese was engaged in a plot against the Church. But first, we should take a brief look at the documents which created the recent confusion.Ĭardinal Franjo Seper, then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, sent a letter dated July 19, 1974, to Cardinal John Krol, which concluded that 'Canon 2335 regards only those Catholics who join associations which plot against the Church.' Even if it were determined that a particular Masonic association did not plot against the Church, membership was still forbidden to clerics, religious and members of secular institutes. We will examine the major reasons why the Church has taken the attitude it has since the mid-eighteenth century and why these reasons justify the present position. Catholic and non-Catholic, got the impression that the Church had softened its stand against membership in Freemasonry. Articles in the Catholic press ' told readers that under certain circumstances such membership was now allowed.

From 1974 to 1981, and even beyond, an undetermined number of Catholic men joined the Lodge, and many of them retain their membership. What has created a pastoral problem in some dioceses is that for a period of some years membership by the laity in Masonic Lodges seemed to be an option. That the Church today considers Masonic membership serious enough to deny the Eucharist to 'Catholic Masons' is also clear. That the Church has for centuries condemned Freemasonry and excommunicated Catholics who joined the Lodge, or refused baptism to those who declined to sever their Lodge affiliations, is clear. Pastoral Problem Due to Misunderstandings We should understand that, worldwide, Freemasonry shares many beliefs and customs, but is not a unified organization it includes the United Grand Lodge of England the fifty independent grand lodges in the United States lodges in Canada, Australia and New Zealand Prince Hall Masonry the so-called Christian Masonry of Germany and the three Scandinavian countries the various Grand Orients of Europe and Latin America co-Masonic bodies irregular lodges, such as the Italian P2 Lodge and others. This paper will examine the reasons for the historical and present position of the Church vis-a-vis Freemasonry and will do so in the American context. In part it declared, 'The Church's negative position on Masonic associations, therefore, remains unaltered, since their principles have always been regarded as irreconcilable with the Church's doctrine.' The document added that 'Catholics enrolled in Masonic associations are involved in serious sin and may not approach Holy Communion.'

The most recent statement was given by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, November 26, 1983. Clement XII forbade Catholic membership in these lodges, and the opposition of the Catholic Church has been restated by seven other popes. Modern speculative Freemasonry began in 1717 with the establishment in London of the Grand Lodge of England.

Elk lodge membership