Masons claim compatibility with Christian faith, call for lifting of excommunication

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Madrid, Spain, May 4, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The head office of Masons in Spain is calling on the Spanish bishops’ Committee on the Doctrine of the Faith to review the decree of excommunication imposed on Catholics who practice Masonry, claiming it does not contradict Christianity.

In a press release, the Spanish masons said that the Church is committing an “injustice” in their case, because the Masonic system to which they belong—the Rectified Scottish Rite (RSR)—is “totally Christian” and does not attack “Christianity or any Roman Catholic dogma.”

The masons said they have turned over the complete texts of the RSR to the Benedictine Monastery of Montserrat “as sign of our good will and so that they can be calmly reviewed and studied by the person or persons designated by the Catholic Church.”

The masons said the press release was “the continuation of diverse contacts” that have been made with the Church in Spain. They added that they were determined to find a resolution to the matter.

The Code of Canon Law promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983 states in canon 1374 that, a “person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict.”

Since the new code only implicitly mentions Masonry, then-prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, published a statement on November 26 of the same year in order to clear up any confusion and reaffirming the Church’s “negative judgment” regarding Masonry, “because their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the teaching of the Church.

Consequently, membership in such associations continues to be prohibited by the Church. The faithful who belong to Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and cannot present themselves to receive Holy Communion,” the statement noted.

Likewise it warned that local Church authorities do not have the competence to issue pronouncements about the nature Masonic associations that would imply a repealing of what the Church has already established in the declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of February 17, 1981.

Comments: 28

Subscriber comments:

Published by: H Abiff
Boston Ma. 03/12/2009 01:20 PM EST

The Church should spend her time ridding herself of pedophile clergy than chasing fantasies and fallacies created against the Masonic Order. The Church and her covering up of the crimes of child molestation is enough to show she is detroying or self not being destroyed by the lodge. You are all to be pitied!

Published by: J.M. Baker
Connecticut, USA 07/14/2007 12:03 AM EST

The real problem in our culture is the media and lack of focus on human/family values - not some old guys with secret handshakes in a bowling league. Man, stop parroting scripture and get out a little people.

Published by: James Glavin
Vancouver WA. USA 05/09/2007 12:59 AM EST

Noel Larson is correct when he states that we should all concentrate on those who would remove our heads for belief in the Lord Jesus. That's what the French did in their Masonic Revolution with the Guillotine. Remember Fraternity, Equality, Liberty. All hallmarks of the Masons.
Look at Catholic France
now and weep!

Published by: Jack
USA 03/23/2007 02:57 PM EST

Freemasonry, a frivolous satanic cult, will be defeated. See Mt 16:18 to be assured that the gates of hell will never prevail against the Catholic faith, the ONLY TRUE RELIGION.

Jesus Christ, the Truth, is the Lord and one True God forever.

Learn the Truth and accept the Truth. Behold, :

2 Peter 2:2:
There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions through the hypocrisy of liars with branded consciences.

2 Timothy 4:1-4:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who willjudge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers
and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.

Col 2:8:
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world 3 and not according to Christ.

Published by: Noel Larsen
Savannah, Ga 03/22/2007 05:11 PM EST

I find interesting all the comment such as "the practice of Freemasonry ...is an affront to the church".
If that is so, then all fraternal organizations bear this guilt as well. What brought people out of the Dark Ages was light, intelligence, contemplative learning. You would all do well to concentrate on those who would remove your head for your belief in Christ, rather than a fraternity whose ranks seek only brotherhood, charity and God. Shame on you.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY 08/18/2006 04:00 PM EST

Our Blessed Mother had told Fr. Gobbi in the book "To All the Priests" in the 1987 section (Marian Year)that there is a subtle diabolical tactic that is woven by Masonry to ridicule the Holy Father and to neutralize the Magisterium of the Church.

In these times, we need to have happen what St. Francis of Assisi did for the Church when it was under attack back in the 13th century. The Francsiscans almost single-handedly saved Christendom in Europe. St. Maximillian Kolbe started the Knights of the Immaculata under Our Lady's protection for the conversion of all schismatics, Masons, etc.

The Church must never give in to the devil who is behind Masonry, as Our Lady warned Fr. Gobbi. (All should read his book, especially priests) and join the Marian Movement of Priests.

Freemasons have always despised the Catholic Church and the Papacy.

What 1 Timothy 2:5 states is the truth and what Philppians 2:5-11 is the truth.

Don't fall for Masons mask of fund-raising and being philanthropic.

The Red Dragon in Apocalypse is Marxist Communism (aetheism). The
Black Beast is Freemasonry. The two-horned lamb is ecclesiastical Masonry, which has infiltrated the summit of the Church as Our Lady of Fatima warned us.

Pray to Mary our Mother. Pray the Rosary everyday. Wear the Brown Scapular. Do penance. Pray for Masons.

Pray for Holy Mother Church and that the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph and the Sacred Heart of Jesus will save us. Amen.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY 08/10/2006 03:34 PM EST

In regards to this matter once again, I'd like to express how the destructive force of the New Age is a potent weapon of the Freemasons. The two go hand in hand. Remember, Masonry is out to blaspheme God by promoting all sorts of immoral behavior in mainstream society. The U.S. Supreme Court did some job of it in the last century.

Society has almost become so materialistic and void of God, that it seeks to find truth and happiness through the New Age movement. It's not a centralized movement, but a vast array of people publishing all sorts of crazy and esoteric books and information on what they feel will satisfy man. Secretly, it's a lie as Satan is the father od all lies.

Masonry does not accept Jesus as God. Rather they promote a a "free" image of him as a "grand architect." They blaspheme God like there's no tomorrow. Pope Leo XIII spoke out against them the way all clergymen must.

The New Age movement is a monster. It leads man into believing anything he wants. It's probably the worst thing that we face yet. Our Lord tells us "Blessed is he that endures to the end."

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY 07/14/2006 03:19 PM EST

Pope Leo XIII was clear about this cult. Also, people should read "Freemasonry" by Bro. Madden, O.F.M. Masonry is out to corrupt morals and it seeks doing this by "reviving" the ancient pagan cults from Greece, Persia, Rome, Phoenicia, India, etc. The New Age movement is also in cahoots as well. The ultimate end is to lead the faithfu away from God and to worship the devil. Look at the world that we live in and see how it promotes paganism and the glorification of the self. That's what Freemasonry is about.

Fatima ushered in the era of the "Woman Clothed with the Sun" (Rev 12:1). We are living in the times taht are written in Apocalypse. Read Chapters 12-13 and refer to my previous comment on this article. Our Lady was referring to Communism and Freemasonry being the cause of the evil in the world. St. Maximillian Kolbe formed the Knights of Immaculata to fight Freemasonry. Freemasonry is the dark and subtley destructful force that is hiding in the shadows that's contaminating the world. Our Lady tells Fr. Gobbi this in his book. In no way should this excommunication be lifted. I'm sure it won't! People must pray the Rosary and adore Christ in the Eucharist. Live a Sacramental life and obeythe Ten Commandments, which Freemasonry is constantly blaspheming. Freemasonry is out to promote and encourage animal-like behavior amongst human beings by it's crafty and satantic intentions. We are humans made in the imag and likeness of our belove Lord. Be on guard.

JMJ,

Jack

Published by: Jack A. Leone
Wantagh, NY 07/12/2006 12:26 PM EST

I strongly encourage everybody to read Fr. Stefano Gobbi's book "To All My Priests." It's about how the Blessed Mother gave him messages. 50,000 priests have joined his Marian Movement of Priests. The book explains about Freemasonry and Communism in the 20th century.
Our Lady explains:
In Apocalypse 12, the Red Dragon with the seven crowned heads represents Marxist Communism. The crowned seven heads are the countries under its dominion. The ten horns are the instruments of communication that it is sending to the world. Our Lady says that communism is out to spread atheism.

The Black Beast that rises out of the sea to accompany the Red Dragon is Freemasonry. The seven heads are blasphemies of the seven theological virtues and represent the Masonic lodges. The ten horns are a blasphemy for each of the Ten Commandments. The Black Beast (Freemasonry) works subtley as a destructive force, hence, promoting pornography, abortion, euthanasia, birth control, etc.--all of the vices. This represents Freemasonry.

The two horned lamb coming up from the earth is ecclesiastical masonry, which has infiltrated the Church th highest summit.

Here explains the trouble that has been going on and is going on in the world and in the Church.

Published by: Joe
Wisconsin 06/10/2006 06:40 PM EST

Amazing. Everyone seems to know beyond a doubt that any group that takes anyone as a member regardless of religious beliefs, has it's own ranking, and has it's own ceremonies must be a satanic cult. By the way I was speaking of the Boy Scouts, and I am absolutely not a Mason.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY 05/31/2006 03:05 PM EST

Our Lady warned of "ecclesiastical masonry" to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, founder of the Marian Movement of Priests. She warned of those who would affirm the false notion that all religions have a portion of the truth. False ecumenism is the result of Vatican II, there's no doubt. Read Courteney Bartholomew M.D.'s book on all of this: "A Scientist Researches Mary, Mother and Co-Redemptrix" and you will all see what has transpired from the Reformation onward. Ecclesiastical masonry takes orders from masonic lodges in attempts to destroy the Roman Catholic Church (which will never happen) as Our Lord promised us. The persosn involved in this diabolical plot are out to spread a relativist acceptance of all Christian denominations. The Holy Father is vehemently opposed to relativism. Also, read Pope Leo XIII's three encyclicals on his opposition to freemasonry and what it's all about.

Ecclesiastical masonry is the epidemic in the Church today as Our Lady told Fr. Gobbi. Ever wonder why so much of the Catholic traditions and essence has been stripped away, comliments to Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and others who started it all? The ban must never be lifted because masonry is Satan's cult.

Published by: Priscilla Corona
Ontario, California, USA 05/11/2006 10:01 AM EST

I once told a co-worker of mine many years ago that Free Masonry was a satanic and evil cult that worships Satan. Her father was a member and talked much about the Free Mansons and got very upset and angry with me when I told her of its satanic nature. She stopped talking to me and I never heard from her again.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, New York, USA 05/10/2006 02:17 PM EST

I made a mistake on the book. It's "A Scientist Researches Mary, Mother and Coredemptrix" by Dr. Courtney Bartholomew.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, New York, USA 05/10/2006 11:28 AM EST

The smoke of Satan that entered the Church that Pope Paul VI stated had to be the satanic cult of freemasonry. In 1917 after the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, they paraded up to the Vatican waving black banners of the devil trampling St. Michael the Archangel. (See Dr. Courtney Bartholomew's book: "Mary: Ark of the Covenant"). They have a a theosophic mentality that all religions are equal. This satanic paganism is all in "The Apocalypse."

Holy Mother Church will triumph as our Lord promised us. "The gates of hell will not prevail against it."

Catholics, pray the Rosary, wear you brown scapular and PRAY!!

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, New York, USA 05/09/2006 03:41 PM EST

MASONS ARE A CULT OF SATAN.

Published by: R. Anderson
Ontario, Canada 05/09/2006 09:13 AM EST

It is encouraging to read the comments in defense of the Body of Christ! The practice of freemasonry by baptized Christians is a scandal which demands repentance. In some cases, this acceptance of masonic membership and Church membership confuses the issue. Bishops and pastors must address this with love and understanding with their flock. In North America, the practice of freemasonry has been relegated to a "mens club" status with little appreciation or understanding of the history of the "religion" and its quiet but effective undermining of the Church. Our priests must not remain quiet about it. They must speak the truth plainly and with great love for souls. The participation of Catholic faithful in this organization is regrettable...the participation/cooperation of Catholic clergy in masonry (i.e., as members, chaplains, or silent winesses) is a scandal. If it is true that dark smoke has infiltrated the Church in the form of masonic association, it the responsibility of our spiritual leaders to be clear and unambiguous about the dangers. Parishes should educate their men if they are known to have adherents of masonry in their midst. To ignore this is to permit souls to continue along the road to perdition.

Published by: Joseph Belfiore
Washington, DC 20015 05/08/2006 01:09 PM EST

Please, DO NOT, under any circumstances, support the lifting of the excommunication on the Masons. It will add to the confusion about their true nature.

Published by: J Flores
Salinas, CA 05/06/2006 12:03 AM EST

Given masonry's history of religious intolerance, I think that the excomminication order should stand. There are other fraternal orders without such a history that men could look toward. Maybe, if the Masons are serious, make a public recantment (mea culpa) of past crimes and positions.

Published by: maria Sabea
mexico 05/05/2006 11:49 PM EST

We know that the masons have been always against the Church, the vatican is surrounded by masons, a visionary told John paul de 11"Your Santitiy, you are surrounded by masons, the Pope said; I know, and then I have them closer.
masons is a satanic movement since the high priests of the temple in Jesus times, Pprivate revelations leave us a great treasure. Time will come when we will hear that from the Vatican, and the Church will be divided, some are the most important, but that has to happen. sdo the Church be purified. Maria Sabea

Published by: simon
California 05/05/2006 10:45 PM EST

It is the world of confusion. Freemasonry hopes to re-invade the church through their pagan rites. Few people know or have the time or disposition to research this dangerous cult.

Published by: M. A.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 05/05/2006 08:35 PM EST

Freemasonry is quite simply put, an alternative religious belief. It is antithetical to Christianity, and is the recruiting ground for the Illuminati. It is the Illuminati who under their founder Adam Weishaupt, and his mentor Lord Rothchild, founded this secret organization with the intent of founding a One World Order. This has been effectively accomplished. The price of gold is set everyday at
the House of Rothchild in London. The descendants of the Rothchilds and their relatives through marriage, control much of the world's banking interests, oil, and manufacturing. In short, they finance both sides of every war, and profit from the misery which they create in the world. For a detailed study, simply type in Illuminati on line and you will find a plethora of information. Some of it is bogus, but most is true. Don't forget that the Masons stormed the Vatican in 1917, the year of the Communist revolution, and tried to kill the Pope. The insurection was put down, and the Illuminati funded the Communist revolution in Russia. It is all in the history books if one looks. They also are known as Lucifarians because they worship Satan, not God. In short they are pagans who would lie about nearly everything they represent just to make themselves look good, and to cast dougt on the Catholic Church whic it is sworn to overthrow. The good news is that the "Gate of Hell with not prevail over her". Christ has already won! May His name be praised forever!

Published by: Lucille
Kelso, Wa USA 05/05/2006 05:01 PM EST

Don't believe the Masons for a minute. They are NOT compatible with the Church or Christianity. They are seeking to deceive. Don't fall prey to them. Spiritual warfare is our only defense. Come Lord Jesus, Come!

Published by: James Glavin
Vancouver, WA. USA 05/05/2006 04:33 PM EST

Freemasonry is the Black Beast spoken of in the Book of Revelation. The Beast like a Lamb is Freemasonry operating in the Church:
" The Second Beast gave power to the First Beast"
Therefore, all the false
teachings of so many Bishops and Priests that
would promote Abortion,
Contraception, Divorce, and Homosexuality very often are from members of
the Hierarchical Freemasonry wilfully sup-
porting the Black Beast of Freemasonry.
So the Great Apostasy unfolds before our very eyes.

Published by: J. Sevilla
New Mexico, USA 05/05/2006 01:10 PM EST

Praise God, His Shepherds are finally weeding out the confussion Masonry has planted for ages. This social/civic Masons apparently have no clue to the 'real' Mason agenda.
St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Mother Church, pray for us.

Published by: Ray
usa 05/05/2006 09:50 AM EST

Masons adore Lucifer that there is no doubt about. They have craft in their hands and use satans tools to subjucate countries and even the World. They run the worlds markets and decide who lives and dies. With power like this one should not wonder these days which God they adore.

Published by: tim hebert
breaux bridge, la. usa 05/05/2006 09:44 AM EST

This discussion is long over due. It is time now for the Church to assert itself meaningful way to expel Catholic participants in Freemasonry systematically, psot haste. Much ado, and righfully so, has been stated about the "Antichrist(s)" among us....Is not Freemasonry,in its purest from, not the Institutional AntiChrist-in its purest form? The Chruch must act now!

Published by: Robert Gravlin
St Louis MO USA 05/05/2006 09:20 AM EST

Mr reading on Masonry indicates that it is a type of syncretistic religion, at least, at the higher degrees, in which everything from Islam, Egyptian Mysteries, Hinduism, etc is seen as morally equivalent with Christianity and each is seen as a coequal way to seek wisdom and knowledge. It is not a belief in the Saving death and resurrection of Jesus to give us salvation.

Published by: R. Anderson
Ontario, Canada 05/04/2006 11:19 AM EST

Participation in the practice of freemasonry is, by definition, an affront to the Church and a rejection on one's Christian diginity. A review of the rituals and symbolism of the craft will not pass a true test of the Spirit. The historic roots of the masonry across Europe and beyond seek to weaken the Body of Christ. Today, it is often rationalized as a social men's organization committed to works of service. To understand the dangerous and grave position of a soul involved in the craft, one must look carefully beyond the "public good" that is served by their many works. Better yet, speak to committed and coverted Christians who were former Masons and listen carefully to what they to say. I praise the Holy Father Benedict XVI for his clear and unambiguous statement about freemasonry and its incompatibility within the life of the Church. In the words of Leo XIII, "...St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us!..."

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