Case 5. A Masonic Ball

In a certain English town a Masonic ball was being held so that money might be collected to be given to the town’s public innkeepers. The more distinguished citizens were invited to the ball, among them Lucius, a Catholic, who went and paid a sum of money because, as he says, it would be disgraceful to have such powerful fellow citizens as enemies. Afterwards, however, he confesses the matter to his confessor, who doubts whether Lucius is therefore subject to a censure. Hence it is asked:

1. What penalty is established against secret societies?

2. What societies are considered prohibited? The Fenians? The Oddfellows?

3. Is the Masonic sect in England included under the ecclesiastical law concerning the said sect?

4. What is to be said of the case?

1. Under what penalty are secret societies forbidden?

They are forbidden under pain of excommunication reserved to the Pope by the Constitution Apostolicae Sedis (n. 4): “ Those who give their names to the Masonic or Carbonari sect, or to other sects of the same kind which plot against the Church or legitimate powers, whether openly or secretly; and likewise those furnishing favor of any kind to the same sects; or those not denouncing their hidden chiefs—

—and leaders, until they shall have denounced them.”¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, 399.

2. What societies are forbidden? Are the Fenians and Oddfellows?

All societies are forbidden by the above censure which publicly or in secret plot against the Church or against lawful civil authority. In general a society which enjoins the keeping of a secret so absolutely that it may not be revealed even to ecclesiastical authority, or which exacts an oath or promise of blind obedience, must be regarded as forbidden. By a decree of the Holy Office, Jan. 12, 1870, the Fenians were declared to be comprised in the above censure. The American Oddfellows were condemned Aug. 20, 1894. Whether or not they are condemned under the above censure is disputed. English Oddfellows do not form one society with the American Oddfellows, and so it can not be said for certain that they are condemned.

3. Are Freemasons in England condemned by the above censure?

Yes, English Masons are recognized by their foreign brethren as such, and foreign Masons are received in the English lodges. Renunciation of Masonry is imposed as a condition of being received into, or reconciled to the Church.

4. The case. The question whether Lucius incurred the censure or not, will depend on whether his going to the ball and paying the money brought him under the clause — furnishing any sort of favor to the same sects. To incur censure under this head the favor must be shown to them as Masons, and with effect, so that the censure is not incurred unless the effect follows.¹

1 Ballerini-Palmieri, Opus Morale, vol. vii, 220.

There is no evidence in the case that Lucius did this. He gave money to the hospitals, and he went to the ball because he was afraid of offending the Masons. Although these actions might in certain circumstances be described as furnishing favor, favoring the Masons, there is no evidence that in effect they did so in Lucius’ case. He did wrong, and probably gave great scandal, but he did not necessarily incur excommunication.