Clarification on Religion and Freemasonry

[curious]

For the record the RMC and Orthodox Church  have been against members of thier churchs becoming a member of Freemasonry lodges...
The reasons are dogma that becoming a Freemason will be an alternative Religion;
Some Catholic critics of Freemasonry say that it doesn't promote one faith over another, but it also uses rituals that can seem religious to outsiders. They see this as a way to encourage religious indifference.

The first papal condemnation of Freemasonry came from Pope Clement XII in 1738, but it has been reiterated by numerous popes over the past three centuries. The pronouncement was in Clement’s papal bull titled In Eminenti.

In this bull, Clement commented on the secrecy of Masonic lodges and the “host of grievous punishment” received when violating the oath of secrecy. The bull did not delve into many specific objections to Masonic practices but concluded, based on “certain knowledge and mature deliberations,” that “all prudent and upright men have passed the same judgment on them as being depraved and perverted.”

Pope Leo XIII greatly expanded on the Church’s teaching nearly 150 years later in his 1884 papal encyclical Humanum Genus. The encyclical detailed why Freemasonry is irreconcilable with Catholicism and accused the Freemasons of “planning the destruction of the holy Church publicly and openly” and holding to doctrines that contradict Church teaching.
According to Leo, Freemasonry adheres to naturalism, which he says is the idea that “human nature and human reason ought in all things to be mistress and guide.” He adds that “they deny that anything has been taught by God; they allow no dogma of religion or truth which cannot be understood by the human intelligence, nor any teacher who ought to be believed by reason of his authority.”

The encyclical expands on the naturalism of Freemasonry, noting that people of all religions can become freemasons and that religion is “held as an indifferent matter and that all religions are alike,” which ruins “all forms of religion, and especially of the Catholic religion, which, as it is the only one that is true, cannot, without great injustice, be regarded as merely equal to other religions.”

Leo says that Freemasons desire to secularize marriage as simply civil contracts, desire that children be left to choose their own religion when they come of age instead of receiving proper religious instruction, and desire that governments refuse to recognize God. He adds that this proposed secularization seeks to eliminate fundamental truths from society.

“If these be taken away, as the naturalists and Freemasons desire, there will immediately be no knowledge as to what constitutes justice and injustice, or upon what principle morality is founded,” Leo says. “And, in truth, the teaching of morality which alone finds favor with the sect of Freemasons, and in which they contend that youth should be instructed, is that which they call ‘civil,’ and ‘independent,’ and ‘free,’ namely, that which does not contain any religious belief.”

Which Freemason actions and practices promote naturalism and indifferentism?
Freemasons do not consider Freemasonry to be a religion; rather, they accept members from various religions, including Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Yet, Freemasons do have altars at their lodges, they engage in secret rituals, and they say prayers to a generic conception of God, which they often call the “Great Architect of the Universe.”

This practice itself promotes religious indifferentism, but Freemasonry is very decentralized and does not adhere to a specific body of texts that declare all religions to be equal. Some prominent and influential Freemasons, however, have more clearly articulated support for indifferentism toward religion.

Albert Pike, who was the sovereign grand commander of the supreme council of the southern jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in the late 1800s, wrote a book called “Morals and Dogma,” which was given to 14th-degree Masons under that jurisdiction for about a century. His writings draw supposed connections between various religions and promote indifferentism.
“We do not undervalue the importance of any truth,” Pike says. “We utter no word that can be deemed irreverent by any one of any faith. We do not tell the [Muslim] that it is only important for him to believe that there is but one God, and wholly unessential whether [Muhammad] was his prophet. We do not tell the Hebrew that the Messiah whom he expects was born in Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago; and that he is a heretic because he will not so believe. And as little do we tell the sincere Christian that Jesus of Nazareth was but a man like us, or his history but the unreal revival of an older legend.”

Freemasonry has also used political influence throughout Europe and the Americas over the centuries to push a secularization of society and to diminish the influence of the Catholic Church.

For example, in his 1873 encyclical Etsi Multa, Blessed Pope Pius IX detailed Masonic political attacks on the Church in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. He referred to the Masonic “deceits and machinations” as forming “the synagogue of Satan” in reference to the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation.

The encyclical touches on attacks against Catholic education, specifically the Gregorian University in Rome being “suppressed and abolished.” Regarding Switzerland, it discusses the passage of anti-Catholic laws, state intrusion into Church matters, and “the violent banishment of our venerable brother Gaspar, bishop of Hebron and vicar apostolic of Geneva.” It also details the “persecution set in motion” against Catholics and the suppression of religious freedom in the German Empire, particularly in Prussia.

“Apply all your effort to protect the faithful committed to your care against the snares and contagion of these sects,” Pius urges the clergy. “Bring back those who have unhappily joined these sects. Expose especially the error of those who have been deceived or those who assert now that only social utility, progress, and the exercise of mutual benefits are the intention of these dark associations.”

Pius adds that these decrees are “not only [in reference] to Masonic groups in Europe but also those in America and in other regions of the world.”

In Mexico as recently as 2007, the Masonic Grand Lodge of the Valley of Mexico fought efforts against the Church gaining authority over its own schools and communications. Prominent Freemasons played a major role in the Mexican revolution and other Latin American revolutions that diminished Church influence.

What does canon law say about Freemasonry?
Prior to 1983, the Code of Canon Law explicitly stated that if a Catholic joins the Freemasons, that person incurs an automatic excommunication that can only be lifted by the Holy See. This applied not just to the Freemasons but to any group that engages in plots against the Church.

“Those giving their name to Masonic sects or other associations of this sort that machinate against the Church or legitimate civil powers contract by that fact excommunication simply reserved to the Apostolic See,” canon 2335 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law reads.

The 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law avoided a specific mention of Freemasonry and removed the penalty of automatic excommunication but maintained its ban on joining any groups that plot against the Church.

“A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to be punished with an interdict,” canon 1374 of the current Code of Canon Law reads.

Although the new canon did not explicitly reference the Freemasons, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration on the Freemasons within the same year, clarifying that despite a change in the wording, there has been no change to the Church’s opposition to Freemasonry and that joining any Masonic association is still a grave sin that bars one from receiving communion.

“Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden,” the document reads. “The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive holy Communion.”
CNA Newsletter Jubilee 2025

In February 2024, Bishop Antonio Staglianò, president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, said that Freemasonry is a heresy that is fundamentally aligned with the Arian heresy. Staglianò made this statement after participating in an event organized by the Italian Grand Orient lodge in Milan. He said that Freemasonry is incompatible with Catholicism because of the following reasons:
God
Freemasons refer to God as the "Great Architect of the Universe", which is similar to the idea of Arius, who also falsely claimed this in the 4th century. Catholics, however, believe that God is the result of God's revelation in Jesus Christ, not human reasoning.
Christ
Freemasons deny the divinity of Christ, similar to the Arians. The Nicene Creed of the Catholic Church states that Jesus is begotten and not created, of the same nature as the Father, and became incarnate to offer salvation to all men.
Charity
Freemasonry and Catholicism have different concepts of charity. Staglianò said that Christian charity is based on the historical event of God dying and rising again for us, and asking his children to be crucified for love. Masonic philanthropy, on the other hand, is different.
Mystery
Freemasonry teachings are esoteric and only given to the initiated, while Catholic doctrine is that the mystery hidden throughout the centuries has been revealed.


In fact Freemasonry beliefs on Religion:
Freemasons, a nonsectarian organization, refer to God as the Great Architect of the Universe (GAOTU) or Grand Architect of the Universe (TGAOTU) as a neutral term to represent the Supreme Being of each member's choice. The term is used to allow Freemasons to meet on equal footing, regardless of their specific religion. Freemasons believe that God designed and created the universe, and that people use different ways to express and seek what they know of God.
Freemasonry is not a religion, but all members are required to believe in a Supreme Being[/b]. The term "GAOTU" is used in Masonic literature to decouple the subject from a religious context and invite other ways of understanding it. For example, some with a more secular or scientific leaning might see the Big Bang as the creative source. Others might see the term as referring to the God that their faith tells them is responsible for their existence Freemasonry is a nonsectarian fraternity that accepts members of all faiths, including those who are pantheists. Freemasonry's only religious requirement is belief in a supreme being, which members call the Great Architect of the Universe. This term is generic and doesn't refer to any specific being. Freemasons don't accept, embrace, or proclaim any religion or religious dogma as true. Instead, they endorse a minimalist creed that can range from theism to pantheism and atheism. For example, in the 1740s, the Parisian Freemason Claude Helvétius was a materialist, while the leader of Amsterdam Freemasonry, Rousset de Missy, was a pantheist


In fact the exception to the GAOTU Is  The Grand Orient of France (GODF) is a Continental tradition of Freemasonry that allows members to believe or not believe in God, and is considered more liberal than other Freemasonry traditions. This is in contrast to the Anglo-American tradition, which requires a belief in a deity and prohibits discussion of politics and religion. GODF's defining features include freedom of religious conscience and political involvement.
Anglo-American Freemasonry does not instruct its members on religious beliefs, and it prohibits discussion of religion in its lodges. Instead, Freemasonry focuses on relationships between men, and it encourages members to practice their own religions and consider their holy books to be the standard of truth. Freemasonry has been the subject of criticism and controversy throughout its history, including from religious institutions and the public. Some Catholic critics say that Freemasonry's refusal to promote one religion over another, combined with its use of rituals that may seem religious to outsiders, creates an indifference to religion. Others say that Freemasonry's ban on religious discussion in lodges is important, especially in 18th century England, when a civil war had recently ended that was partly caused by religious conflict.


For the record I am not a Freemasnon but if I were I'd feel insulted that an organization id belong to is stigmatized under an attiude of unum dogma convenit all  [one dogma fits all]

Actually RC have their own particular Lodges...The Knights of COlumbus  and Templars Today US  A Christian association inspired by the medieval Knights Templar, this group has over 3,000 members and 200 local groups worldwide. They are recognized by the Vatican and many Italian Catholic Dioceses as a private association of Catholic faithful. Their goals include promoting Christian chivalry, defending the Catholic faith, and studying the history of the original Templars

Ironically  speaking of Biden>..
" On January 19, the final day of his presidency, Joe Biden was presented with a “resolution of membership” in the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina.

Since the 18th century, when Masonic lodges emerged as a significant social force in Europe, the Catholic Church has condemned the movement, with several Roman Pontiffs explaining that the teachings of Freemasonry are incompatible with the Catholic faith and destructive of objective morality. Pope Leo XIII, writing in Humanum Genus (1884), pointed to the liberal campaigns to make marriage a simple civil union, and to eliminate parental authority over their children’s religious training; he concluded; “If these be taken away, as the naturalists and Freemasons desire, there will immediately be no knowledge as to what constitutes justice and injustice, or upon what principle morality is founded.”

However, the Vatican has made a clear judgment on the topic—although it does not mention that magic word “excommunication.” Responding in 1983 to queries about whether the old ban was still in place, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith replied that while the Code of Canon Law was not altogether clear,…

…the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association 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.
So where does that leave Joe Biden, who has continued to profess his Catholic faith, attend Mass, and receive Communion regularly? He is forbidden to receive Communion. But then he was already forbidden to receive Communion, because of his persistent disregard for Catholic teachings on such topics as abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and gender ideology."

ref: Phil Lawler feb 5,2025 Should Biden be excommunicated for joining the Masons? {Catholic Culture .org}



Ironically the Lateran_Treaty aettlement
Negotiations for the settlement of the Roman question began in 1926 between the Holy See and the Italian fascist government led by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, and culminated in the agreements of the Lateran Pacts, signed—the Treaty says—for King Victor Emmanuel III by Mussolini and for Pope Pius XI by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri,on 11 February 1929. It was ratified on 7 June 1929.

Ironic the Vatican would conclude an agreement  with The fascist dictators Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler [The Concordat between Nazi Germany and the Vatican, signed on July 20, 1933, establishes a formal agreement aimed at regulating the relationship between the Catholic Church and the German state under Adolf Hitler. Key Points of the Concordat:Purpose: The Concordat seeks to protect the rights of the Catholic Church in Germany while ensuring the Church's neutrality in political matters.Provisions:The Vatican recognizes the legitimacy of the Nazi regime.
The German government agrees to respect the autonomy of the Church and its institutions. The Church retains the right to operate schools and religious organizations.
Impact:Initially, the Concordat provides some protection for the Church, but the Nazi regime later violates its terms.]

Mussolini and Hitler were anti-clerical and atheists but they were never excommunicated  because Political Considerations: Both leaders were seen as useful by the Church for maintaining social order and combating communism.Complexity of Doctrine: Excommunication is a serious ecclesiastical penalty, and the Church often opts for dialogue and negotiation over formal condemnation.Historical Impact The lack of excommunication reflects the Church's strategic decisions during a tumultuous period in Europe, balancing moral stances with political realities.

Likewise Hitler and Mussolini both cultivate strong cults of personality to consolidate power and influence public perception.

Both had similar attitudes to marriage: Overall, the Nazi regime's approach to marriage was deeply intertwined with its broader goals of racial purity and population control,The Nazi regime implemented laws that prohibited marriages between Germans and non-Aryans, primarily targeting Jews.


Mussolini's government encouraged civil marriages to reduce the influence of the Church in personal matters.Civil marriages provided couples with a secular alternative to religious ceremonies.
This move aligned with Mussolini's efforts to promote state control over various aspects of life, including family structures. In the fall of 1938, the Fascist government permanently banned marriages of Italian citizens “of the Aryan race” with “Camites” and “Semites” of any citizenship. [Africans and Jews]  "...We also know that the King’s Prosecutor in Eritrea (i.e. the representative of the executive power within the judiciary) had ordered—the exact date is not known, but somewhat earlier than October 1937—all registry offices to “defer, at least for the time being and awaiting instructions,” the recording in the Civil Register of any “mixed” marriage performed only with religious rites."  
[The Fascist Government, the Holy See and the Prohibition of “Mixed” Marriages 1935-1938 by Michele Sarfatti]

As for the 1884 Dogma that Freemasons would  eliminate parental authority over their children’s religious training;

In fact those who did try to replace religious training over children with athestic secularism were not the Freemasons But
*Mussolini's regime in Italy promotes a cult of personality that seeks to replace traditional religious instruction with state-sponsored ideology.Cult of Personality Mussolini cultivates an image of himself as the embodiment of the Italian nation. Propaganda emphasizes his leadership qualities and portrays him as a heroic figure. Impact on Education The regime reforms the education system to align with fascist ideals. Religious instruction is diminished or replaced with courses that glorify the state and Mussolini. Textbooks and curricula are revised to reflect fascist values and loyalty to the regime.
*Hitler's regime promotes a cult of personality that seeks to replace traditional religious instruction with a focus on loyalty to the state and its leader. Cult of Personality Hitler cultivates an image of infallibility and charisma, positioning himself as the savior of Germany. Propaganda plays a crucial role in shaping public perception, portraying Hitler as a heroic figure. Impact on Religion The Nazi regime views organized religion as a potential rival to state authority. Efforts are made to diminish the influence of Christianity and other religions, promoting instead a quasi-religious reverence for the state and its ideology. Education and Indoctrination The education system is restructured to emphasize Nazi ideology over religious teachings. Youth organizations, such as the Hitler Youth, instill loyalty to Hitler and the state from a young age.
*Stalin Stalin's cult of personality serves as a significant ideological tool that replaces traditional religious instruction in the Soviet Union. Cult of Personality Development Stalin cultivates a public image as an infallible leader, promoting himself as a god-like figure.Propaganda portrays him as the savior of the nation, emphasizing his role in the October Revolution and the defeat of Nazi Germany. Impact on Religion The Soviet regime actively suppresses religious institutions and practices, viewing them as threats to state authority. Stalin's regime promotes atheism and secularism, encouraging citizens to place their faith in the state rather than in religious beliefs. Education and Indoctrination Schools incorporate Stalinist ideology into curricula, replacing religious teachings with lessons on Marxism-Leninism.Youth organizations, like the Komsomol, emphasize loyalty to Stalin and the Communist Party, further diminishing religious influence.
*Mao Zedong's cult of personality in China resembles a new form of political religion, characterized by intense devotion to his image and ideology. Cult of Personality Mao's leadership fosters a strong emotional connection among followers. Propaganda elevates Mao to a near-divine status, portraying him as the savior of the Chinese people. His thoughts and writings, particularly the "Little Red Book," become central texts for ideological education.Religious Elements Rituals and ceremonies celebrate Mao, similar to religious practices. His image appears in public spaces, akin to religious iconography. The state promotes loyalty to Mao as a moral duty, paralleling religious devotion. Impact on Society The cult influences political loyalty and social behavior. It shapes national identity, intertwining Mao's legacy with Chinese history.The reverence for Mao persists in various forms, even after his death in 1976.
Only twice were Freemasons and heads of state  who were  anticlerical whose heading is Continental Freemasons organised under Grand Orients,
*Alvaro Obregón,
*Plutarco Elías Calles  [Francisco Plutarco Elías Campuzano] During his term as president, he moved to enforce the anticlerical articles of the Constitution of 1917, which led to a violent and lengthy conflict known as the Cristero Rebellion or the Cristero War, which was characterized by reprisals and counter-reprisals. The Mexican government violently persecuted the clergy, massacring suspected Cristeros and their supporters. The conflict ended in 1929 with the mediation of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Dwight Morrow with the Mexican government and the Vatican.
On 14 June 1926, President Calles enacted anticlerical legislation known formally as The Law Reforming the Penal Code and unofficially as the Calles Law.[45] Calles's anti-Catholic actions included outlawing religious orders, preventing corruption from the Church. Particularly offensive to Catholics after the truce was Calles's insistence on a complete state monopoly on education, taking away focus from the Catholic education and introducing secular education in its place, saying: "We must enter and take possession of the consciences of the children, of the consciences of the young, because they do belong, and should belong to the revolution."The effects of Calles's policy on the Church were between 1926 and 1934. At least 4,000 priests were killed or expelled; one of the most famous was the Jesuit Miguel Pro.[49] Where there had been 4,500 priests in Mexico before the rebellion, in 1934 there were only 334 priests licensed by the government to serve fifteen million people, the rest having been eliminated by emigration, expulsion, execution, and assassination. By 1935, seventeen states had no priests at all. According to a 2020 New York Times article, Plutarco Elías Calles (1877–1945) cultivated a "twisted cult of personality". Calles was a progressive authoritarian modernizer and revolutionary pro-consul of Sonora from 1915 to 1919. He was known for his personal style of politics, which included relying on the military and family, and being inflexible when challenged. He was also anticlerical and introduced laws to limit the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, such as prohibiting church schools and limiting the number of clergy.
Also there was 1 notorious organization that  called itself a Masonic Lodge...even though its Charter was withdrawn...and it was a illegeal institution.....and engaged illegieal activites.....
Ironically the Only Masonic Lodge that ever engaged in Goverment Activites was the notorious Propaganda 2 ....founded as Grand Orient Masonic Lodge in 1877  its CHarter was withdrawn in 1976 however this did not stop it from being transformed by Worshipful Master Licio Gelli into an international, illegal, clandestine, anti-communist, anti-Soviet, anti-Marxist, and radical right wing org was implicated in numerous Italian crimes and mysteries, including the collapse of the Holy See-affiliated Banco Ambrosiano, the contract killings of journalist Carmine Pecorelli and mobbed-up bank president Roberto Calvi, and political corruption cases within the nationwide Tangentopoli bribery scandal. P2 came to light through the investigations into the collapse of Michele Sindona's financial empire
Despite the fact his actions was a automatic excomminication, Licio Gelli was given a funeral Mass!

*Other world leaders  Cult of Personalty:Philippe Pétain;David Ben-Gurion, Eamon de Valera, Francisco Franco's, Kim Il-sung

I have included these 2 leaders David Ben-Gurion and Eamen De Valera  because of their  quasi facist authortian ruleing attitides: See websites The Hebrew Cafe and Axis History Forum

For the record I must point out a 2020 book on fatima..while accuaretly describing Russia errors through out the world...somehow mixes communism with Freemasonry

in fact
both left and right hate Freemasoney
Leon Trotzky Communism and Freemasonry (16 December 1922)" Freemasonry is an ulcer on the body of French communism. This ulcer ought to be cauterized."
Freemasons have been persecuted by communist countries throughout history. Some conspiracy theories claim that Freemasonry is tied to or behind communism. For example, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco often associated his opposition to both Freemasonry and communism, and he believed that the latter was a conspiracy of the former. For example, in 1936, after a military coup, many Freemasons in areas under Nationalist control were arrested and killed in the White Terror. The Law for the Repression of Freemasonry and Communism formally outlawed Freemasonry, but it wasn't repealed until 1963
Some conspiracy theories claim that Freemasonry is a Jewish front for world domination, or that Jews control it for this purpose. For example, Adolf Hitler believed that Freemasonry was a tool of Jewish influence, and he outlawed Freemasonry in part for this reason.


There are three different kinds of Masonry, and the gulf between them is
greater than that which used to divide the Samaritans from the Jews.
l. Continental Freemasons organised under Grand Orients, and they are political,atheistical, and bitterly anti-clerical. They are found particularly in Latin countries.
2. Theosophical Masons. and they acquired importance largely through the workof Mrs.Beasant. They cover such bodies as Star of the East, the Rosicrucians,and admit women into the membership. They attempt a synthesis of religions.
3. Regular Freemasons such as ourselves - Organized under Grand Lodgeswhich are independent of one another, but nevertheless are bound to the GrandLodge of England, or Scotland, or Ireland, in much the same way as the Dominions are linked to Britain. Regular masons are found all over the world, they don't have any political contact, and firmly hold to the belief that in God is the great foundation of the Masonic system. They refuse all contact with Continental and Theosophical Masons. so much so. that any brother having contact with either group will be struck off Grand Lodge Register.
The_Masonic_Order_and_Religion

[eschator83]

"Freemasons such as ourselves"?  This isn't at all clear.  You must be aware of Freemasons history of burning churches, convents, and violence against Catholics.  I am aware that today they invite Catholics to attend and join, and they have done much to improve their communities and educate their members.  I think the improvement leaves much to be desired.

[curious]

Burning of churches occured in mexico,,,,,The President at that time was an athesit   also.....he belong to the COntinetal Masons   who were anti clerical,,,,,please do not confuse Continetal Freemasonry with Anglo-English Freemasonry....

In 1974  to 1981 the questiond was could a Catholic Join a freemasonry?

On September 18, 1974, National Catholic News Service released a story with a startling headline: “CATHOLICS GIVEN QUALIFIED PERMISSION TO JOIN MASONS.”

The piece announced that Cardinal Franjo Šeper, prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, had sent a letter regarding Freemasonry to Cardinal John Krol, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A month later, similar news broke in the British Isles. In November 1974, the Catholic Information Office (the official press office of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales) informed various news outlets of the change regarding Masonry, based on the same letter which Cardinal Šeper had sent to the English Catholic hierarchy.

The American bishops released the full translation of the CDF letter, along with commentary which emphasized that now “Catholic laymen may join Masonic lodges that do not plot against the Church.”

The text of the cardinal’s letter itself does not explicitly state that Catholics can be Masons. Instead, it states that Catholics are only forbidden from joining “associations which plot against the Church.”

But the U.S. bishops’ commentary made it clear that they understood this to mean that Catholics could in fact join Masonic lodges in some cases - that the Masons were not intrinsically anti-Catholic.

The full text of the Šeper‘s letter is as follows, as translated and released by the U.S. bishops:

Your Eminence,

Many bishops asked this Sacred Congregation about the force and significance of Canon 2335 of the Code of Canon Law which forbids Catholics under the pain of excommunication to join Masonic or other associations of the same kind.

During its long examination of this question, the Holy See frequently consulted interested episcopal conferences so it might be familiar with the nature of these associations and their present-day direction.

The great divergency of replies, however, reflecting the diverse situations of each nation, did not permit the Holy See to change the current general legislation, which therefore remains in force until the new canon law is published by the competent Pontifical Commision for the Code of Canon Law.

In considering particular cases, it must be remembered that penal law is always subject to strict interpretation. Therefore, one may safely teach and apply the opinion of those authors who hold that Canon 2335 regards only those Catholics who join associations which plot against the Church.

Clerics, Religious and members of secular institutes are still forbidden in every case to join any Masonic association.

F. Cardinal Seper
Prefect
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

The news was a sensation. The story from the bishops’ news service ran in many diocesan newspapers around the country. The story was also picked up by Reuters and the Associated Press and quickly circulated in secular newspapers throughout the United States and Canada.

Although it was not included in the press release from the American bishops, it would later become known that the letter was dated July 19, 1974. It appears that the bishops considered the matter for several months before deciding to publicly announce the letter and issue the story about its contents.



The bishops discussed the matter at their annual fall meeting in mid-November and released a statement to explain how this would be applied in their country. In short, as they had previously described in their 1973 letter to the clergy, lay Catholics would be permitted to join the Masons with permission from their bishop. The official text of the English Hierarchy is as follows:

Canon 2335 of the Code of Canon Law forbade Catholics to join the Freemasons or any similar organisation under pain of excommunication. The ban was imposed because in many countries Freemasonry was regarded as being a secret society plotting against Church and State. Times change.

The Holy See has reviewed the Church’s present relationship with Freemasonry. Widespread consultations failed to produce a uniform response from the world’s bishops, so the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has recently told bishops that universal legislation is to remain unchanged, at least until the revision of the whole Code of Canon Law. But the congregation has ruled that Canon 2335 no longer automatically bars a Catholic from membership of Masonic groups. In particular cases it is to be subject to the restrictive interpretation applied to penal legislation, so a Catholic who joins the Freemasons is excommunicated only if the policy and actions of the Freemasons in his area are known to be hostile to the Church.

The bishops of England and Wales have taken note of this guidance. They wish to clarify procedure in their countries until such time as the universal law of the Church is reformulated. A Catholic should regard himself first and foremost a member of the Catholic Church, finding his inspiration for Christian living in the Church and his fellowship within that community; but if he sincerely believes that membership of Freemasonry does not conflict with this deeper loyalty he should approach his bishop through his parish priest to discuss the implications of such membership. Local conditions would of course have to be kept in mind.

A Catholic who has in the past left the Church to become a Freemason is urged to seek reconciliation. Priests, religious and members of secular institutes are still forbidden by the universal law of the Church to accept membership of the masonic order or similar organizations

In March 1976, Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York addressed the 31st annual Dedication Breakfast for New York State Masons. The U.S. bishops’ news service released coverage of this “milestone in ecumenism” and reminded readers that “n 1974 the Vatican’s Doctrinal Congregation issued a letter saying that Catholics may join Masonic lodges that do not plot against the Church. However, ‘Clerics, Religious and members of secular institutes’ were still forbidden to join[.]”

Cooke told the Masons that the “estrangement between the Church and the Masons in the past” was partly due to a failure to communicate. “Many of the problems of the modern world are due to such failures. In charity we must forgive such human error. Whatever happened in the past, it should not affect our future.”

Questions continued to be asked about the change in the years which followed. In October 1978, a reader addressed the topic in the extremely popular “Dear Abby” newspaper feature. The columnist, Pauline Philips, was an admirer of Bishop Fulton Sheen and asked him to supply the answer to this particular question.

Sheen’s answer was featured in her column–the most widely syndicated in the world–and printed in more than 1,000 newspapers with close to 80 million readers between October and December 1978.

“Can a Catholic be a Mason? That depends,” said Sheen. “According to a letter sent to the presidents of the various National Conferences of Catholics Bishops by Cardinal Seper … membership by lay people in Masonic groups is acceptable, provided the groups are not actively hostile to the Church.”

Throughout all of this, amidst all the declarations by bishops’ conferences and statements by bishops beginning in 1974 and onward, no additional statements were issued by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Although confusing and surprising, Catholics throughout the world were gradually coming to accept that things had changed according to the qualified permissions of the 1974 letter.

Then, suddenly, in March of 1981, a strongly worded “clarification” was issued by the Vatican. This second statement was also issued by Cardinal Franjo Šeper of the CDF, and took pains to emphasize that the law of the Church forbidding all Catholics to participate in Masonry had not been changed by the 1974 letter.

Warning against “erroneous and tendentious interpretations” of the 1974 letter, Šeper bluntly stated, “The present canonical discipline has not been modified in any way and remains in force. Therefore, neither excommunication nor the other penalties called for have been abrogated.”

Website The Pillar when-catholics-could-be-masons


In March 1981, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was the policy maker for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He had been appointed as the Prefect of the Congregation on November 25, 1981, by Pope John Paul II, according to an article on EWTN Vatican. Prior to his appointment as Prefect, Franjo Šeper held the position from January 8, 1968, to November 25, 1981.


Page 12 - 5 December 1983 L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO Weekly Edition
SACRED CONGREGATION
FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
DECLARATION ON MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS
 It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision
in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not
mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.
 This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance is
due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations
likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.
 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.
 It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a
judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation
from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this
Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 [1981] pp. 240-241)
(Published in English language edition of L'Osservatore Romano, 9 March 1981.
Editor's note).
 In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme
Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this Declaration which
had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.
 Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, 26 November 1983.
 JOSEPH Card. RATZINGER
 Prefect
 Fr. JEROME HAMER,O.P.
Titular Archbishop of Lorium
                          Secretary
                          137

Also see article c ontemporary-anti-freemasonry.html

[curious]

How it all started

In eminenti apostolatus specula is a papal bull issued by Pope Clement XII on 28 April 1738, banning Catholics from becoming Freemasons. It arose from Jacobite-Hanoverian rivalry on the continent.

Background
Freemasonry had developed in England in the seventeenth century, but after 1715 had split into Jacobite and Hanoverian lodges. The lodge in Rome was Jacobite (pro Stuart) and mainly Catholic, but admitted Protestants, while that in Florence was Protestant Hanoverian but also admitted Catholics and atheists who supported the Whig position. As Clement was from Florence, he did not view a prominent Protestant fraternity in his hometown favorably.

James Francis Edward Stuart was living as James III of England in Rome where he conducted a Jacobean court in exile. In 1737 he learned that Hanoverian Freemasons had recruited so many French Catholics that they had taken control of the Grande Loge de France from the Jacobites. He asked Clement XII to issue a papal bull condemning Hanoverian Freemasonry in the Catholic countries of Europe.[1]

At the same time, Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury was chief minister of Louis XV of France. Fleury was focused on maintaining peace with Britain. Jacobite sympathizers in France had formed a secret lodge of Freemasons; their attempts to influence Fleury to support the Stuart faction led instead to raids on their premises, and Fleury urged Pope Clement XII to issue a bull that forbade all Roman Catholics to become Freemasons under threat of excommunication.

Context
Clement wished to accommodate the pretender while not antagonizing Britain nor opposing Fleury's foreign policy. The bull was drafted from a religious rather than the political viewpoint and did not distinguish between Jacobean and Hanoverian Freemasonry.

He noted that membership of Masonic Lodges, "spreading far and wide and daily growing in strength", was open to men of any religion or sect, who were sworn to secrecy. The logic at the heart of the bull is expressed as follows:

'But it is in the nature of crime to betray itself and to show itself by its attendant clamor. Thus these aforesaid Societies or Conventicles have caused in the minds of the faithful the greatest suspicion, and all prudent and upright men have passed the same judgment on them as being depraved and perverted. For if they were not doing evil they would not have so great a hatred of the light."
The bull goes on to note that the growing rumor had caused several governments which considered it a threat to their own security to cause such associations to be "prudently eliminated". An expressed danger was the private rules that bound members, "that they do not hold by either civil or canonical sanctions."

As a result, all Catholic participation in Masonry was prohibited, and bishops were to proceed against it "as well as inquisitors for heresy...calling upon the aid of the secular arm," as it was under suspicion of heresy, partly because of its already notorious secrecy.

That Catholics are still prohibited from joining Masonic organizations was confirmed in 1983 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.[2]

Catholic secret societies, which mirrored Freemasonry but were technically distinct from it so as to avoid the Papal Bull banning Catholics from it, sprang up in response, notably the Order of the Pug in Germany.

The Order of the Pug (German: Mops-Orden) was a para-Masonic society founded by Roman Catholics. It is believed that it was founded in 1738 by Klemens August of Bavaria to bypass the crown's In eminenti apostolatus of 1738. The constitution of the Order of the Pug allowed women to become members as long as they were Catholic. The pug was chosen as a symbol of loyalty, trustworthiness and steadiness
o reliable information has been handed down about the origins of the pug order. It is believed to have been founded in France around 1740, from whence it spread to the Netherlands and Germany, where a lodge is said to have existed in Bayreuth.[2] The founder is said to have been Klemens August, Duke of Bavaria, in 1740.

Members called themselves Mops (the German for Pug). Each lodge had a female and a male lodge master, who called themselves grand pugs and took turns running the lodge every six months. Other functions, such as secretaries and overseers, were also androgynously filled. However, the lodge grandmaster was always male.[3]

The order was banned by Göttingen University in 1748. Loge Louise des ehrwürdigen Mopsordens or "Lodge Louise of the Venerable Order of the Pug" had been formed the previous year as a student society, mainly drawn from the Hanoverian nobility. The lodge fees and their control over their members formed the excuse for the closure, and after a government investigation, the lodge documents were passed to the university authorities.[4]

While German sources state that the order was short-lived,[5] they were reportedly active in Lyon as late as 1902.[6]

Initiation ritual
Novices were initiated wearing a dog collar and had to scratch at the door to be admitted inside. The novices were blindfolded and led nine times around a carpet with symbols on it, while the Pugs of the order barked loudly to test the steadiness of the newcomers. During the initiation, the novices also had to kiss a porcelain pug's backside under its tail as an expression of devotion to the order. Subsequently, the hand of the person asking for admittance to the order was placed by the master on a rapier in the case of a man, and on a mirror in the case of a woman, with a vow being demanded. Finally, the initiate was asked to "see the light", whereupon the blindfold was removed. The members of the order would stand around the initiate in a circle, holding out a rapier or a mirror in one hand and a pug in the other. At the end of the Rococo period, the initiate also had to undergo the ceremonial presentation of hand signals and slogans.[7]

Members of the order carried a Pug medallion made of silver. In 1745, the secrets of the order were "exposed" in a book published in Amsterdam with the title L'ordre des Franc-Maçons trahi et le Secret des Mopses révélé which included the ritual and two engravings illustrating their rite.

[curious]

Himmler and Goebels   raised Catholic but very anticlerical

Oh incidently regarding the CHurch fear that Freemasons  try to replace Religion.....

Mussolini fascism
Fascism also saw a current of political and religious thought called Fascist mysticism, which was based on the idea that faith existed without reason and that fascism should be based on mythology and spiritual mysticism. Subordination to the State: A core tenet of Fascism is the supremacy of the state. Any institution, including religious ones, was expected to be subservient to the state's interests and ideology.
Examples: Mussolini's Italy sought a concordat with the Catholic Church, granting it certain privileges in exchange for its allegiance to the state. However, the regime also suppressed Catholic organizations that challenged its authority


Fascism attitude toward Freemasons
Yes, fascist regimes, particularly in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, were strongly anti-Masonic.
Here's why:
1. Ideological Opposition:
Fascism and Totalitarianism: Fascist ideologies, aiming for totalitarian control and a unified national identity, viewed Freemasonry with suspicion due to its international connections, fraternal nature, and emphasis on individual liberty and tolerance.
Conspiracy Theories: Fascist regimes often propagated conspiracy theories, linking Freemasonry to "Jewish conspiracies" and other enemies of the state, further justifying their suppression.
2. Historical Context:
Pre-Fascist Anti-Masonry: Even before the rise of fascism, there was a history of anti-Masonry, particularly from the Catholic Church, which had issued Papal Bulls against Freemasonry. Fascist regimes built upon and exploited these pre-existing sentiments.
3. Suppression and Persecution:
Nazi Germany: The Nazi regime banned Freemasonry in 1934, dissolved Masonic lodges, confiscated their property, and persecuted Freemasons, sending many to concentration camps.
Fascist Italy: Mussolini declared Freemasonry incompatible with Fascism in 1923 and banned it in 1925, leading to the closure of lodges and persecution of members.
In summary, fascist regimes considered Freemasonry a threat to their totalitarian goals, a potential source of opposition, and readily exploited pre-existing anti-Masonic sentiments and conspiracy theories to justify the suppression and persecution of Freemasons.

Nazism
The Nazis wanted to replace religious allegiances with a single-minded "national community". Hitler attempted to create a unified Protestant church from Germany's 28 existing Protestant churches, but the Confessing Church resisted. The Nazis also persecuted the Catholic Church, closing Catholic institutions that weren't strictly religious and arresting clergy, nuns, and lay leaders. Some historians believe the Nazis intended to eradicate traditional Christianity in Germany after winning the war.

After Nazi Germany surrendered at the end of World War II in Europe, the U.S. Office of Strategic Services published a report which was titled "The Nazi Master Plan: The Persecution of the Christian Churches".Historians and theologians generally agree that the objective of the Nazi policy towards religion was to remove explicitly Jewish content from the Bible (i.e., the Old Testament, the Gospel of Matthew, and the Pauline Epistles), transforming the Christian faith into a new religion, completely cleansed from any Jewish element and conciliate it with Nazism, Völkisch ideology and Führerprinzip

This was one of Himmler Pet projects
Nazi attiutde toward FreeMasons
The Nazis were vehemently anti-Freemason and actively persecuted Freemasons.
Nazi opposition stemmed from:
Ideological Conflicts: Nazi ideology conflicted with Freemasonry's principles of tolerance and individual liberty.
Conspiracy Theories: The Nazis linked Freemasonry to Jews and blamed them for Germany's issues.
Perceived Threat: Freemasonry's international nature and promotion of democratic ideals were seen as a threat to Nazi goals.
Nazi actions included:
Banning and Dissolution: Freemasonry was banned in 1934, and lodges were dissolved.
Propaganda and Persecution: Anti-Masonic propaganda was used, and Freemasons were arrested, imprisoned, and murdered.
Seizure of Archives: Masonic archives and libraries were seized.
Important points:
Deaths: Tens of thousands of Freemasons died due to Nazi persecution.
Target Group: Freemasons were targeted along with other groups.
In conclusion, the Nazis opposed Freemasonry and sought to eradicate it, resulting in persecution and deaths.

Comminism
USSR
While there's no evidence suggesting Russian Communists attempted to rewrite the Bible, their historical stance toward religion, particularly in the Soviet Union, involved suppression and control rather than textual alteration.
The Soviet Union, under communist rule, promoted atheism and actively worked to diminish the influence of religion, according to History.com.
This involved closing churches, persecuting religious leaders, and restricting religious practices.
However, there's no evidence of a systematic effort to rewrite the Bible itself.
2. Focus on Marxist-Leninist Atheism:
Soviet policy focused on promoting Marxist-Leninist atheism and suppressing religious beliefs, according to Wikipedia.
This included disseminating atheist propaganda and promoting a materialist worldview in education

Russiam Comminism attitude toward FreeMasons
Yes, Russian communists were anti-Freemasonry. In 1922, the Soviet Union outlawed Freemasonry, and after World War II, most communist countries prohibited the practice. In addition, the Soviet Union persecuted Masons and other noncommunist organizations to the point of near extermination.


China
The Chinese Communist Party, China's ruling regime, has been on a mission to rewrite the Bible through a communist lens.Sinicization" of Religion:
The CCP, under President Xi Jinping, has promoted a policy of "Sinicization" of religion. This policy aims to ensure religious groups and their practices align with Chinese culture and the CCP's ideology.
This involves encouraging religious groups to incorporate "core socialist values" and traditional Chinese culture into their teachings.
2. Rewriting or Reinterpreting Religious Texts:
Reports indicate the CCP has undertaken projects to revise or reinterpret religious texts to ensure they align with socialist principles and the CCP's vision for Chinese society.
This has included calls for a "comprehensive evaluation of existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times".
Specifically, there have been reports and concerns about revisions to the Bible, potentially altering key passages or adding interpretations that support the CCP's ideology.
3. Control and Censorship:
The CCP maintains tight control over religious activities and publications within China.
This control extends to the publication and distribution of religious texts, including the Bible.
Regulations and censorship can restrict the availability of religious texts that are not aligned with the CCP's interpretations or policies

Chinese Communism attitude toward Freemasonry
Freemasonry has been persecuted in communist countries throughout history. In China, there are no Masonic Lodges in Mainland China, which is under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but there are some in Hong Kong.


By the way the agreement that China would nominate Bishops which the Pope could Veto...
CV NEWS FEED // Even as the universal Church grieves the death of Pope Francis and prepares for the conclave to elect his successor, Chinese authorities are moving forward with episcopal appointments, signaling their determination to operate independently of Rome.

In the Diocese of Shanghai, Father Wu Jianlin was confirmed April 28 as auxiliary bishop, AsiaNews reported. The next day, officials in the Diocese of Xinxiang chose Father Li Janlin for the same role. Both selections were made through a state-managed process involving only a single candidate — an approach Beijing continues to use despite its 2018 agreement with the Vatican on episcopal appointments.

The controversial agreement, renewed in 2024, lets the Chinese government propose bishop candidates, with final approval left to the pope. While Rome frames it as a step toward unity, critics say it gives the Communist Party too much control and leaves faithful clergy vulnerable to state pressure.
AsiaNews suggests these new appointments are not just routine but strategic; they are designed to test how the next pope will respond to China’s assertion of control over episcopal appointments. The conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor is set to begin in one week, and the Holy See’s approach to Beijing will be among the many challenges the new pontiff will inherit.

from Catholic Vote

ONCCP And Vactian
No Formal Diplomatic Relations: The Holy See does not have formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and instead recognizes Taiwan (the Republic of China) as the representative of China.
Provisional Agreement on Bishop Appointments: Under Pope Francis, a provisional agreement was reached in 2018 with the PRC concerning the appointment of bishops in mainland China. This agreement was extended multiple times, most recently for four years until October 22, 2028.
Shared Authority, but Disputed Terms: The agreement allows the Pope to appoint and veto bishops approved by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with Beijing proposing candidates. However, the Vatican has accused the Chinese government of violating the terms of the agreement by unilaterally appointing bishops without papal consent.


CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY
Oct 1, 2024 — Chinese officials have ordered the removal of crosses from churches and have replaced images of Christ and the Virgin Mary with images of President Xi Jinping.They have also censored religious texts, forced members of the clergy to preach CCP ideology, and mandated the display of CCP slogans within churches.
To subordinate religions to the party, the government forces religious groups to enroll in various “patriotic religious associations” and their local branches. For Catholic churches, this means enrolling in the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, which is officially under the control of China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs and the CCP’s United Front Work Department.Anyone who practices religion outside of the state-approved associations is considered to be in a “cult” and subjected to anti-cult provisions in Chinese law, a policy that has resulted in mass arrests and imprisonment, according to the report. Chinese officials have enforced the anti-cult provisions against underground Catholics who do not recognize the authority of the government-backed clergy and the distortion of the faith.“Ultimately, the Chinese government is solely interested in instilling unwavering obedience and devotion to the CCP, its political agenda, and its vision for religion, not protecting the religious freedom rights of Catholics,” Mahmood said.

Oh remember
Yes, the Nazi regime, led by Adolf Hitler, engaged in efforts to remove religious pictures and symbols from public life and replace them with images of Hitler and Nazi symbols.
Key actions and events:
Crucifix Decrees: A significant example of this effort were the "Crucifix Decrees" (Crucifix Struggle) in Germany, from 1935 to 1941. These decrees aimed to secularize public spaces, particularly schools, by removing crucifixes and replacing them with portraits of Hitler, the Führer.
Propaganda and Cult of Personality: The Nazi regime utilized various propaganda tools to promote Nazi ideology and glorify Adolf Hitler. This included using his image extensively on postcards, posters, and in the press, and encouraging Germans to collect art featuring Nazi themes and portraits of Hitler.
Replacement of Christian imagery and rituals: The Nazis sought to create a state religion based on their values and replace traditional Christian practices with Nazi rituals. This included attempts to replace rites like baptism and marriage with Nazi ceremonies.


While Benito Mussolini's regime sought to cultivate a strong personality cult and utilized various forms of propaganda to solidify his power, he didn't necessarily replace all religious pictures with his own. Instead, he strategically used and even appropriated religious symbolism to legitimize his rule and create a quasi-religious aura around himself.
Here's how Mussolini interacted with religion and used its symbols:
Personality Cult: Mussolini was portrayed as a savior figure, with even his humble beginnings likened to those of Christ. His parents were symbolically presented as the Holy Family in Fascist propaganda.Dechristianization" in some instances: However, in some instances, like ancient Roman temples converted to churches, the regime did de-christianize them to restore their original pagan appearances.
In essence, Mussolini used religious imagery and symbolism to enhance his own image as "Il Duce" (the Leader) and solidify his authority, rather than completely replacing religious pictures with his own.

Suppression of Religion: Stalin's regime actively suppressed religion, seeing it as a threat to his power and the socialist ideology.
Cult of Personality: Stalin fostered a powerful cult of personality, portraying himself as a charismatic leader, a "god-like savior" who was perceived to have superhuman abilities and wisdom. This cult aimed to replace religious devotion with loyalty and veneration of the leader.
Ubiquitous Portraits: Stalin's portraits were widely displayed in official spaces and, driven by Soviet propaganda, some citizens also hung them in their homes, a practice that drew parallels to the traditional "red corners" where religious icons were displayed.

Removal of religious symbols: Authorities have ordered the removal of crosses from churches and replaced images of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary with portraits of President Xi Jinping and Chairman Mao Zedong.
Mandatory display of CCP slogans: The government has also required the display of CCP slogans at the entrances of churches.
Coercion and welfare benefits: In some cases, poor Christian villagers have been told to replace religious displays with portraits of communist leaders or risk losing government assistance.
Temples converted into propaganda bases: In some areas, statues of deities have been removed from temples and replaced with portraits of Mao Zedong and other communist leaders, making the temple look like a propaganda base

[curious]

The Freemasons are not involved with Teaching religion  or making a new Religion

[curious]

from Joel Montgomery
Past Master of Vandalia Lodge #491Author has 450 answers and 4.4M answer views10y
Related
Why is the Catholic Church officially opposed to Freemasonry?
The answer to your question is a bit on the complicated side, as the Catholic church itself is still somewhat confused as to its own stance on Freemasonry today.

Officially, the Catholic church is still opposed to Freemasonry - from my research, I believe this is due to two things:

While Masonry uses biblical imagery in all of its ritual, it does not use Scripture as a revelation of only Christianity. Masonry supports and encourages religion, but it does not support or encourage any one religion over any other.
Since Masonry is not a religion, but an organization that requires its members to be religious (in that every Mason must believe in a Supreme Being), the Catholic church has attributed Masonic teachings to be Deism, which was considered a heresy by the church sometime in the 16th century. This is interesting, because while Masonic philosophy has some things in common with Deism, it is not Deistic. Deism calls for a very specific view of God - that which can be observed through the natural world - and rejects such things as revelation and authority as sources of religious knowledge. But the Masonic lodge upholds the values of revelation and authority - you take your obligations upon the holy writings (or revelation) that represent your faith. You are encouraged to be an active member of your faith community. Masonry is not a religion, nor does it purport to be a substitute or replacement for your church.
This ban on Masonry from the Church has witnessed some confusion over the years as various cardinals, bishops, and other ecclesial documents have, from time to time, given the impression that Masonry was no longer banned by the church. Each time, however, the church has issued a further clarification re-stating its original and still official position against Masonry.

[curious]

why is the pope against freemasoney and has chosen to be councilatary to chose who make a homosexual choice when the old testament records the L-d s that such a lifestyle choice is an abonination to the L-d?

he Catholic Church opposes Freemasonry due to fundamental doctrinal differences, and its approach to people with a homosexual orientation is rooted in a distinction between an inclination and a person's choices. The two issues are distinct and addressed by different aspects of Catholic teaching.
Opposition to Freemasonry
The Catholic Church has consistently condemned Freemasonry since 1738, most recently reaffirming its ban in 2023. The official Catholic position is that Freemasonry is "irreconcilable" with Catholic doctrine for several reasons.
Conflicting worldviews: Freemasonry is described by the Church as promoting naturalism and secularism, which teach that human reason is the supreme guide and that all religions are equal. This is contrary to the Catholic belief that divine revelation, not human reason alone, is the ultimate truth and that Catholicism is the one true faith.
Secrecy and oaths: The secrecy of Masonic rituals and the oaths members take are seen as incompatible with the Church's demand for full accountability from its members. The Church believes such secret commitments could put Catholics at odds with their faith.
Religious indifferentism: The Freemasons' practice of religious ecumenism, where all religions are treated as equally valid, is considered dangerous by the Church because it could lead Catholics away from their faith.
The Church's approach to homosexuality
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines homosexual acts as sinful but makes a distinction between homosexual acts and the homosexual inclination. This is different from its stance on Freemasonry, which is a societal organization with conflicting doctrines.
Sinful acts vs. human dignity: Church teaching states that homosexual acts are "contrary to natural law" and gravely sinful. However, it also teaches that people with homosexual inclinations "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity" and that "every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided".
Pastoral compassion vs. doctrinal change: Pope Francis's pastoral approach, often described as "counselatory," emphasizes mercy and dialogue rather than condemnation for those in the LGBT community. This approach is not a rejection of Church doctrine, which still categorizes homosexual acts as sinful, but rather an emphasis on the loving treatment of individuals. The Pope has focused on welcoming gay individuals into the Church community and accompanying them on their spiritual journey, aligning his actions with the pastoral guidelines already present in the Catechism.
Differences from Old Testament interpretations
The Catholic Church's current understanding is more nuanced than a literal, legalistic interpretation of every Old Testament passage.
The Church's teachings evolved with a greater emphasis on the New Testament, particularly the life and ministry of Jesus, which stress mercy and love alongside justice.
Catholic tradition applies an interpretive lens to Scripture, distinguishing between the permanent moral law and temporary disciplinary laws that do not apply to Christians.
In short, the Church's stance on Freemasonry is a doctrinal issue of incompatible belief systems, while its position on homosexuality is a moral and pastoral issue regarding human dignity and sin, which the Church approaches with a combination of firm doctrine and pastoral compassion

The Catholic Church opposes Freemasonry due to its secret nature, perceived religious indifferentism, and historic conflicts with the Church. This differs from Pope Francis's pastoral approach toward homosexual individuals, which focuses on welcoming and accompaniment, not a doctrinal shift regarding the morality of homosexual acts.
The Church's opposition to Freemasonry
The Catechism of the Catholic Church considers the principles of Freemasonry irreconcilable with Catholic faith, and membership is forbidden. The reasons for this prohibition include:
Secrecy: Since the 18th century, multiple popes have condemned Masonic societies as secret organizations that require oaths of loyalty from their members, making their activities and rituals unaccountable to Church authority.
Religious indifferentism: Freemasonry holds a naturalistic worldview that views all religions as equally valid, which contradicts the Catholic Church's teaching that it is the one true path to salvation.
Clash of beliefs: The Catholic Church views Freemasonry as a rival system of belief, rituals, and morality that is incompatible with core Catholic doctrines.
Historical hostility: In certain periods and regions, Masonic lodges actively worked against the Catholic Church and its influence.
Pope Francis's approach to homosexuality
Pope Francis's comments regarding homosexual individuals reflect a pastoral shift toward greater inclusion and acceptance, but they have not changed the Church's underlying doctrine on homosexual acts.
Francis's emphasis on pastoral care
"Who am I to judge?": This remark, made in 2013, highlighted a focus on welcoming and compassion for gay individuals who seek God.
Separating the person from the act: In a 2023 interview, Francis clarified that while homosexual acts are considered sinful by Catholic moral teaching, homosexuality itself is "not a crime". The judgment of an individual's culpability must consider their specific circumstances.
Blessings for same-sex couples: The 2023 document Fiducia Supplicans permits non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, but only of the individuals, not the union itself. The document explicitly states that it does not alter the Church's teaching that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman.
Rejection of criminalization: Francis has consistently spoken out against laws that criminalize homosexuality, calling them "unjust" and urging bishops who support them to undergo a "process of conversion".
Consistent Catholic doctrine
Despite Francis's pastoral outreach, Catholic doctrine remains unchanged. Marriage is an indissoluble sacrament exclusively for a man and a woman. Homosexual acts are considered "intrinsically disordered" and contrary to natural law because they are not open to procreation.
The Catechism calls on homosexual persons to be treated with respect and sensitivity and to avoid "unjust discrimination," while also calling them to chastity.
Differing contexts for different subjects
The Church's approach to Freemasonry and homosexuality differs based on the nature of the subjects:
Freemasonry: This is an organization with a rival system of beliefs, rituals, and loyalties that the Church deems incompatible with Catholic teaching.
Homosexuality: This concerns individual persons who are part of the Catholic community. The Church distinguishes between the orientation itself, the moral evaluation of homosexual acts, and the pastoral response toward the person. Pope Francis's more welcoming approach is a reflection of a renewed pastoral emphasis on welcoming all individuals, in line with the Catechism's call for compassion and respect, without changing the underlying doctrinal teaching on sexual morality

[curious]

On the Roman Catholic Church between Doctine; dogma and actions;one example in regards to Freemasonry one ban over all aspects nothingstanding the orginal ban had been because a conflict between the Catolic Stuart reemansons and the Protestent Hanovian Freemanson over the throne of England; the Catolic Freemanson tried to pressure the French Cardinal to ban the German freemasons; in fact the result was ban on allf reemasoney particaiption...even today there is no disctiction between Anglo Freemasorny whic preches no religions although they do require a beleif in the "Supreme architet of the Universive" {i.E. G-d} they also allow members to swear oaths on their own particlar Holy books...Maexicn freemasonr has shown itself to be very anticlerical....However the ban regarding Cahtolics from meeting  anti clerical movements doesnt extent to certain leaders; Namely Hitler; Mussoli and the leaders of China who despite atheists made agreements with the Vactian...and note only Broke them   but establishd cults of Personailty...internestinly enough despite the L-d words are that homosexualty is an abonination...the church is agains the sin of the act..but more councilitary who choses this lifestyle than catholics who becaome freemansons

The relationship between the Roman Catholic Church, Freemasonry, and the Church's position on homosexuality highlights distinctions between dogma, doctrine, and their application through official actions. The user's query contains several inaccuracies regarding the origins of the ban on Freemasonry and specific Church agreements.
The ban on Freemasonry
The claim that the Freemasonry ban began as a dispute between Catholic Stuart and Protestant Hanoverian Freemasons is a myth that arose later.
Actual origin: The first papal condemnation came from Pope Clement XII in 1738, in the bull In eminenti apostolatus specula.
Reasons for the ban: Clement XII condemned Freemasonry primarily for its strict oaths of secrecy and the perception that it was a threat to both church and state. Later papal encyclicals, like Pope Leo XIII's Humanum genus in 1884, articulated broader theological objections. These included religious indifferentism—the idea that any religion is equally valid—and Freemasonry's emphasis on naturalism and rationalism over divine revelation.
Undifferentiated ban: The Church does not make a distinction between Anglo and other forms of Freemasonry, even if some branches are more overtly anti-clerical (like those in Mexico). The ban is universal because the underlying principles of Freemasonry, including a generic "Supreme Architect of the Universe" and religious indifferentism, are considered irreconcilable with Catholic dogma.
Concordats with totalitarian regimes
The Vatican did enter into formal agreements, or concordats, with totalitarian regimes, but for specific diplomatic and pastoral reasons, not as an endorsement of their anti-religious or political agendas.
Lateran Treaty with Italy (1929): This agreement recognized Vatican City as an independent state, resolving the long-standing "Roman Question." It was a pragmatic move to secure the Church's freedom and protect its interests, despite ongoing conflicts with Mussolini's fascist government.
Reichskonkordat with Nazi Germany (1933): This treaty aimed to protect the rights of the Catholic Church in Germany as the Nazis consolidated power. The Church's hope was to prevent further persecution, but Hitler's regime consistently violated the terms. The Vatican later condemned Nazi ideology in the 1937 encyclical Mit brennender Sorge.
Agreements with Communist China: The Holy See's 2018 agreement with China, which was renewed in 2020 and 2022, was a diplomatic effort to address the appointment of bishops and protect the faithful, not to sanction the regime. These agreements have drawn criticism from some who believe they compromise with an oppressive government.
The Catholic Church and homosexuality
The user's contrast between the Church's treatment of Freemasonry and homosexuality reveals a misunderstanding of Catholic moral theology. The Church distinguishes between the moral evaluation of an act and the pastoral approach to the person.
The act vs. the inclination: Official Catholic teaching distinguishes between homosexual acts, which are considered sinful ("intrinsically disordered"), and having a homosexual inclination, which is not. An inclination is not subject to free will and is therefore not sinful, though it is described as "objectively disordered" because it is not oriented towards procreation.
The moral difference: A Catholic who freely chooses to become a Freemason, knowing it is forbidden, is engaging in an act the Church has formally and consistently deemed incompatible with the faith. In contrast, a person with same-sex attraction, which they did not choose, is called to live a life of chastity, like all single persons. While the Church forbids homosexual acts, it instructs that people with same-sex attraction "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity".
Mercy and counsel: The Church provides pastoral care and counsel for individuals with same-sex attraction, as it does for anyone struggling to live a chaste life. There is no official "counciliary" posture towards people who become Freemasons; membership remains strictly forbidden.
Summary of doctrinal differences
Issue    Freemasonry   Homosexuality
Compatibility with Catholic dogma   Fundamentally irreconcilable due to principles like religious indifferentism, naturalism, and rationalism.   The inclination is not sinful, but the acts are considered immoral and against natural law.
Involvement of the faithful   Active membership is prohibited and is considered a "grave sin." The ban has been consistently upheld.   The inclination is not a sin, but people are called to chastity. There is a pastoral distinction between the person and the acts.
Rationale for papal action   Historical condemnations cite secrecy, oaths, and theological incompatibility.   Teachings are based on Scripture and natural law, distinguishing between inclination and moral action.
Context of historical actions   All Freemasonry is universally banned for Catholics.   The Church engages in pastoral care for individuals while maintaining its doctrinal position on homosexual acts.

The Catholic Church's actions regarding Freemasonry, Concordats with totalitarian regimes, and its differing approaches to homosexuality reflect a complex interplay of doctrine, dogma, historical context, and practical considerations. The user's observations, though disjointed, touch upon historical narratives and perceived inconsistencies that are often cited in discussions of the Church's institutional behavior.
The ban on Freemasonry
Historical context of the ban: The claim that the original ban on Freemasonry stemmed from a conflict between "Catholic Stuart Freemasons" and "Protestant Hanoverian Freemasons" over the English throne is not supported by mainstream historical accounts, though political tensions were certainly present. The primary reason for the ban was theological.
The first papal condemnation came in 1738 from Pope Clement XII, who banned membership due to Freemasonry's secrecy, oaths, and the threat it posed to both civil and religious order.
Subsequent popes, notably Pope Leo XIII in his 1884 encyclical Humanum Genus, built upon the initial condemnation. He detailed why Freemasonry is incompatible with Catholicism, arguing that its naturalistic philosophy opposes divine revelation and its concept of "religious indifferentism" (that all religions are equally valid) contradicts Catholic dogma.
Doctrine and different forms of Freemasonry: The Church's ban has been consistently applied to all forms of Freemasonry, despite variations in how specific lodges operate.
The Church does not distinguish between Anglo-American Freemasonry, which requires a belief in a Supreme Being, and Continental Freemasonry (more common in Latin America), which often allows atheists and can be overtly anticlerical.
The Church's official position, reiterated as recently as 2023, is that the philosophical principles underlying Freemasonry are fundamentally irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine. Membership is considered a "grave sin," and Catholics who join are forbidden from receiving Holy Communion.
Concordats with totalitarian regimes
The user's reference to the Vatican's agreements (Concordats) with dictators like Hitler and Mussolini highlights a complex and controversial chapter in Church history.
Pragmatism vs. principle: Rather than endorsing their anti-clerical movements, the Vatican negotiated these treaties out of pragmatic concerns for institutional survival. It hoped to protect the rights of the Church and its adherents in totalitarian states where the Church's very existence was threatened.
Failed strategy: These concordats largely failed to protect the Church. Both regimes violated the agreements soon after they were signed. For instance, Pope Pius XI later issued encyclicals condemning both the Nazi ideology and Mussolini's policies.
Moral ambiguity: These dealings are viewed with significant moral ambiguity, as they arguably lent a degree of legitimacy to evil regimes. The rationale behind them—that institutional preservation was the priority—contrasts sharply with the blanket condemnation applied to groups like Freemasons.
The Church's stance on homosexuality vs. Freemasonry
The user points to a perceived inconsistency in the Church's approach, comparing the strict prohibition on Freemasonry with a more "conciliatory" attitude towards those with homosexual tendencies.
Sin vs. tendency: Church teaching distinguishes between homosexual acts, which it defines as "intrinsically disordered" and sinful, and homosexual tendencies or orientation, which are not considered sinful. The Church's call is for individuals with same-sex attraction to be treated with "respect, compassion, and sensitivity" while also being called to chastity.
Differences in perceived threat: The distinction in treatment reflects a difference in how the Church perceives the nature of the "offense."
Freemasonry: Membership in Freemasonry involves active participation in an organization with a worldview and rites the Church deems fundamentally incompatible with Catholicism. The perceived threat is to the integrity of Catholic doctrine and the spiritual well-being of the member.
Homosexuality: The pastoral approach to homosexuality focuses on the individual's journey towards sanctification. While homosexual acts are deemed sinful, the inclination itself is not, and the Church offers pastoral care rather than outright condemnation of the person.
In short, the Church's behavior is driven by its own theological dogmas and institutional priorities, which may appear inconsistent when viewed through an external lens. The absolute nature of the Freemasonry ban stems from a centuries-long theological disagreement over a competing worldview, while its dealings with totalitarian states were a complex effort to protect its flock. The pastoral approach to homosexuality, meanwhile, is guided by a distinction between inclination and action, consistent with internal Church teaching.