Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uunet!samsung!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!uwm.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mlawless@ncrwic.wichita.ncr.com (Mike Lawless) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Freemasonry and religion. Message-ID: Date: 7 Jan 90 03:36:54 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: NCR Corporation, Wichita, KS Lines: 27 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article jhpb@lancia.garage.at > Since 1983 it has been permitted for Catholics to join the Masons, at > least in North America. >You are probably referring to the 1983 changes in the code of canon law. >Someone joining the Masons used to incur an excommunication by that >fact. > >The excommunication was changed in 1983. It is now for secret societies >that plot against the Church. Perhaps Steve Dyer could post the exact It should be noted however, that just because something is not punishable by excommunication doesn't mean it's not considered a serious sin. You won't find murder (except abortion), armed robbery, rape, arson, kidnapping, or child molestation listed as offenses incurring excommunication either. But few people would argue that these are not serious sins. For the record, although joining the Masons no longer incurs excommunication, it is still considered seriously sinful, and is still prohibited by the Catholic church for all of its members worldwide. -- Mike Lawless, NCR E&M Wichita, Box 20 (316) 636-8666 (NCR: 654-8666) 3718 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226 Mike.Lawless@Wichita.NCR.COM {ece-csc,hubcap,gould,rtech}!ncrcae!ncrwic!Mike.Lawless {sdcsvax,cbatt,dcdwest,nosc.ARPA}!ncr-sd!ncrwic!Mike.Lawless