I discovered after joining masonry that roman catholics are
"forbidden" from becoming masons. I am a roman catholic, but I have
always had many disagreements with the church, and really have just
been going thru the motions.

My question would be, how many masons here are RC, or do you know of
any at your lodge, and how do they balance this issue?

I am more tempted to join a different church, just afriad of telling
my mother ;-)

Cable

In article
<3b3625b1-bd52-46a7-89ca-d8a7c7452851@i76g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
Cable yahoo.com> writes

That is "forbidden" by the Pope. Not by anyone else.

Your faith and religion (not the same thing) are your own personal
affair. All Freemasonry asks is "Do you believe in a supreme being?"

In the Lodge and at the Festive Board religion and politics are not
discussed.

In one lodge I am a member of AFAIK the WM and the IG are both RC. My
own candidate recently is RC....

On May 11, 10:35

On Sun, 11 May 2008 09:35:43 CST, Cable yahoo.com> wrote:

In our lodge we have (at least) one RC Mason, and one who was bullied by his
priest to demit. Very sad.

It always reminds me of the story told by Isaac Asimov in his autobiography. A
co-worker of his, with an Irish name, informed him that he was getting a
divorce. Asimov asked him, "But you're a Roman Catholic--how can you be
getting a divorce?"

The man told him, "Oh, I guess you haven't heard of the loophole!"

Asimov said, "No, I haven't heard of the loophole; I didn't know there was
one. What is it?"

The man said, "I'm a _bad_ Catholic."

On May 11, 9:35 am, Cable yahoo.com> wrote:

On Sun, 11 May 2008 09:35:43 CST, Cable yahoo.com> typed
furiously:

The prohibition is one sided. It's the Catholic Church that prohibits
joining Masonry, not the other way around.

Cable wrote:

Quite a few years ago now, our Lodge received an application from a man who
indicated he was a member of the RC church. I was put on the committee and one
of the first people I visited was the Calgary RC Bishop and his sidekick who
was, apparently, some kind of an advisor in matters like this.

In message
<3b3625b1-bd52-46a7-89ca-d8a7c7452851@i76g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
Cable yahoo.com> writes

I think you can safely say there are quite a few RC masons.

It appears most just don't tell their priest or at least the priest
prefers "not to be told". It if is not mentioned it is not an issue.

However if you do tell the Priest you have to decide what you want to do
before you tell him. You don't want to have to make a spur of the moment
decision.

Ottawa Canada

Dear Chris and group:

If you wish to join a Masonic lodge, discuss the matter with your parish
priest. In the USA and Canada, it seems very few Bishops, Archbishops
or Cardinals have any concerns over members of their dioces becoming a
Mason. My lodge had one brother who was Roman Catholic, but he
requested a Demit Clear for personal reasons.

Brian Lingard
Chaplain, The Builders Lodge, #177 G. Register of the Grand Lodge of
Canada In the Province Of Ontario.

Thanks to all for answering! I knew that masonry itself had no issues
with RC, just the other direction, and that no one would even mention
it at or after lodge.

I bring it up because I also just got my mason's ring, and felt a
little nervous at church wearing it after learning of the Pope's, and
therefore the "church's", stance on freemasonry.

I did appreciate Brother Hills view of religion and faith being
seperate, as well as some other points others made, so Thanks again!

Cable