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!

Knights of Columbus and Freemasonry

AyrStrat

Texan-Brazilian Freemason
Site Benefactor
Premium Member
Dear all,

I'm currently under the investigation process to be accepted as EA in a Texan Blue Lodge.

Meanwhile, I just found out that one person working in my company is a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus and also a Webelos Leader and Badge Counselor of Boys Scouts of America.

Before initiating any conversation with him on this topic, I would like to understand if they are receptive to Freemasonry and also if there are members of Knights of Columbus who are also Freemasons.

PS: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that Boy Scouts have fraternal links with Freemasonry.

Many thanks.

Regards
 
Last edited:

Elexir

Registered User
Dear all,

I'm currently under the investigation process to be accepted as EA in a Texan Blue Lodge.

Meanwhile, I just found out that one person working in my company is a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus and also a Webelos Leader and Badge Counselor of Boys Scouts of America.

Before initiating any conversation with him on this topic, I would like to understand if they are receptive to Freemasonry and also if there are members of Knights of Columbus who are also Freemasons.

PS: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that Boy Scouts have fraternal links with Freemasonry.

Many thanks.

Regards

No.

KoC dont have any fraternal links with freemasonry whatsoever.
One of the reasons is that the catholic church has problems with freemasonry (no the RCCs stance on freemasonry did not change during vatican 2).
There are knights who are freemasons though
 

CLewey44

Registered User
Dear all,

I'm currently under the investigation process to be accepted as EA in a Texan Blue Lodge.

Meanwhile, I just found out that one person working in my company is a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus and also a Webelos Leader and Badge Counselor of Boys Scouts of America.

Before initiating any conversation with him on this topic, I would like to understand if they are receptive to Freemasonry and also if there are members of Knights of Columbus who are also Freemasons.

PS: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that Boy Scouts have fraternal links with Freemasonry.

Many thanks.

Regards

To my knowledge, I've never heard of any fraternal relationship between BSA and Freemasonry. I have heard that we gain more Masons from BSA than any other organization but they don't tie in together in any way. As for KofC, I believe they are the Catholic version of Freemasonry/Rotary type of organization. I would not be too concerned with offending anyone if you have the conversation about being a Freemason.
 

Mike Martin

Eternal Apprentice
Premium Member
Before initiating any conversation with him on this topic, I would like to understand if they are receptive to Freemasonry and also if there are members of Knights of Columbus who are also Freemasons.
The Knights in all their forms are Catholic copies of Freemasonry because the Catholic church doesn't like Freemasonry.

PS: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that Boy Scouts have fraternal links with Freemasonry.
Nope, the Scouts is not a Fraternity or Masonic so not possible.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I know several dual members of Masonry and KofC. Just like I know several dual members of Masonry and the Elks or several other fraternal orders. Our orders are like ships passing in the night.

Scouting has never had any official association with Masonry at levels above lodge and troop. Plenty of lodges donate meeting space to troops and that's the limit of it.
 

Winter

Premium Member
I'm curious what the church has to say. The last I heard was that the Declaration on Masonic Associations (Declaratio de associationibus massonicis) issued by the Church of the Doctrine of the Faith in 1983 by then Cardinal Ratzinger that prohibits Freemasons was still in effect. And I distinctly remember him emphatically stating that it was still in effect when he became Pope in 2005.
 

Elexir

Registered User
I'm curious what the church has to say. The last I heard was that the Declaration on Masonic Associations (Declaratio de associationibus massonicis) issued by the Church of the Doctrine of the Faith in 1983 by then Cardinal Ratzinger that prohibits Freemasons was still in effect. And I distinctly remember him emphatically stating that it was still in effect when he became Pope in 2005.

Pope Francis also has a anti-masonic stance.
One of the allegations put forth against the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (not related to freemasonry) was that there where freemasons amongst it ranks.
 

drw72

Premium Member
I'm curious what the church has to say. The last I heard was that the Declaration on Masonic Associations (Declaratio de associationibus massonicis) issued by the Church of the Doctrine of the Faith in 1983 by then Cardinal Ratzinger that prohibits Freemasons was still in effect. And I distinctly remember him emphatically stating that it was still in effect when he became Pope in 2005.

You are correct:

The 1917 Code of Canon Law explicitly declared that joining Freemasonry entailed automatic excommunication. The 1917 Code of Canon Law also forbade books promoting Freemasonry.

In 1983 the Church revised the Code of Canon Law. Unlike its predecessor, however, Canon 1374 does not explicitly name Masonic orders among the secret societies it condemns.

Because of this many people, including many Catholic scholars, took this to mean that it was now OK for Catholics to become Masons. And many Catholics did – especially in the United States—where the Church itself was already more liberal.

To “remove the confusion” in the wording, in November of 1983, Prefect Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued issued a declaration stating that the prohibition was still in force. Here is the catch; The Doctrine of Faith is not Canon Law, and cannot overturn Canon Law.

It seems to me the Catholic Church (here in America) has been somewhat indifferent about the whole issue. There are many examples of American Catholics being Masons, KofC, or both.
 

Winter

Premium Member
It seems to me the Catholic Church (here in America) has been somewhat indifferent about the whole issue. There are many examples of American Catholics being Masons, KofC, or both.

Catholicism in America is in serious decline. A combination of rampant scandals and younger people just not identifying as religious means they are having more membership and financial woes than we are. I think that most of the Catholic leadership just isn't interested in being strict on an issue that would potentially drive more people away.

It's also interesting to note that he Vatican's Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is modern name of the Holy Inquisition.
 

drw72

Premium Member
Catholicism in America is in serious decline. A combination of rampant scandals and younger people just not identifying as religious means they are having more membership and financial woes than we are. I think that most of the Catholic leadership just isn't interested in being strict on an issue that would potentially drive more people away.

It's also interesting to note that he Vatican's Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is modern name of the Holy Inquisition.

Yep, the name changed in 1908.
 

AyrStrat

Texan-Brazilian Freemason
Site Benefactor
Premium Member
I know a brother in my lodge who is a KOC, a 33rd degree in Scottish Rite, as well as thrice PM. In my mind, membership in both are not nor should they be in conflict. He’s a great guy and proud to call him brother.


Sent from my iPad using My Freemasonry
That's really great to know.

Since it's a work environment, I'm quite afraid of starting a conversation on the topic and create an animosity in the case of my client (a KOC) is against masons.

Let's see...
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Where I was Raised is a very Catholic town; 400-year old Spanish capital, Basilica Cathedral, 250-year old Guadalupe chapel, etc. The lodges would be hard-pressed to survive without Catholic members.
Yet most them tell stories of the nuns from their school making the children cross the street to avoid walking in front of the Scottish Rite Temple. The nuns told tales of children being eaten and their blood used to tint the stucco. Seriously, I can’t make this up!
 
Top