Religion question...

[AlphaSigOU]

Baptized a Roman Catholic shortly after I was born (it was expected from the family). Never bothered going to First Communion nor Confirmation, and I'm not much of a practicing Catholic nowadays. Weddings, baptisms and funerals, and that's about it.

I am a firm believer in God as the Supreme Being (otherwise I couldn't become a Mason) and also took an obligation in the Knights Templar (a Masonic appendant body) that I swore to defend the Christian religion. For all intents and purposes, my being a Mason is grounds for excomunication anyway, and there are some teachings of the Catholic Church that I am at odds with.

So maybe I might wind up at the local Episcopal or Anglican church, 'Catholic Light' as some say.

[Kevin]

I think I read that according to the post-Vatican II Catechism of th Catholic Church, it's no longer grounds for excommunication to be involved with the Masons.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by ktsnake
I think I read that according to the post-Vatican II Catechism of th Catholic Church, it's no longer grounds for excommunication to be involved with the Masons.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm curious about this as well, it has been discussed in other threads but I never found a post with the answer. My friend who is a PiPhi and I were discussing this one night (we were confirmed in the same church at the same time) and one of our other Catholic friends swore up and down that involvement in Masonry or any other secret society was grounds for expulsion.

[Tom Earp]

In Southern B Church. I left at 3 years of age!

Did not join a Church for 11 years.

Became Anglecan Catholic for 4 years before I was Babtised. By My own volition.

Married a Roman Catholic women, and since well, not married. Many stories in between, I love discussusing Theology with People!

Relegion is very simple, We all beleive in a Supreme Being, We just call it by a different name!

Most of the Religious Fighting is not about Religion, but Polotics and Land!

Will Rogers, "Get it now, they dont make it anymore"!

The Falacy of Life, I am Me, You are You, But who are We?

[AUDeltaGam]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Relegion is very simple, We all beleive in a Supreme Being, We just call it by a different name!

Well put!

[docetboy]

I have had a Bar-Mitzvah, one of the days I will always remember. As well as making a journey to the Holy Land 4 years ago.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by ktsnake
I think I read that according to the post-Vatican II Catechism of th Catholic Church, it's no longer grounds for excommunication to be involved with the Masons.

This web page explains the current stance of the Church regarding it and Freemasonry: http://showcase.netins.net/web/clear...mason.html#004

QUAESITUM EST
Declaration on Masonic Associations
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

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 is 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 associations 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 enroll 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 Feb. 17,1981. [1]

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, Nov. 26, 1983

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Prefect

Father Jerome Hamer, O. P. Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary

Notes

1. Cf. AAS 73 (1981) pp. 240-241

[Kevin]

Great research and there it is.

Guess I'll have to table any hopes of joining the Masons until Vatican III

[Cluey]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
A funeral is not the time to be searching for converts.

I totally agree.

In March, a sister of mine from college was killed in a car accident. She was only 19 years old. It was a very traumatic event for everyone involved. The minister that they chose to speak at her funeral did the exact thing you discussed. I almost walked out because he was completely changing the focus of the ceremony. It just made me feel very uncomfortable and I am a believer. I cannot even imagine what others may have been thinking or feeling.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Cluey
I totally agree.

In March, a sister of mine from college was killed in a car accident. She was only 19 years old. It was a very traumatic event for everyone involved. The minister that they chose to speak at her funeral did the exact thing you discussed. I almost walked out because he was completely changing the focus of the ceremony. It just made me feel very uncomfortable and I am a believer. I cannot even imagine what others may have been thinking or feeling.

I just think that is such an inappropriate time to try and evangelize. I was appalled with Lee's ceremony because Lee was not particularily religious and he was a very tolerant person. I am not sure who the minister felt he was consoling, but a considerable amount of us left offended rather than comforted. The fact there wasn't a eulogy compounded on this, but the idea that a minister would use a ceremony that is supposed to bring closure to tell me that my religious beliefs are wrong is just horrible.

[KEPike]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Guess I'll have to table any hopes of joining the Masons until Vatican III

When is Vatican III so I can clear my schedule?

[Kevin]

Originally posted by KEPike
When is Vatican III so I can clear my schedule?

Vatican I was in the mid-late 1800's.. Vatican II was in the 60's.

I figure that there's a pretty good chance that the next Pope might be a major reformer judging from the present criticisms others have of the Church.

[KappaKittyCat]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I just think that is such an inappropriate time to try and evangelize. I was appalled with Lee's ceremony because Lee was not particularily religious and he was a very tolerant person. I am not sure who the minister felt he was consoling, but a considerable amount of us left offended rather than comforted. The fact there wasn't a eulogy compounded on this, but the idea that a minister would use a ceremony that is supposed to bring closure to tell me that my religious beliefs are wrong is just horrible.

Come to think of it, the same thing happened at my Gran's funeral. Gran was a wonderful woman-- a nurse for 51 years, very active in her church, well-known in her small town-- and at her funeral I wanted to hear about what an awesome person she was and how much the community would miss her. Instead I heard about how Jesus saves, and then the last line, "And that's how we know that Velma is now in Heaven." Needless to say, I was a little peeved. Of course she's in Heaven! That goes without saying! And even if you as a pastor have some doubts, I wouldn't suggest expressing those to a grieving family. We all know she's in Heaven! You don't need to prove it to us! TACKY!

*ahem*

Sorry about that.

BTW, 33girl, that episode of Cheers is a classic in my family!

[justamom]

When my own children were preparing for confirmation, I sat them down and asked if they were SURE they wanted to because it IS an important decision. Yes, I would have had "issues" to deal with if they had decided NOT to do it, but I would have trusted their choice.

Personal opinion-I think raising a child in BOTH Jewish and Christian teachings would be confusing for the child.

I have problems with Christian faiths that condemn others- because a person is Jewish, Catholic, Muslim etc.... It is RAMPANT here and I find myself disliking a person INITIALLY, if I discover they are of one faith in particular. I am working on it, but not getting too far because the people I have contact with are so dead set, they are immovable.

It's very difficult to enjoy the company of someone who thinks you are going straight to hell!

[KillarneyRose]

I was raised Catholic and wholeheartedly embraced every aspect of my religion. When it came time for me to be confirmed (at age 14), I was very excited about it.

Over time though, and through sheer laziness more than anything else, I kind of lost touch with the Catholic church and became a "Twice a year" Catholic.

By the time I met my husband, I was rarely attending Mass and he was an Episcopalian who rarely attended services. We were married in a (for lack of a better term) generic Protestant service by a Navy chaplain.

When I was pregnant with our first child, however, we realized that we definitely wanted to raise our children as we were; going to a Mass or service every week and embracing a certain religion. It really wasn't hard to decide that we would raise them as members of the Episcopal Church mainly because I wasn't sure what sort of "paper work" I would need to obtain since their father and I hadn't been married in a Catholic church. Also, I felt comfortable with that faith since it is basically an offshoot of Catholicism.

Last year, it finally felt like the right thing for me to do to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. So I started taking classes and was received last month (since I had been previously confirmed, I didn't need to be reconfirmed). It's nice for me to be "officially" of the same faith as my husband and daughters, but it's not really something I discuss with my parents since I sense it's something they're not completely comfortable with. My sister, who is an EXTREMELY devout Catholic is very happy for me and I'm glad about that