Are masons ex-communicated with catholic church?

This is a bit of a "depends who you ask" question.

General opinion now is that no, a Freemason will not be ex-communicated, but should not be allowed to receive holy communion.

Much of the confusion about Freemasonry and the Catholic stance on the organisation has been confused by the Vatican itself,

1) rewording of old papal decrees and cannon law

In 1974 Cardinal Seper, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed a document that stated, in part, that

"The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith... has ruled that Canon 2335 no longer automatically bars a Catholic from membership of masonic groups... And so, a Catholic who joins the Freemasons is excommunicated only if the policies and actions of the Freemasons in his area are known to be hostile to the Church ..."

Which was then reversed by Ratzinger's reply later.

So does that mean Cardinal Seper was outside the realms of divine guidance? or does these flits back and forth simply prove that personal opinion and preference is being allowed into Canon Law?

2) prominant catholic and christian followers being Freemasons without punishment.

Dr. Leon McBeth, longtime professor of church history of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas

George W. Truett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Baptist World Alliance.

Norman Vincent Peale, Pastor of Marble Collegiate Reformed Church New York City, the editor of Guidepost magazine, and author of such books as The Power of Positive Thinking.

Peter C. Marshall, a Presbyterian pastor of churches in Georgia and Washington, DC, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, and author of such books as Mr. Jones, Meet the Master. His biography is entitled A Man Called Peter.

Rev. Charles T. Aikens, who served as President of the Lutheran Synod of Eastern Pennsylvania

Bishop James Freeman, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., who first conceived and began the construction of the National Cathedral

Bishop William F. Anderson, one of the most important leaders of the

Methodist Church Rev. Lansing Burrows, Civil War Hero and Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention

Rev. James C. Baker, who created the Wesley Foundation

Rev. Hugh I. Evans, who served as national head of the Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Lansing Burrows, American Civil War hero and Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Rev. James C. Baker, who created the Wesley Foundation.

William R. White, who served as President of Baylor University, and was Secretary of the Sunday School Board, Southern Baptist Convention.

Rev. Hugh I. Evans, who served as national head of the Presbyterian Church.

Dr. James P. Wesberry, Former Executive Director and Editor of the Southern Baptist Publication "Sunday"

Bishop Carl J. Sanders United Methodist Church

The Reverend Louis R. Gant, District Superintendent

The United Methodist Church

LeRoy C. Brandt, Ph.D., Pastor Reformed Church

Delmar, New York

John W. Dowdy, D.D., Pastor First Baptist Church

Guthrie, Oklahoma

Bishop Don Hugh, Holy Celtic Church, California

Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople, Eastern Orthodox Churches

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Eastern Orthodox Churches (since 1991)

Patriarch Benedict of Jerusalem, Eastern Orthodox Churches

Baron Worley, Professor of English at the University of Northern Colorado. Priest in The Liberal Catholic Church, Rector of an active Parish in Greeley, Colorado

Fr. Charles E. Maier O.C.R., Old Catholic Church, missioner with the Navajo Nation in Arizona and as a pastor in small parish development in California. Hospital ministry as a chaplain and therapist, working with alcoholism and substance-abuse patients.

Boaz, Hiram Abiff - Bishop of the Methodist Church, one of the first presidents of Texas Wesleyan University

Fisher, Geoffrey - English churchman, the 99th Archbishop of Canterbury

Hamilton, Frederick William - Unitarian minister and President of Tufts College

Hobbs, Herschell Harold (d. 1995). - An ordained Southern Baptist minister for 69 years, he wrote at least 147 books and Bible commentaries used in Southern Baptist churches. He preached more than 700 sermons on the syndicated radio program, the "Baptist Hour" between 1958 and 1978. He was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1961-63. He was raised a Master Mason in Siloam Lodge No. 276 in Oklahoma City at the age of 54, which was during his first term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He became a Scottish Rite Mason in 1966 while a preacher on the "Baptist Hour".

Jackson, Reverend Jesse - Baptist Minister, American civil rights leader and politician

Lawrence, J. B. - Vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Secretary-Treasurer of the Home Mission Board for 30 years

Lord, John Wesley - Bishop, United Methodist Church

Marsh, Daniel L. - (1880-1968) Clergyman and Educator. President of Boston University

McCall, Abner V. - President, Chancellor and President-Emeritus of Baylor University in Texas, he also served as the First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1979-80) and a long-time leader of the Organization of Baptist Colleges and Universities.

Moore, David - Well known Baptist pastor in Southeastern New Mexico until his death in 1992 at the age of 103.

Murrow, Joseph Samuel - Southern Baptist Home Missionary - and the 'Founder of Freemasonry in Oklahoma', he is said to have established more than 100 churches

Newton, Joseph Fort - Christian Minister and Masonic Author

Sayers, Joseph Drayton "JD" - Methodist Layman, Adjutant General of the Confederate Army, US Congressman and Governor of Texas

Schmuck, Elmer N. - Episcopal priest, he served as Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Wyoming from 1929 until his death in 1936.

Sexson, William Mark - Ordained Minister and, in 1922, founded the Order of Rainbow for Girls

Smith, Joseph - Founder of the Mormon Church.

Swift, Johathan - Clergyman and satirist, he wrote Gulliver's Travels

Ward, Rev. John - First of the Episcopalian faith to enter Missouri and organize his people

White, William - President of Baylor University 1948-1961; Executive Secretary and later President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas

Wesberry, James P. - Pastor of the Morningside Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia for 31 years; Recording Secretary of the Georgia Baptist Convention for 20 years. Died in 1992

Patriarch Joachim III- Ecumenical Patriarch, Eastern Orthodox Church

Patriarch Photius- Patriarch of Alexandria Eastern Orthodox Church

Patriarch Basil III- Eastern Orthodox Church

Bishop Cherubim (Anninos)- Metropolitan of Paronaxia

Bishop Chrysanthus -Metropolitan of Trebizond, later Archbishop of Athens Eastern Orthodox Church

Patriarch Meletios IV - Patriarch of Constantinople Eastern Orthodox Church

None of whom were ex-communicate and many actually gave holy communion let alone were still allowed to receive it!!

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Further confusion arose from a private letter written in 1974 to the US Bishops which was interpreted by some within the Church and within Freemasonry to allow Catholics to join Masonic lodges as long as the lodge did not directly plot against the church.

A 1981 letter from then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger reiterating the Church's prohibition on Catholics becoming Freemasons. Although this stance is seldom enforced by local churches. The main quarrel of the Catholic church is regarding a stand alone political lodge that sprung up in Europe and openly made statements against the church. Unfortunately those in the Vatican, which is close to the stand alone churchs existance, have not been able to seperate this stand alone lodge from Freemasonry.

As things stand today:

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

DECLARATION ON MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS

It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church’s decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.

This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance in due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.

Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 1981 pp. 240-241; English language edition of L’Osservatore Romano, 9 March 1981).

In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this Declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.

Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.

Joseph Card. RATZINGER

Prefect

+ Fr. Jerome Hamer, O.P.

Titular Archbishop of Lorium

Secretary

The main thing that people seem to argue over is

"principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church"

The Principles of Freemasonry, as stated by every governing Grand Lodge in the WORLD, are

Brotherly Love - Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.

Relief - Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.

Truth - Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.

Now how are this no compatible with Catholic/Christian doctrine? Alternate denomations of Christianity in truth differ from each other far greater than the principles of Freemasonry and Catholicism!!

So it really depends on who you ask!

No and possibly.

Only Catholics can be excommunicated from the Catholic Church and Catholics are not allowed to join the Free Masons.

If a Catholic were to join the Free Masons then he may have commited enough heresy to automatically be excommunicated.

Freemasonry promotes indifferentism, the heretical (to Christians) belief that all religions are equally legitimate attempts to explain the truth about God but that this truth will never be explained. This is incompatible with Christian faith because Christians believe that God has definitively revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and desires that all men come to the knowledge of this truth.

Freemasonry's teachings and practices also result in syncretism which is the blending of different religious beliefs into a unified whole. This shown in Masonry's religious rituals, which gather men of all faiths around a common altar, and place all religious writings along side the Bible on the Masonic altar.

The Lodge's practice of requiring its members to swear immoral oaths is also incompatible with Christianity. These oaths require a Christian to swear on the Holy Bible that he will uphold a code of moral conduct that prefers Masons to non-Masons, and to preserve secret passwords and handshakes. Such oaths are immoral because they are trivial and not necessary. These oaths are sworn under penalties of physical torture and death (e.g., having my throat cut across, and my tongue torn out by its roots). These penalties show a lack of respect for God.

For more information, see: http://www.scripturecatholic.com/freemasonfaq.html

http://www.archdiocese.la/about/faq/index.html

With love in Christ.

Technically it is possible, but few if any priests would exclude a parishioner from communication just for being a mason. How ever, some fundamentalist christian pastors HAVE done that.

no longer many all of us is excommunicated at present. it somewhat is a exceedingly extreme step, and it is stored for decrease than the very worst cases. you does no longer be excommunicated for starting to be a member of the loose-Masons. The Church ought to ask which you do no longer receive communion, even if, or perhaps refuse it to you, reckoning on what ideals you have chosen. what's maximum extreme, nevertheless, is what you think of is right. carry on with your judgment of right and incorrect.

No. The official position is that you "are in grave sin and cannot receive holy communion"

the "ban" came because the Vatican was afraid there were secret societies in Italy that were plotting for control of the people (which is the 'sole', no pun intended, province of the Vatican)... so they put a blanket ban on everything. It has nothing to do with religion, salvation or god and everything to do with fear and greed.

Yes.

You cannot be a FM and Catholic....

Freemasons allow Catholics to be in there, but the Catholic Church does not allow members to be Freemasons.

? you might search on "Mason" on http://www.vatican.va/

I doubt it..

No.