The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
Posted by Pete on February 9, 2018, 9:11 am
To "blame it all on the Freemasons" these days seems to put one into the camp of raving fanatical tin foil hat wearing conspiracy theorists. As the article excerpt below states, the Church has stopped explicitly naming Freemasonry as a specific "enemy" but there's no doubting that Masonic principles are deeply reflected by and entwined in the modern world. To understand where we are at and how we got here one can't overlook the very significant influence Freemasonry and Masonic principles have had...
"In the encyclical Humanum Genus, Pope Leo XIII described the Masonic agenda as the exclusion of the Church from participation in public affairs and the gradual erosion of her rights as an institutional member of society. During his time as Pope, Leo wrote a great many condemnations of Freemasonry, pastoral and legal. He outlined, in detail, what the Church considered to be the Masonic agenda and, reading it with contemporary eyes, it is still shockingly relevant.
He specifically referred to the aim of secularising the state and society. He referenced in particular the exclusion of religious education from state schools and the concept of “the State, which [Masonry believes] ought to be absolutely atheistic, having the inalienable right and duty to form the heart and the spirit of its citizens.” He also decried the Masonic desire to remove the Church from any control in, or influence over, schools, hospitals, public charities, universities and any other body serving the public good. Also specifically highlighted was the Masonic push for the reimagining of marriage as a merely civil contract, the promotion of divorce, and support for the legalisation of abortion.
It is almost impossible to read this agenda and not recognise it as the underpinning of almost all of our contemporary political discourse. The settled view on these matters of many, if not all, of our major political parties, indeed the very concept of the secular state and its consequences on Western society, including the pervasive divorce culture and near universal availability of abortion, is a victory of the Masonic agenda. And this raises very real canonical questions about Catholic participation in the modern secular political process.
Throughout the centuries of papal condemnations of Freemasonry, it was normal for each pope to include the names of new societies that shared the Masonic philosophy and agenda and which should be understood by Catholics to come under the heading of “Masonic” in terms of canon law. By the 20th century, this had come to include political parties and movements such as communism.
When the Code of Canon Law was reformed, following Vatican II, the canon specifically prohibiting Catholics from joining “Masonic societies” was revised. In the new code, promulgated in 1983 by St John Paul II, explicit mention of Freemasonry was dropped completely. The new Canon 1374 referred only to societies that “plot against the Church”. Many took this change to indicate that Freemasonry was no longer always bad in the eyes of the Church. In fact, the reforming committee made it clear that they meant not just Freemasons, but many other organisations; the “plot” of its secularist agenda had spread so far beyond the lodges that to keep using the umbrella term “Masonic” would be confusing. The then Cardinal Ratzinger issued an authoritative clarification of the new law in 1983, in which he made it clear that the new canon was phrased to encourage broader interpretation and application.
Given the crystal-clear understanding in Church teaching regarding what the Masonic plot or agenda against the Church includes (marriage as a merely civil contract open to divorce at will, abortion, exclusion of religious education from public schools, exclusion of Church from the provision of social welfare and or control of charities), it seems impossible not to ask: how many of the major political parties in the West can now be said to fall under the prohibition of Canon 1374? The answer may well be rather uncomfortable for those who want to see an end to the so-called culture wars in the Church.
More recently, Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken of his grave concern at Masonic infiltration of the Curia and other Catholic organisations. At the same time, he has warned against the Church becoming a mere “NGO” in its methods and goals – which is the direct danger of that secularist mentality which the Church has always called a Masonic philosophy.
Masonic infiltration of the hierarchy and Curia has long been treated as a kind of Catholic version of monsters under the bed, or McCarthyite paranoia about commie infiltrators. In fact, when you speak to people who work in the Vatican, you will quickly discover that for every two or three people who laugh at the very notion, you can find someone who has directly encountered it. I myself know at least two people who were approached about joining during their time working in Rome. The role of Masonic lodges as a confidential meeting point and network for those with heterodox ideas and agendas has changed little from pre-Revolutionary France to the modern Vatican; 300 years after the founding of the first Grand Lodge, the conflict between the Church and Freemasonry is still very much alive."
Conspiracy theories that led Dan Brown to write his novels on intrigue at The Vatican sell well. Likewise Masonic paranoia is rife among those with a living to make writing newspaper articles.
I prefer Agatha Christie's novels for they are filled with juicy murders, twists, and turns that sharpen my capacity to think beyond being led by the nose.
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
I think you should stick to the novels, Alex, and leave the serious stuff to those who know that not every story has a happy ending. I don’t know where you live at the moment, but if in Australia, could I recommend the series of Enid Blyton books being issued currently with the Herald Sun newspaper?
Pete has posted a well-researched and well-written article that is much more interesting and insightful than your trivial musings on the matter.
--Previous Message-- : Conspiracy theories that led Dan Brown to : write his novels on intrigue at The Vatican : sell well. : Likewise Masonic paranoia is rife among : those with a living to make writing : newspaper articles. : : I prefer Agatha Christie's novels for they : are filled with juicy murders, twists, and : turns that sharpen my capacity to think : beyond being led by the nose. : : : : :
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
Well, John, my IP address clearly registers my location...Greece.
I am certain Ed Condon's thoughts on Masonic conspiracies are your cup of tea...leaving me to enjoy Agatha Christie's mysteries...also works of fiction.
end
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
--Previous Message-- : Conspiracy theories that led Dan Brown to : write his novels on intrigue at The Vatican : sell well. : Likewise Masonic paranoia is rife among : those with a living to make writing : newspaper articles.
And 12 Popes (23 condemnations).
: : I prefer Agatha Christie's novels for they : are filled with juicy murders, twists, and : turns that sharpen my capacity to think : beyond being led by the nose.
Conspirators would cherish attitudes such as yours, Alex. It would make their work so much easier if an attitude of patronising dismissiveness that suppresses sound reasoned investigation (such as the Popes have illicited) was widespread.
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." (Ironically attributed to Voltaire..a Freemason)
Pete
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
Well, Pete, thus far the evidence available for easy analysis lacks substance worth commenting on.
We could all begin to imagine that the clerical sexual abuse scandals are part of a grand conspiracy courtesy inspired by the Masonic lodges. On the other hand the criminal justice systems of many countries appear not to detect any Masonic influence on the ongoing investigations, and trials of the miscreants.
Paranoid behaviour never persuades me.
On the other hand when/if something of substance is presented that ties a Masonic lodge to action against the institution...I will be pleased to discuss this matter with relish.
end
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
--Previous Message-- : Well, Pete, thus far the evidence available : for easy analysis lacks substance worth : commenting on.
Not too sure why the analysis has to be "easy" but nevertheless numerous authors and researchers have written at length as well as many testimonies from former Masons which extensively cover Masonry's hostility (direct and indirect) against the Catholic Church and it's teaching.
""Behind the Lodge Door is at once an in-depth and probing analysis of Masonic activity in four principal areas of influence, especially as they relate to the United States, but it is also an overview of the Masonic fraternity in general that will enlighten and inform the reader and make a perusal of this book most worthwhile. Those four areas are: 1)the religious education issue in the U.S.; 2) opposition to the Catholic Church; 3) the molding and directing of national political and social policy; and 4) how the Masons attract their members.
"But further, the author who documents thoroughly everything he writes touches upon a host of interesting topics, such as the birth and rise of Freemasonry, its roots in the ancient mystery religions and gnostic cults, the Catholic Church's early and traditional condemnation of the Craft, its scope and influence in American national social and political life, its opposition to the practice of religion, its activities in various other countries (Italy, Germany, France, Japan, China, the Philippines,etc.), its rapprochement with the Catholic Church (especially during the 1960s), how it is in a very real sense a religion of its own, how it is politically extra-national, and many others.
"This book shows how for over 150 years the political policy of the United States was marked by governmental cooperation with and encouragement of Christianity in the schools and in social and political life. However, the situation changed dramatically beginning in 1941 when the Supreme Court for the first time in its history became dominated by justices who were members of the Masonic fraternity. It was a dominance that continued for the next 30 years, and resulted in the imposition of an alien secular humanism on American education and upon the country's political life."
: : We could all begin to imagine that the : clerical sexual abuse scandals are part of a : grand conspiracy courtesy inspired by the : Masonic lodges. On the other hand the : criminal justice systems of many countries : appear not to detect any Masonic influence : on the ongoing investigations, and trials of : the miscreants.
I haven't heard that the clerical sexual scandals WERE considered a Masonic conspiracy. The overreaching message of the article posted and of Papal condemnations is of the significant philosophical and theological implications of Masonic principles and activity that has clearly underpinned and influenced the shaping of the modern world for the last several hundred years, from the French and American revolutions, atheistic communism and the liberal secular state associated with alienation of the Catholic Church and it's teaching.
: Paranoid behaviour never persuades me. :
Critcizing Freemasonry also seems to bring out a paranoia in some individuals which sees them leap to knee jerk accusations that others must be paranoid to even dare suggest Freemasons and their philosophy may be in any way problematic.
: On the other hand when/if something of : substance is presented that ties a Masonic : lodge to action against the institution...I : will be pleased to discuss this matter with : relish.
As I have indicated there already exists a vast body of substantial writings, research and testimonies. You appear unwilling to acknowledge or fairly examine this material in favour of repeating defensive and cliched accusations against anyone who addresses the subject.
Pete
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
Well, Pete, there is good reason to believe that if one wants to find a needle under a haystack, it will be found laying where the conspiracy theorist expect one to find it.
9/11 conspiracy theorists are painstakingly precise with their presentation of the *facts."
Re: The modern world more influenced by Masonic principles than Catholic
There is good reason to want to discern good from evil, truth from lies.
--Previous Message-- : : Well, Pete, there is good reason to believe : that if one wants to find a needle under a : haystack, it will be found laying where the : conspiracy theorist expect one to find it. : : 9/11 conspiracy theorists are painstakingly : precise with their presentation of the : *facts." : : : :