My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Does Freemasonry accept Catholics?

Flatworlder

Registered User
If we were to read history.. it might shine light on this topic. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Anyone care to share?
 

ess1113

Premium Member
Flatworlder,
I admit that it can be confusing and often times it is difficult to understand. While I am not the subject matter expert on this topic I can speak with some knowledge.
Yes. Freemasonry takes Catholics. A Roman Catholic possesses all the requirements for membership in a Masonic lodge. A belief in a divine being is what I am referring to.

The bigger issue is how the Roman Catholic Church handles Masonic members.
As a life long Catholic and being a dedicated member of the Masonic lodge, I have experienced a myriad of reactions ranging from: what is Freemasonry, to the popular accusation about worshiping Lucifer. I have had anonymous notes on my windshield and I have been approached as a heretic. The reactions are totally varied depending on how indoctrinated they are in their beliefs.

As a Roman Catholic that is very strongly in the Church, I proudly wear a Masonic ring to receive Holy Communion, and at times I even wear a Masonic belt buckle. I am comfortable with both being strong in my life and they are not in opposition to each other. Each has made me stronger in the other whether by design or default.

Hope that meandering answer helps somewhat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MBC

Flatworlder

Registered User
Flatworlder,
I admit that it can be confusing and often times it is difficult to understand. While I am not the subject matter expert on this topic I can speak with some knowledge.
Yes. Freemasonry takes Catholics. A Roman Catholic possesses all the requirements for membership in a Masonic lodge. A belief in a divine being is what I am referring to.

The bigger issue is how the Roman Catholic Church handles Masonic members.
As a life long Catholic and being a dedicated member of the Masonic lodge, I have experienced a myriad of reactions ranging from: what is Freemasonry, to the popular accusation about worshiping Lucifer. I have had anonymous notes on my windshield and I have been approached as a heretic. The reactions are totally varied depending on how indoctrinated they are in their beliefs.

As a Roman Catholic that is very strongly in the Church, I proudly wear a Masonic ring to receive Holy Communion, and at times I even wear a Masonic belt buckle. I am comfortable with both being strong in my life and they are not in opposition to each other. Each has made me stronger in the other whether by design or default.

Hope that meandering answer helps somewhat.
Thank you for your posting. In no way was I questioning your previous posting. I am myself a Roman Catholic, but I have pulled away from attending church more as an adult. My children attend a Catholic Private school. Im jaded to what happened to a fellow brother when he decided to take the steps to become a Roman Catholic. They noticed his Masonic ring and kicked him out of the classes. The way to which it was done was very uncivilized.. I was embarrassed but the whole ordeal.
 

pointwithinacircle2

Rapscallion
Premium Member
If we were to read history.. it might shine light on this topic. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Anyone care to share?

"In eminenti apostolatus specula was a Papal Bullissued by Pope Clement XII on 28 April 1738, banning Catholics from becoming Freemasons." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Eminenti_Apostolatus

"The last known heretic executed by sentence of the Roman Catholic Church was Spanish schoolmaster Cayetano Ripoll in 1826." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy

So if I do the math right, the Catholic church continued to execute people for their religious beliefs for another 88 years after they decided that Freemasons are bad people. They sure took the high ground on that one.
 
Last edited:

ess1113

Premium Member
I has a very similar experience.
I had a brother from lodge ask me about becoming Catholic. He attended the RCIA classes as much as he could, he was a police officer at the time.
When they found out that I was his sponsor they stopped all his sacraments until they received guidance. It was blatantly stated that since I was his sponsor, and I was a Mason then he could find a new sponsor. To his credit, he persisted that I was his sponsor even after I volunteered to step away. He received his sacraments one Thursday evening with just me, him, and two of his friends present.
I was proud of him as a Mason and I was proud of him as a Catholic.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
If we were to read history.. it might shine light on this topic. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Anyone care to share?

Maybe it's confusing because some people think it takes two to fight. Not so. One person can attack and it's a fight no matter what the attacked person thinks about the situation. At one point the Catholic Church attacked Masonry a long time ago, very one directional. While it is natural that some Masons of that era would have rejected Catholics because of the attack it was not a matter of any Masonic principles.

Maybe it's confusing because some people think once a fight always a fight. Not so. Catholics are not banned because of some now obsolete encyclical. But some clergy don't learn much history.

Both issues are conflated with issues of authority taught by the Church and of free thought taught by Masonry.
 

Levelhead

Premium Member
Im catholic. And act as a catholic should as a mason. Seriously the catholic church dont pay my bills. You can say " i pray to god for this and that", and nothing happens. Until the day the catholic church takes care of me and pays my bills they can say what they want.

I pray every day, believe in god and consider myself catholic. And i am a proud mason.

But on a serious note google how many popes and cardinals are masons. Lol.
 

BryanMaloney

Premium Member
Im catholic. And act as a catholic should as a mason. Seriously the catholic church dont pay my bills. You can say " i pray to god for this and that", and nothing happens. Until the day the catholic church takes care of me and pays my bills they can say what they want.

I pray every day, believe in god and consider myself catholic. And i am a proud mason.

But on a serious note google how many popes and cardinals are masons. Lol.


1: If "paying your bills" is the criterion, then you should simply be an atheist. God isn't paying your bills, either.
2: Claims found via Google about popes or cardinals being Masons always link to pages that are simultaneously saying that Masons are evil and Catholics are evil. Therefore, if you take those online claims as true, then you must also believe that Masons are evil.
 

Levelhead

Premium Member
Might have been misunderstood. Just saying that im not gonna let anyones words effect me.

I run my own life. And i am a proud mason.

Telling me i should be an atheist is the most insulting thing you could say to me.

With that said. Good night.
 

BryanMaloney

Premium Member
You flatly stated that your standard for validity of whether or not something (like the Catholic Church) should be honored was whether or not it paid your bills. That would also apply to God, in such case.
 

Flatworlder

Registered User
Someone once said that as a freemason we should refrain from discussions of Religion..does that apply here. It is after all a touchy subject.
Just a thought, my fellow brothers.
 

Willys

Premium Member
If we were to read history.. it might shine light on this topic. I'm still trying to figure it all out. Anyone care to share?
I would suggest if you're looking for permissions then you'll probably be more satisfied by receiving them from a mirror than from a religious organization. Just try to ensure it's your own moral authority making your decisions and not that of the mirror.

See... 'Light'
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Someone once said that as a freemason we should refrain from discussions of Religion..does that apply here. It is after all a touchy subject.
Just a thought, my fellow brothers.

Technically, the landmark applies to discussion in a tiled lodge meeting. Tradition extends that restriction farther. The farther we get from a tiled meeting the less the restriction applies. As this forum is publicly available on the Internet we are far away from our private meetings. Still care should be taken and we should tread lightly.

It's the internal not the external criteria. Faith is internal. Religion is one type of external expression.
 

Danbeaux

Premium Member
Two interesting points here.

First, yes Freemasonry accepts Catholics, we have Brothers in my lodge who are Catholic. The Catholic Church is historically Anit-Mason.
Second, "afd004" makes an interesting point...I too grew up and was confirmed in a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran. And I think that particular minister was indeed too rabid. While the church teaches its members to not join secret fraternities because they do not want a member to violate his oath of secrecy. (They feel violating such an oath is a very serious sin) Yet, I joined a fraternity in college (Kappa Alpha Order) and was not thrown out of the church. Later in life I became a Freemason....at no time have I betrayed any of the secret work to anyone other than a true brother. (we actually have so few secrets in masonry)

So I agree with afd004; we all make our own decisions. We each have our own relationship with God. And there is nothing about Freemasonry that conflicts with the Catholic or Lutheran church.
 

nixxon2000

Premium Member
When I was taking RCIA classes in 2001 I explained to the priest that I was a Freemason and asked of I could still be a Catholic. He looked at me strangely and said "You lay bricks?". He had never heard of Freemasonry.
Ok that's funny.

The bishop in my area will not just go after the mason but him family. So we have to keep it hidden.

Sent from my freemasonry pro app on my galaxy s5.
 

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
When I was petitioned to the lodge, the brethren told me it is ok for a Catholic to join because the only requirement on religious view is believe in a supreme being.
I asked a Father in my diocese, "Can a Catholic join Freemasonry?" and he answered me no without a reason. LOL
However, I joined and enjoy the times with my brethren.:rolleyes:
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I'm glad there is not. It's an example of Freemasonry living up to our religious freedom and of the landmark to not bring up sectarian religion in lodge.

We ask a question on the petition if you believe in the existence of a supreme being. In the investigation process we ask your recommenders if you have a reputation for honesty (your lodge does teach this as part of the process, right, hint, hint). then we take you at your word and the topic is completed.

Having some preacher ask for a membership list with the potential of hassling members is exactly why we keep such data private. Being loud and proud is a choice many of us make but it is a personal choice.
I am one of the loud and proud. My pastor isn't exactly happy that I joined the Masonic Lodge but he doesn't make a big deal out of it either.
 
Top