Rachel Evans
Freemasonry, or the Masons, is a secret society that has traditionally been forbidden to Catholics. The Catholic Church has long considered Freemasonry to be irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine, and until 1983, Catholics who joined the Masons were automatically excommunicated. While there was some confusion in the 1970s about whether the ban had been lifted, the Church has since reaffirmed its prohibition, stating that Catholics who join Masonic lodges are in a state of grave sin. Despite this, some individual Catholics are known to be members of Masonic lodges, and the relationship between the Church and Freemasonry remains a subject of debate within the Catholic community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholics joining Freemasons | Forbidden |
| Excommunication | Applicable until 1983; still valid in some dioceses |
| Canon Law | 1917 code: explicit ban; 1983 code: implicit ban |
| Catholic Church's relationship with Freemasonry | Irreconcilable differences |
| Masonic lodges | Anti-Catholic |
| Catholic-friendly lodges | Forbidden |
| Freemasonry | Deist, denies divine revelation, religious indifference |
| Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) | Catholics may join Masonic groups that are not anti-Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church's historical prohibition of Catholics joining the Masons
- The Masons' historical and continued anti-Catholic sentiment
- The Masons' religious indifference and naturalism
- The Masons' secrecy and potential for conflicting loyalties
- The penalty of excommunication for Catholics who join the Masons
The Catholic Church's historical prohibition of Catholics joining the Masons
The Catholic Church has a long history of prohibiting its followers from joining the Freemasons, a fraternity that emerged from the guilds of stonemasons in the aftermath of the Protestant movement. The Church's Code of Canon Law, drawn up in 1917, provided for the automatic excommunication of Catholics who enrolled in the Masonic sect or other secret societies conspiring against the Church. This penalty of excommunication was reiterated in 1983, with the approval of Pope John Paul II, who stated that the Church's negative position on Masonic associations remained unaltered due to their irreconcilability with Church doctrine.
The Catholic Church's primary objection to Freemasonry is its perceived threat to the Church's authority and teachings. Pope Leo XIII, in his 1884 papal encyclical, accused Freemasons of plotting the destruction of the Catholic Church and holding doctrines that contradict Church teachings. He characterised Masonic teachings as naturalistic and irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine, stating that they deny divine revelation and promote religious indifference.
The practice of Freemasonry, with its temples, altars, worship services, and initiation rites, resembles a religion, which the Church considers a form of Gnosticism that is counter to Catholic beliefs. Freemasonry's historical influence on revolutionary movements in Europe and Latin America, which diminished Church influence, has also contributed to the Catholic Church's prohibition of its members from joining Masonic lodges.
While there has been some confusion and interpretation regarding the degree of prohibition, with some speculating that Catholics could join Masonic lodges that were not anti-Catholic, the Church has consistently maintained its negative judgment of Masonic associations. As recently as 2024, a meeting between Church leaders and Masons in Milan, Italy, resulted in a reaffirmation of the Church's longstanding position on the incompatibility between the Catholic faith and Freemasonry.
Despite the Church's historical prohibition, there have been instances of Catholics joining Masonic lodges, with varying responses from Church authorities. In 2007, the Masonic Grand Lodge of the Valley of Mexico opposed efforts by the Church to gain authority over its schools and communications. In the United States, a Judicial Vicar of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles stated that while the matter was complex, Catholics in the country could probably join Masonic lodges. These instances highlight the ongoing tension between the Catholic Church and Freemasonry, with the Church striving to uphold its doctrinal integrity while navigating the diverse situations in different countries.
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The Masons' historical and continued anti-Catholic sentiment
Freemasonry, or the Masons, has long been considered incompatible with Catholicism. Since the 1738 decree "In Eminenti" of Pope Clement XII, Catholics have been forbidden from joining the Masons, under pain of excommunication. This ban has been reiterated and enforced numerous times throughout history, with the latest confirmation coming from the Vatican in 2023.
The Masons' historical anti-Catholic sentiment stems from their beliefs and practices, which are seen as irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine. Freemasonry is often described as a religion unto itself, with its own temples, altars, worship services, vestments, and initiation and burial rites. It adheres to naturalism, the belief that "human nature and human reason ought in all things to be mistress and guide," denying any revealed truth or dogma that cannot be understood by human intelligence.
Historically, one of Freemasonry's primary objectives has been the destruction of the Catholic Church, particularly in certain European countries. The Masons have been accused of "planning the destruction of the holy Church publicly and openly" and holding doctrines that contradict Church teachings. They have also been associated with revolutions and political events that diminished the influence of the Church, such as the Mexican Revolution and the French Revolution.
In addition to their religious differences, the Masons' secretiveness and exclusivity have also been a point of contention for the Catholic Church. The Masons' upper levels are highly secretive, and members are required to take blood oaths, threatening self-harm if they reveal the society's secrets. This secrecy, combined with their historical opposition to the Church, has led to continued suspicion and prohibition of Catholics joining the Masons.
While there have been attempts at dialogue and reconciliation between the Church and the Masons, the Catholic Church's position remains clear: Catholics are forbidden from joining Masonic lodges due to the irreconcilability of their doctrines. This prohibition is not just a matter of religious doctrine but also a response to the historical and continued anti-Catholic sentiment and actions of the Masons.
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The Masons' religious indifference and naturalism
Freemasonry, or the Masons, is a fraternal organisation that traces its origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Over time, non-masons were accepted as members, and the groups became places for the discussion of ethics and morality.
The Catholic Church has had a long history of objection to Freemasonry, considering it a kind of religion unto itself. The practice of Freemasonry includes temples, altars, a moral code, worship services, vestments, feast days, a hierarchy of leadership, initiation and burial rites, and promises of eternal reward and punishment.
One of the main criticisms of Freemasonry by the Catholic Church is that it teaches a naturalistic and deistic religion, which is in conflict with Church doctrine. Pope Leo XIII, in his 1884 papal encyclical Humanum Genus, accused the Freemasons of "planning the destruction of the holy Church publicly and openly" and holding doctrines that contradict Church teachings. He stated that Freemasonry adheres to naturalism, which he defined as the belief that "human nature and human reason ought in all things to be mistress and guide".
Freemasonry is also accused of advocating religious indifference, which the Catholic Church interprets as an attack on its place in public life. The Masons' refusal to promote one faith as superior to others, combined with their use of rituals that appear religious, is seen as promoting indifference to religion.
Despite the objections of the Catholic Church, Freemasonry has never objected to Catholics joining their fraternity. The United Grand Lodge of England, for example, denies the Church's claims, stating that "Freemasonry does not seek to replace a Mason's religion or provide a substitute for it". However, due to the persistent conflict between Catholic doctrine and the principles of Freemasonry, the Catholic Church has maintained its ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons.
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The Masons' secrecy and potential for conflicting loyalties
The secrecy of the Masons, or Freemasonry, has been a point of contention for the Catholic Church, which has long held that the group's principles are irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine. The Masons' secret signs, symbols, and gestures, as well as the secrecy around their upper-level operations, have contributed to the Catholic Church's concerns about the group.
Freemasonry is often described as a kind of religion unto itself, with temples, altars, a moral code, worship services, vestments, feast days, a hierarchy of leadership, initiation and burial rites, and promises of eternal reward and punishment. This religious nature of Freemasonry is seen as conflicting with Catholic doctrine, as it denies revelation, objective truth, and the possibility of divine revelation, threatening the respect due to the Church's teaching office.
The Masons' secrecy has also made it difficult for the Catholic Church to fully understand the group's beliefs and practices, and whether they pose a threat to the Church. Some have accused the Freemasons of plotting against the Church and working towards its destruction, especially in certain European countries and in Latin America. The Masons' involvement in revolutions in Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as their influence on anti-Catholic laws and the suppression of religious freedom, has further fueled the Catholic Church's concerns.
The potential for conflicting loyalties between the Masons and the Catholic Church is another issue. The Masons require members to take oaths and make promises that may conflict with a Catholic's loyalty to the Church. The Masons' belief in "human nature and human reason as the guide" and their denial of revealed truth can be seen as contradictory to Catholic doctrine, which emphasizes the authority of the Church and its teachings.
While there have been some moves towards dialogue and understanding between the Masons and the Catholic Church in recent years, the Catholic Church's official position remains that membership in Masonic associations is forbidden for Catholics. The Church continues to emphasize the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry, and the grave sin of enrolling in Masonic associations.
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The penalty of excommunication for Catholics who join the Masons
The Catholic Church has prohibited Catholics from joining Masonic organizations since 1738, under Pope Clement XII, and until 1983, violating this prohibition incurred the penalty of excommunication. This was stated in the 1917 Code of Canon Law (1917 CIC), which was in effect from May 1918 to November 1983. The 1917 CIC provided for the automatic excommunication of Catholics who enrolled in the Masonic sect or in secret societies conspiring against the Church or legitimate authorities.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law (1983 CIC) did not explicitly mention Freemasonry or Masonic associations. However, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued a declaration the same year, clarifying that the Church's opposition to Freemasonry remained unchanged. The CDF stated that joining any Masonic association is a grave sin that bars one from receiving communion. The 1983 CIC introduced a “just penalty" clause, which allows for penalties such as excommunication to be tailored to fit the crime.
In 1974, there was confusion about the Church's position on Freemasonry, as a letter from Cardinal Franjo Seper, then prefect of the CDF, was interpreted to mean that Catholics could join Masonic lodges that were not anti-Catholic. However, the CDF clarified in 1981 that this interpretation was erroneous, and the 1983 CDF Declaration reiterated the ban on Catholics joining Masonic associations.
In 1996, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln legislated that Catholic members of Masonic associations in his diocese would incur a latae sententiae censure of a one-month interdict, during which they were forbidden to receive holy communion. Those who continued their membership after the one-month period would incur excommunication.
While the Church has not explicitly imposed the penalty of excommunication on Catholics who join the Masons since 1983, the prohibition on membership remains in place. The Church continues to assert that Masonic principles and rituals are irreconcilable with Catholic doctrines.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholics are forbidden to join the Masons. The Catholic Church has deemed the Masons' beliefs to be irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine.
The Catholic Church has historically opposed the Masons because of their naturalistic religion and their alleged plans to destroy the Church. The Church has also objected to the Masonic rituals, which include temples, altars, worship services, and initiation rites.
Catholics who join the Masons are considered to be in a state of grave sin and are forbidden from receiving holy communion. In the past, Catholics who joined the Masons were automatically excommunicated from the Church.
Yes, the Masons have denied that their groups are anti-Catholic or atheistic. They have also argued that their beliefs are not incompatible with Catholicism and that membership in Masonic associations does not conflict with an individual's loyalty to the Catholic Church.
