Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jhpb@lancia.garage.att.com Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Christianity and Freemasonry Message-ID: Date: 11 Dec 89 08:48:19 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: AT&T Bell Labs (Liberty Corner) Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu All Catholics are forbidden to belong to the Masons or any allied organization. The reasons for this ban have to do with the history of European Freemasonry. Masonic lodges in Europe had a sinister edge which often combined with anti-clerical politics. Numerous conspiracy theories have been woven around the Masons because of this--I don't buy any of them. The ban also has to do with what Freemasonic principles are all about. They're inimical to Catholicism. According to the classic papal encyclical on Freemasonry, Humanum Genus, Freemasonry is based on an error called Naturalism. Basically, a denial that the supernatural exists. From an instruction of the Holy Office, May 10, 1884: Status: RO ... it is especially certain that Freemasonry and other sects of this kind which plot against the Church and lawful powers... are condemned by automatic excommunication. If you read the Papal encyclicals and various documents of the Holy Office carefully, you will find that they clearly espouse the idea that, as an organization, Freemasonry conspires against the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, there is little serious history available in English that has a Catholic viewpoint. I might suggest some of the books by Fr. Fahey on the subject of Freemasonry and Naturalism. I sympathize with the person who asked for information, but I'm not sure what can be done at a practical level. Few Americans are of a mindset that they will or will not do something just because of abstract principles. The Mason involved probably sees little more than a social club in Freemasonry. Joe Buehler