What is the information regarding the present authoritative thoughts of Catholic Chapel on Freemasonry?
To do this query on the whatever is in effect, you want to return to what was produced in the latest Church’s cannon rules just before there is any doubt throughout the where in fact the Church stood towards Masonry. The previous code (hence, incidentally, is promulgated into Pentecost, Can get twenty seven, 1917, just 2 weeks immediately after The Lady’s earliest apparition within Fatima) contains a cannon and that of course capped all the prior papal condemnations of it. Cannon 2335 checks out below:
Persons joining relationships of one’s Masonic sect otherwise any someone else of the same form hence area from the Church and you can legitimate civil authorities deal excommunication only booked on Apostolic Select
Regarding wake of the Next Vatican Council, not, when the change of your Code from Canon Legislation are started, the current soul off “ecumenical talk” encouraged inquiries certainly one of individuals bishops concerning in the event Canon 2335 had been in effect. Responding to these inquiries, a page off Cardinal Francis Seper, Prefect of your Sacred Congregation into the Doctrine of the Trust, towards presidents of all episcopal group meetings, old July 18, 1974, reported that: (1) the brand new Holy Get a hold of have several times wanted suggestions from the bishops throughout the contemporary Masonic activities brought against the Chapel; (2) there won’t be any the brand new rules on this amount, pending new improve of your own Code now underway; (3) all the penal canons must be translated strictly and you can (4) the brand new share ban up against Masonic subscription of the clerics, spiritual and you will people in secular institutes is actually hereby reiterated. 1
