Is Freemasonry condemned as a secret society?
Masonry is condemned as an unlawful secret society. Upon the Continent of Europe, above all, Masons solemnly undertake to keep secret matters which are most dangerous to the public good. And the Church, of course, had Continental Masonry chiefly in mind when she condemned it. In fact Masonry was secretly plotting many schemes aimed at the very destruction of the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Church could not but forbid Catholics to join such a society. Masonry in English-speaking countries is milder in its attitude towards the Church, but even so, the Masonic oath of secrecy is still unlawful, because the man who takes that oath has no guarantee that he is not binding himself to secrecy in unlawful matters. He may be told that, in taking the oaths, he will be asked to do nothing against his conscience. But any man of normal mentality would ask, “Whose conscience?” He has no guarantee that he is not handing his conscience over, to be adjusted to what others think right. No man may d
