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Here is the:
Declaration Catholic membership in the Masons, issued Nov. 26,
1983 by the Vatican's Doctrinal Congregation. An NC News
translation of the declaration follows:
"The question has been raised whether the church's position on
Masonic associations has been altered, especially since no
explicit mention is made of them in the new Code of Canon Law, as
there was in the old code. This sacred congregation is able to
reply that that circumstances is to be attributed to a criterion
adopted in drafting. This criterion was observed also in regard
to other associations which were likewise passed over in silence,
because they were included in broader catergories. The church's
negative position on Masonic associations therefore remains
unaltered, since their principles have always been regarded as
irreconcilable with the church's doctrine. Hence joining them
remains prohibited by the church. Catholic enrolled in Masonic
associations are involved in serious sin and may not approach
Holy Communion. Local ecclesiastical authorities do not have the
faculty to pronounce a judgement on the nature of Masonic
associations which might include a diminution of the
above-mentioned judgement, in accordance with the intention of
this congregation's declaration delivered Feb. 17, 1981 (cf. AAS
73 (1981) pp. 240-241). The supreme pontiff John Paul II
approved this declaration, deliberated at an ordinary meeting of
this sacred congregation, and ordered it to become a part of
public law." The declaration was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
prefect, and Archbishop Jerome Hamer, OP, secretary.
Msgr. Richard Malone, director of the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops' Committees on Doctrine and on Pastoral Research
and Practices, commented on the Vatican's declaration on Catholic
membership in the Masons. He explained that the new Code of
Canon Law abolishes automatic excommunication of Catholics who
become Masons, though there still is a canon, No. 1374, on
conspiratorial societies. "Membership in the Masons was always
discouraged, even in 1974 when it was stated that the
excommunication only applied to truly anti-Catholic groups of
Masons," he said. "The problem seems to be both the philosophy
of the groups and the kind of secrecy." People get involved at
lower levels without knowing exactly what is involved at higher
levels. This may leave people who joined innocently "open to
manipulation." But, said Malone, "one wonders if many Masonic
groups in the United States are real Masonic groups since some
make the case that a) there is not the degree of secrecy about
rituals and philosophy, and b) there are no anti-Catholic
directions given to the members." Malone said no law is
retroactive. Commenting on the declarations's statement that
Catholics who join the Masons are presumed to be in mortal sin,
he said: "The authority to make a different judgement and to
decide that the case is otherwise is explicitly reserved to the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This congregation
has to examine whatever evidence is presented for a more lenient
discipline."
Catholics may not in good conscience become members of any group
whose teachings a/o activities are opposed to the teachings and
well-being of the Church.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
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