Catholics still not allowed to join Freemasonry
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has called on Philippine bishops to adopt a coordinated strategy against the growing number of Filipino Catholics joining Masonic lodges.
According to a CBCP News post, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Holy See’s doctrinal body, stressed that Catholics are still prohibited from joining Masonic lodges, “as their principles have always been regarded as irreconcilable with the Church’s doctrines.”
“It should be remembered that active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is forbidden because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry,” the cardinal said.
The Argentine Church leader noted the rising number of Filipinos joining Freemasonry, including those who believe there is nothing wrong with joining Masonic associations.
The dicastery’s note which was approved by Pope Francis was dated Nov. 13 and made public Nov. 15. It was a response to a request from Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes regarding the “best pastoral approach” to the issue.
Bishop Cortes had raised concern over the rising number of Catholics joining masonic groups in his diocese.
The bishop particularly sought suggestions on how to respond to this reality from a pastoral point of view and its doctrinal implications, the CBCP said.
Roman Catholics have been prohibited from joining the Masons since Pope Clement XII’s decree “In Eminenti” in 1738.
The 1917 Code of Canon Law declared that anyone who joins a Masonic lodge incurs excommunication. In 1983, the Vatican reaffirmed that being enrolled in a Masonic association is a serious sin, and those individuals may not approach Holy Communion.
The Vatican’s dicastery encouraged the CBCP “to put in place a coordinated strategy based on doctrinal and pastoral approaches” to address the issue appropriately.
The bishops are also advised to “conduct catechesis accessible to the people and in all parishes regarding the reasons for the irreconcilability between the Catholic faith and Freemasonry.”
Over the past three years, the CBCP has released at least three statements on the issue: Pastoral Guidelines in Dealing with Individual Catholics-Members of Masonry initially released in Feb. 2020 and updated in Sept. 2023; and A Clarification on the CBCP’s Position on Freemasonry and a note on Canon 1374 of the CIC issued in Feb. 2023.