Christian faith and freemasonry 'irreconcilable'

A Christian Outlook (The Sunday Times, October 27) brought up the subject of freemasonry, commenting mainly on its presence in the Philippines, where ignorance or uncertainty seem to prevail regarding Masonic principles vis-à-vis Catholic doctrine.

An article by Mgr Dr Charles J. Scicluna gives a historical conspectus of "Canonical Discipline with regard to Membership in Freemasonry". It appeared in Forum 2/1 (1991), and full reference is made to it.

Before the 1917 Code of Canon Law, which imposed canonical penalties on members of Masonic societies, and since 1738, 15 documents by Supreme Pontiffs condemned this organisation, and proscribed membership of Catholics to them.

In 1884, Leo XIII's Encyclical Humanum genus dwelt on "its whole teaching, its aims, its manner of thinking and acting, in order to bring more and more into the light its power for evil, and to do what we can to arrest the contagion of this fatal plague".

Leo XIII stated further: "Their ultimate purpose is the utter overthrow of that whole religious and political order of the world which the Christian teaching has produced, and the substitution of a new state of things in accordance with their ideas, of which the foundation and laws shall be drawn from mere 'naturalism' (a theory that "human nature and human reason ought in all things be mistress and guide").

Seeing in a clear perspective that faith and its moral requirements were in deadly peril in the face of these principles, Leo XIII proclaimed their consequences: denial of dogma and Divine authority, total separation between Church and state, open hostility to the Catholic Church, direct attacks on the Holy See, religious indifferentism".

On November 26, 1983, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a Declaration relating to the 1983 Code of Canon Law. These are the salient points of this declaration:

"The negative judgment of the Church with regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged, because their principles have always been considered as irreconcilable to Church doctrine, and consequently membership in them remains prohibited.

"Those faithful who are members of Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin, and cannot accede to Holy Communion. The Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, during an audience granted to the Cardinal Prefect, approved this Declaration and ordered its publication."

Mgr Scicluna closes his documented article with a personal comment: "On February 23, 1985, the Osservatore Romano published a front-page editorial with the title: 'Irreconcilability between Christian faith and Freemasonry'. One has to note that it not only refers to the Encyclical Humanum genus of Leo XIII, but can be truly described as a modern post-conciliar rendering of the 1884 fundamental papal document".

By this fundamental papal document, the Masonic principle that "human nature and human reason ought in all things be mistress and guide" is condemned with legitimate authority. By approving the 1983 Declaration Pope John Paul II put the seal to this condemnation.

This reigning Pontiff is the pope for our times. These words were addressed to him on October 16 by Cardinal Gantin: "What you are, and what you represent for humanity is truly impressive in everyone's eyes."

On May 13, 1981, on the anniversary of her Fatima apparition, the Holy Virgin saved his life on St Peter's Square. At the beginning of the 25th year of his Pontificate, he offered her "all the fruits of my life and my ministry", and entrusted to her the future of the Church and of humanity, once more declaring himself "Totus tuus, Maria" (I am all yours).

This Pope of Mary, whom the Holy Spirit "leads to complete truth" (cf Jn 16:13), assesses the signs of the times by the Spirit. He perceives with sorrow the hidden power behind the subtle attacks by the media on Catholic faith and morality, presenting sin as a value and an exigency of human nature; he discerns the realisation of the Fatima promise "Many will lose their faith" as rationalistic interpretations are given to the Gospel, and errors are taught even in seminaries.

His heart goes out to those who fall prey to these machinations, bent on building a civilisation without God and demolishing the Church of Christ.

But the Pope proclaims time and time again: "The love of Christ is greater than any evil." Indeed, Christ has overcome the world (cf Jn 16:33). He will still overcome it, at the time appointed for the "Woman" to crush the serpent's head (Gen 3:15), the Woman who promised at Fatima: "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph."

In conclusion, Leo XIII makes an important point: "There may be persons among Masonic members who, although not free from the guilt of having entangled themselves in such associations, yet are neither themselves partners in their criminal acts, nor aware of the ultimate object of their endeavours."

But the Pope is still specific: "Let no man think he may, for any reason whatsoever, join the Masonic sect... Let no one be deceived by a pretence of honesty. It may seem to some that Freemasons demand nothing contrary to religion and morality"... and the nail is driven home: "the Masonic federation is to be judged not so much by the things it has done... as by the sum of its pronounced opinions".

One's standing, social, business and/or political, may soar to the heights within the Masonic 'fraternity', but does this outweigh the supreme privilege of a Baptised Catholic of assuming God in his own body and of being enriched by him in Holy Communion?