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Can Catholics Be Freemasons?

April 26, 2017Catholics cuf emmaus road Freemasons stebbins Steubenville

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Can Catholics Be Freemasons?

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ISSUE: May Catholics be Freemasons? RESPONSE: No, Catholics may not be Freemasons because of this groups irreconcilable opposition to Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church.[1] Nor may they belong to the Order of the Eastern Star (a Masonic association for women), the Order of DeMolay (for boys), or Jobs Daughters or the Rainbow Girls (for girls). Popes Clement XII (1738), Benedict XIV (1751), Pius VII (1821), Leo XII (1825), Pius VIII (1829), Gregory XVI (1832), Pius IX (1846, 1849, 1864, 1865, 1869, 1873), and Leo XIII (1882, 1884, 1890, 1894, 1902) have repeated the prohibition against joining Masonic associations. The old Code of Canon Law (1917) imposed excommunication upon Catholics who became masons. Recent Vatican directives under Pope John Paul II have reaffirmed the long-standing ban. DISCUSSION: Because the new Code of Canon Law (1983) did not explicitly excommunicate Catholics who become Freemasons, some confusion arose concerning whether Catholics may join Masonic groups. To