jay

“1) The canonical rules [concerning freemasonry], insofar as they pertain to the question under consideration, are in no way changed, and therefore retain their full force.
2) Consequently, neither the excommunication not the other penalties provided are abrogated.
3) The elements in the above-mentioned letter which concern the interpretation of the canon in question are to be accepted (as was the intention of the Sacred Congregation) only as an appeal to general principles for interpreting penal laws for the resolution of cases involving individual people which can fall under the judgment of the Ordinary of the place. But it was not the intention of the Sacred Congregation that the ability be demanded from the Episcopal Conferences of publicly bringing forth judgment of a general character on the nature of masonic associations which involves derogations from the aforementioned rules.”

And again in 1983:

“Therefore, the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and, therefore, membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful, who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.”

The last is still tantamount to excommunication.

The actual code reads:

“Affiliation With Masonic or Similar Societies. Those who join a Masonic sect or other societies of the same sort, which plot against the Church or against legitimate civil authority, incur ipso facto an excommunication simply reserved to the Holy See. (c. 2335). [p. 924.]
Simply Reserved to the Holy See (4)
1. Masonic Societies (c. 2335).
a. The censure is incurred if the society is one which plots against Church or State, openly or secretly, whether members are secret or not, bound by oath or not. Cappelo thinks Socialists are included. Communist party certainly is. Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, are forbidden as intrinsically wrong, but not under censure (Holy Office, 20 June, 1895, 18 Jan., 1896).
b. Conditions for absolution: total withdrawel from the society, promise to have nothing to do with it and pay no more dues, to repair scandal as far as possible, to turn over insignia, etc., to withdraw name from rolls as soon as this can be done without grave loss (Holy Office, 7 March 1883; Gasparri-Serédi, Fontes, n. 1080, Vol. IV, p. 412). c. In the case of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, no censure has been incurred. The conditions for absolution of the sin are the same as above except that, to avoid grave loss, a person may continue paying dues. The confessor must refer each case to the Apostolic Delegate or his Metropolitan (Holy Office, 18 Jan., 1896; Ecclesiastical Review, Vol. 14, p. 361). [p. 960.]
[c. 1399] Books forbidden ipso iure
8. Books Favoring Dueling, Suicide, Divorce, Masonry. Books which hold dueling, suicide or divorce licit, or which, treating of Masonic sects and other such societies, contend that they are useful and not harmful to the Church and civil society are ipso iure forbidden (c. 1399, 8°).

What’s your take on the Vatican changing its position on Freemasonry? What is it now, just not being able to partake in Holy Communion? Didn’t Pope John Paul II erase any reference to Freemasonry, especially excommunication, and then Ratzinger - to save face - just added the part about Holy Communion?

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/Abortio2.htm

jay

jay