strange mason

[CRAWCUL]

i posted a question what is a free-mason a got a reply anti-catholic what is that all about ?

[smudge]

These two links might enlighten you: Here & Here

[quibbmedusa]

free masons are not anti catholic as a rule, there was a branch of freemasons years ago who were very anti catholicism but generally theyre not.

[Big Al1st]

I think you will find that Catholics ( church wise ) are or were,anti mason. The Masons were once outlawed along time ago and instead of having Lodges they had their meetings outside with watchman called Tylers on the high ground keeping lookout for them.

The problem i belive is that the Masons talk about The Great Archtitect of the Universe as opposed to God, and alot of their rituals are based on the building of King Soloman's Temple.

Because they would not preach about God in their Lodges this was deemed as being Anti God. Also the Royals at that time were very wary because it was a secret society and they believed that people involved were committing treason. Even nowdays some people are suspicious of the Masons, particularly as very high ranking Ministers and Police Chiefs are Members. However the Society is becoming more open in it's dealings.

Some of the advantages of being a Mason is that they have childen and old folk's homes for dependants and also owned the Royal Masonic Hospital at Chiswick, although I don't know whether that is still in existance.

Incidentally there used to be a Lodge where only Masons, by trade, were allowed to eneter the particular Lodge.

[chelseagreen]

i can only speak as an irishman and can tell you that i've never heard of a catholic freemason and know they have deep links with the staunchly anti-catholic orange order, best known for burning down catholic churches and stoning catholic primary school kids. to my knowlledge no masonic lodge ever condemned these attacks or tried to distance itself from the orange order, so anti-catholic, i think so!

[Big Al1st]

Hi Chelsea

Whilst I agree that there was alot of bad blood between Catholics and Masons I would hope that things are gradually improving, although I believe in England the reason that there are no catholic freemasons is from a Religeous point of view.

The Society is not as secretive as it used to be and it would appear to be easier to join. Whether there are any Catholics in the world that are members I dont know but I would hope so.

[agnabeya]

I don't see how it can be anti-catholic when the huge bank scandal in the heart of the vatican in the 80's was linked to the sect of freemasons in the vatican which had member ship amongst the senior priesthood..
In fact - the pope only forbade membership of the mason's after that scandal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/1862598.st m


'God's Banker' - Roberto Calvi - was a member I believe.

If you want to know more - read 'In God's Name' by David Yallop -
way more interesting than the Da Vinci Code - and it's real!