Freemasonry and the Vatican 

 

 

 

"We wish it to be your rule first of all to tear away the mask of freemasonry...let no man think that he may for any reason whatsoever join the Masonic sect, if he values his Catholic name and his eternal salvation" (Pope Leo XIII, Humanum Genus)

These clear and stern words, taken from his 22 page encyclical, couldn't be anymore clearer: Catholics are to have nothing to do with freemasonry, yet over the next 100 years or so, this would go out the window.

 

(Catholic Freemasons: The Knights of Malta enjoy their own passports,

diplomatic service and have a permanent observer at the United Nations.

Leaders of this group, take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience)

"Some writers, chiefly continental, apply the term Freemasonry not only to the Freemasons proper, but also to all secret organizations which seek to undermine Christianity and the political and social institutions that have Christianity for their basis...some writers trace Freemasonry to the heresies of Eastern origin that prevailed during the Early and Middle Ages in certain parts of Europe, such as those of the Gnostics, Manichaeans, and Albigenses, some of whose mischievous tenets are, no doubt, apparent in the sect....Freemasonry in the meantime had spilt up into numerous sects, or 'rites,' all working to the common effect of destroying a belief in the divine revelation of Christianity....Freemasonry is essentially opposed to the belief in the personality of God, whose name in the Masonic rituals veils the doctrine of blind force only governing the universe. It is also essentially subversive of legitimate authority, for by professing to furnish man with an all-sufficient guide and help to conduct, it makes him independent of the Church [the Roman Catholic Church], and tends, in spite of its occasional protests of loyalty, to bring all governments into contempt. The sect has been repeatedly condemned by learned and respectable men of all countries, Protestant and Catholic. Six Papal Bulls have been directed against it - viz.  'In eminenti,' Clement XII, 1378; 'Providas,' Benedict XIV, 1751; 'Ecclesiam Jesu Christi,' Pius VII, 1821; 'Qui graviora,' Leo XII, 1826; 'Quanta cura,' Pius IX, 1864; 'Humanum genus,' Leo XIII, 1884" (A Catholic Dictionary, St John's Seminary, Wonersh, 1960, pgs. 360, 361.)

 

As we can clearly see, the church of Rome before the Second Vatican Council, had much to say on this cult, and with deep concern! In fact, this official dictionary dedicates nearly three pages to it, out of 860 pages. 

 

So it may surprise the reader that in the official catechism of 1994, with 691 pages covering a whole multitude of subjects, the topic of freemasonry and secret societies ISN'T MENTIONED ONCE! 

 

 

(The late Cardinal Terrence Cooke,

flanked by two Freemasons in his Cathedral in New York.

All looks very cosy and ecumenical)

 

How interesting. So what's going on? One priest that was well known to my father was shocked when he learned of this. This elderly priest, and very much a pre-Vatican II man, loved and respected by his parish, expressed alarm and concern at this news.  

 

He promised to investigate and seek any enlightenment on why freemasonry had been deleted from the Catechism. Sadly when he next saw him, he could only offer a brief shrug of his shoulders on what he had been able to find out. Which was nothing. My father was disappointed with this view and wondered if he had been told to drop any enquiry from him or others. 

 

 

 

(Secretary of State, Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani 

and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Interesting "handshake")

 

Yet while they are silent on this subject and on the cults in general, they are quite vocal on clairvoyances/divinations, for they condemn such acts (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pg. 460.)

 

So what would happen if the Freemasons approached a Catholic today, could he join or not? What about the Catenians, aren't they the Catholic version of masonry? Founded in 1908 this Catholic organization boasts some 11,000 male members. Was it established with the blessing of the hierarchy to combat freemason aims and desires? Certainly the Vatican would have given this new movement its blesings. Today a Catenian member will appeal after Masses on any Sunday in any diocese for new members - oh and they use the expression "Circles within Circles," sounds Masonic to me. (Maybe one day we will see excateniansforchrist.com.)

 

Yet in 1960, the Catholic church was absolutely against such groups having any involvement with them (at least "offically" however), and their members were strictly forbidden to join such a group, as can be seen: 

 

"It is clear that such a society is forbidden by the Church" (A Catholic Dictionary, St. John's Seminary, Wonersh, pg. 753.)

 

And then we read: 

 

"We see no reason why the prohibition of the Church against the Masonic and other secret societies should be extended to organisations of working men, which have no other object in view than mutual protection and aid for their members in the practise of their trades. Care must be taken, however, that nothing be admitted under any pretext which favours condemned societies; or that the working men who belong to these organizations be induced, by the cunning arts of wicked men, to withhold, contrary to the laws of justice, the labour due from them, or in any other manner violate the rights of their employers. Those occasions are also entirely illicit in which the members are also bound for mutual defence that danger of riots and murders is the outcome" (pg. 753.)

 

 

(Cross of Salem, used by Pope John Paul II for Jubilee of the year of Redemption, 1983.

Also a symbol of the Knights Templar and Sovereign Grand Commander

of the ancient and accepted rite. See also Knights of the Triple Cross.)

 

How times change. I do wonder if one could now join the Klu-Klux-Klan (derived from the word circle) or how about Al Qaeda? One doesn't mean to be flippant, but one does wonder where the limit ends.    

 

And may I quote another source, on this whole subject: 

 

"The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith....has ruled that Canon 2335 no longer automatically bars a Catholic from membership of masonic groups....And so a Catholic who joins the Freemasons is excommunicated only if the policy and actions of the Freemasons in his area are known to be hostile to the Church" (19th July 1974 - Freemasonry for Beginners and Others, pg. 83.)  

 

Anglican minister, John Lawrence, offered his thoughts to this shocking turnaround:

 

"Following nearly two hundred and fifty years of clear, out right condemnation of all forms of freemasonry, this was an amazing about face-Rome had relented under the weight of international presure. What was even more remarkable was the timing, since it coincided with the beginning of offical talks between the Catholic Church and the German freemasons, under joint direction of the German Bishops' Conference and the United Grand Lodges of Germany" (Freemasonry - a religion?, 1987, pg. 40.) 

 

Finally: 

 

"In November 1970 Pope Paul VI agreed to address gatherings of European Rotarians in Milan and Rome, and in March 1979 Pope John Paul II spoke to 5,000 Rotarians attending Seventieth Rotary International Convention, asking them to 'convey to all your colleagues throughout the world the expression of my esteem for the efforts you are making on behalf of humanity.' His holiness paid special tribute to the Health, Hunger and Humanity Programme during a special Vatican audience, and made this remarkable tribute: 'In your efforts and endeavours for the good of man, you can be assured of the understanding and esteem of the Catholic Church." (Once Every Fourteen Hours, pg. 452, 453.)

 

My friend, if you are Catholic, then this article should concern you gravely. Why doesn't your church stand against this cult anymore, when for centuries it anathematised those that joined it? It just doesn't make sense, or does it! 

 

Are you a freemason? If so, may I leave you the reader with the following Scripture verses that I believe should be read carefully when examining the urgent need to leave such a group; be cleaned and forgiven for being a member of such an abhorrent group:

 

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial (Satan)? Or what part hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:14-18.)  

 

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak those things which are done of them in secret" (Eph. 5:11, 12.)                     

 

                                   

James G. Battell, July 2005

Updated February 2007

(All Rights Reserved)

8th-September-2010