From the bulletin of September 13, 2020
Since it came up in the last column, I think it might be worthwhile to summarize the Church’s stance on the organization known as the Freemasons or sometimes just as “Masons.” I’ll tell you up front that Catholics are not allowed to be members of the Masons and that becoming a member jeopardizes a person’s standing in the Church. That may surprise a few people and upset a few others because most have only positive experiences with the members they have met. Well, there are a few reasons for this position. I’ll start by outlining what different Popes have said and then go into some more explanation of why that policy is still in place today.
The first pope to ban Catholics from joining this organization was Pope Clement XII in 1738 in a document titled In eminenti apostolatus.” In it, the pope starts by condemning their emphasis on secrecy, claiming that if they weren’t up to wicked things, they wouldn’t need so much secrecy. It is worth noting that a number of governments also forbid them for a similar reason. As history progressed, the Church and the Freemason organization continued to clash. Nearly every pope after Clement XII reiterated the ban on Catholics becoming Masons. The list I know of is Benedict XIV, Pius VII, Leo XII, Pius VIII, Gregory XVI, and Pius IX (whom we learned about last week). Pope John Paul II didn’t write an encyclical, but he did sign a document from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in 1983 reaffirming that Catholics are forbidden from joining the organization and that anyone who does should not receive communion. This same document makes it clear that no individual priest or bishop has authority to override this decision.
This is primarily a matter of discipline and Church law. The Pope, in addition to his authority to teach the faith, has the authority to set certain rules and expectations for all Catholics. This does not mean, however, that there is no doctrinal authority involved. Pope Leo XIII specifically called out some of the beliefs of the Masons to say that they were incompatible with what Catholics believe. The Freemason organization is a semi-religious organization full of rituals, rules, and beliefs that members are required to accept. It borrows a lot of beliefs from Christianity, but mingles them with a variety of religions, myths, and legends to form its own worldview. Their beliefs include the idea that people can be saved (go to the “celestial lodge”) even without Jesus and that the Papacy is a enemy of human freedom. Some texts speak of the Catholic Church as “the thralldom of spiritual tyranny.” Additionally, joining the order requires members to swear sacred oaths to the organization on pain of death. Church teaching is clear that only the state and the Church can require oaths and only for serious reasons (think of the oaths of priests to the Church and oaths in trials). For a private organization to require such loyalty is disordered and contradicts man’s natural loyalty to family, country, and God (which includes the Church). The Church’s condemnation of these beliefs is a doctrinal teaching and until the organization completely and genuinely disowns this false ideas, Catholics will not be allowed to join.
Now, the reason this is so controversial is that so many people see the Masons as just another charitable organization. It’s true that they do charitable outreach in a variety of ways. And, for those who join the organization in good faith (not knowing any better), we can certainly give them credit for their desire to do good. Nonetheless, no matter how “nice” the organization or it’s members are, it holds beliefs that are not compatible with Christianity. Christianity is not just some truth that can be mingled with others. It is the full truth, the only truth that brings salvation. Additionally, the international organization has a history of actively working against the Catholic Church and there are number of exposés even in recent history which indicate at least some anti-Catholic motivation, if not downright satanic practices and beliefs.
If you or a Catholic you know belongs to the organization and didn’t know all this, don’t feel too bad. It makes sense that someone might see their friends hanging out and doing good works and decide to join them. Many of the lower level members don’t pay much attention to the oaths they’ve sworn and don’t actually believe them. Still, the power and money of the organization are aligned with beliefs we cannot share and doing a little good does not justify the evil. Now that you do know better, you are obliged to leave the organization and encourage any other Catholics to do the same. Please speak with me if you have more questions or concerns.
In Christ,
-Fr. Albert