hello all, for awhile now i have been drawn to the “craft” and have found myself reading just about everything i can get my hands on about it. i know a few masons that i am friends with at work but they are kind of lol “shy” about really telling me anything and i dont really feel all that comfortable pressing the issue with being that they are friends and co-workers that i see on a daily basis.anyhow i spoke to my dad about it and to my surprise was informed that catholics are “banned” from the craft by the church. My main question being is i know of at least 2 masons that go to my church on a regular basis, does the church still stand so strongly on this issue,and is there anyway i can “have my cake and eat it too”?

Hi, and thank you for your interest.

This is a topic that has had a lot of discussion on our site. If you peruse the topics you will find more than you probably want to read. There’s a pretty good one if you search “Catholic Masons?”

I am both a Catholic and a Mason, and I help run the Forum. I also have found nothing in Freemasonry that would make any Catholic, even a priest, feel uncomfortable.

At the same time, I can see why an organization that meets in buildings and rooms that resemble something church-like—with an alter and such – might be considered a threat to a religion that doesn’t understand it and wants to be all encompassing. Except Freemasonry is not a church or a religion. So that should end it.

Although there’s long been some controversy surrounding the connections between the beginnings of Freemasonry and the Catholic church, today there are simply no connections at all.

That being said, there has been back and forth opinions over the years within the ecumenical councils about whether Catholics should be allowed to join Masonry. I thought this was taken care of pretty succinctly back during Vatican II, when Masonry was correctly seen as innocuous and not a threat to the Church, and any possible bans were lifted. We have not seen any papal decrees since then that say otherwise, but there have been “opinions” expressed by Cardinals and bishops that have come down as doctrine from other levels since then that seem to indicate that they now feel Catholic beliefs are not compatible with those of Freemasonry. I cannot understand the argument and it would not hold up even in a high school debate class.

But I digress. I don’t think there’s any problem. I’ve never had a problem and neither have any of my friends who are both Masons and Catholics. But this has to be your choice.

I just wouldn’t go to Rome and ask for any special dispensation.

Bob

I am not a Roman Catholic. I have been researching the various relationships between the church, and Freemasonry for many years. In 1982, a policy statement was released by the Vatican, indicating that there was no objection against Catholic men participating in Freemasonry. I have personally known many fine masons, who were Roman Catholics.

Deciding to petition Freemasonry, is a serious decision for any man, regardless of his religious affiliation.  I encourage you to research the topic, and also discuss the Craft with Catholic Freemasons.  If you decide that our fraternity is for you, then I certainly encourage you to obtain a petition, and submit yourself for Freemasonry.

May the Great Architect of the Universe guide your steps.

Dear Forum Visitor:
On the subject of Catholicism Acceptance of Masonic Principles:
It occurred to me that only once in my 23+ years of promoting the raising of new members ( countless numbers) had a member, a Roman Catholic pracitioner, choose to demit from Masonry based on the advice of a clergyman. The trend has been for the prospective candidate to discuss with close family members their intentions and, if need be, talk to their closest family priest. Recent applicants have indicated that the priests have not had a conflict. It is a personal thing here. Certainly every religion will promote the aid to sick, young, and aged and fosters morality! Masonry does all the above and more.
Ronald Doucette - Moderator

Hello Forum Visitor,

I am a mason, and a member of a Royal Arch Chapter in MI.  I was raised in 1978.  I am also Roman Catholic.  Over the years, I have talked with Priests who were very negative about Masonry, One who was very positive about the craft, and had a lot of questions, and a couple that did not care one way or the other.  I even know priests in different countries who are Masons. I have heard of priest who is a Masons in the State of MI.  No where in cannon law is there an injunction that says that you cannot be a Mason from what I can tell.  However there was a cardinal in Calf. who discouraged people from becoming masons.  Given the way the Church talks out of both sides of her mouth about this issue, I have stopped talking to the Church about it, unless someone is spouting lies about the craft.  I also do not talk about the Church with other brothers, unless they are hearing, or repeating wrong information about the church.  For me, being a mason helps me be a better Catholic, and being a Catholic has helped me be a better mason, and man.