This discussion makes me laugh, but only a little bit. The Catholic Church is completely justified in whatever beliefs they have and whatever rules that impose upon their membership.
Point: "They argue this and that about masonry, and they aren't right, I've never said, thought, felt, or done that in lodge. They are wrong about masonry..."
I counter: The guy arguing with you is an idiot. His first, last, and only line should be, "The Church is against its membership affiliating in any way with Masonic Organizations." Saying anything more than that is just trying to justify the Churches reasoning, and anyone besides the Pope himself can't do that properly. He's an idiot for arguing, so... point / counter point all day... all that either of you will do is drive the wedge between the two of you, and your perceptions of the other's organization even further.
Your reasoning of "being a mason longer and knowing the difference..." is inconsequential. When you went through RCIA (i'm guessing that you did if you are now a Catholic), you probably took an oath of sorts in which you stated that you would follow the teachings of the church, yaddi yaddi yaddi... The Church states pretty clearly that their membership should not be Masons, as we say Athiests should not be made mason. Because they get to base their membership on their beliefs, they would have been completely right to "black ball" you in the first place, or bring you up on "catholic charges" had you been found out later. Being a Mason longer only means that you should have never been made a catholic in the first place, unless you denounced your membership when you joined. You, being a Mason, have a greater tolerance for the Church's bias and that guy's arguments about our fraternity. They, however, have no tolerance for disobeying Cannon Law, nor should they.
Point: "I don't have to defend the fact I'm a mason to anyone..." I applaud you, sir. That is the stance "The Church" has taken towards Masonry and its dislike thereof. Masonry could give a hoot less if you are a Catholic, the fact that you are solidifies one of the requirements to be a Mason, that of a belief in Diety. Catholicism, however, has many more requirements of their membership, one of which being: "Must not be affiliated with freemasonry." As far as "everyone should be entitled to their own opinion", I agree, but opinions do no decide a man's salvation. It isn't the Catholic Church's opinion that Masonry is bad for the Faith and its Membership, it is, from their stand point, a Devine Truth. While the foundation of their belief, not opinion, may be rooted in ignorance about the Craft, it doesn't not lessen the Divinity of the belief itself.
Gortex: The *secret grips* and words are most likely borrowed straight from Operative Masonry where those that were skilled in building the cathedrals needed a way to recognize each other and to keep Trade Secrets to those that have given of themselves to the craft. This kept the cowans and eaves droppers from learning their valued trade and doing what we would call today, "Fly By Night" stone masonry. As masonry transition from Operative to Speculative, the grips, words, brotherly bond, and secrecy is what drew some of the great thinkers of the Enlightenment Era into our fraternity and helped make it hat it is today.
As far as the pro-abortion *catholics* and pedofile priests go, the Church most likely sees them in the same light as they do Catholic Masons... They have all chosen to do something that is against the Churche's beliefs and before receiving communion, they should go to confession, say a gazillion hail mary's, and never do bad again. Since you have no idea as to what these people have, and have not done in trying to rectify their errs, I don't think you actually know how many of said people have and have not been refused communion. And sir, they believe that one of the worst things that a person can do is to receive Holy Communion when said person is in poor standing with God (i don't know the exact phrasing) and if they were to refuse you communion, it would be, from their perspective, doing what is best for you in allowing you to right yourself with God before taking Holy Communion. Remember, this is Their Ritual, and I'm pretty sure their committee on work is as strict as ours. I wouldn't take it as personal as you implied you might.
JTM: I'm glad that you wear your ring proudly, even in their rituals. I would argue that the reason a Catholic shouldn't be a Mason is because their doing so is directly against the Pope, Cannon Law, and the Church itself. If a Catholic is capable of distancing himself from these core pieces of the Church's governance and philosophy, I would ask him why he still claims to be a Catholic. To ignore the Pope and Cannon Law would be the same as a Master Mason having little regard for the Constitution, Resolutions and Edicts of the Grand Lodge of Texas (or whatever GL he hails from). If you no longer follow the rules of your organization, it may be time for you to find another organization.
Anywho, sorry about the large post.. I've just been following the Catholic / Masonic issue for a few years now and have come to appreciate the Church's ritual, rules, and regulations as I appreciate those in my own lodge. I would no sooner condemn the Church for refusing communion with a Mason as I would condemn a Lodge for refusing to allow a brother who is 10 days past June 24th with his dues payment sit in lodge. They have their requirements for being a Catholic and one of those is that you not be a Mason.
Oh, incase anyone gives a hoot... I am not a catholic, though I am a fan.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
-Tom