A Topic of Moral Theology
Freemasonry and like societies (Can. 2335)
The excommunication on joining the Freemasons or like societies that plot against Church or state.
The works themselves ask 5 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.
See also Sins against Faith — in Faith
Also asked about as…
joining the masons · masonic lodge · masonic sect · masons · secret societies (ed.)
In the index as Masonic sect · Association · Forbidden sects · Freemasonry · Freemasons · Secret societies · Action française · Communism in Russia · Conspiracy against legitimate authorities · Cremation of corpses · Fenians · Liberalism · Oddfellows · Pillage of Church property · Prohibited sects · Secret compensation · Sect of the Carbonari · Socialism · Socialists · The Fenian society · Theosophy
In the manuals
Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column
A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries
Vol. II, Bk. X, Pt. III, Ch. I, C.—Excommunications Simply Reserved to the Holy See, nn. 2, 3 & 4 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)
Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)
Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. I, Diss. I, Pt. II, Section III. On Dangers of Faith, n. 509 — VI. Associations to be reproved. "The faithful are worthy of praise if they give their names to associations erected or at least commended by the Church; but let them beware of secret, condemned, seditious, suspected ass… Read in context →
Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology
Vol. II, On Ecclesiastical Censures, n. 1184 — 1184. II. "Those giving their name to a Masonic sect or to other associations of the same kind which plot against the Church or legitimate civil powers." Code, c. 2335. 1. There is question of societies whose members, un… Read in context →
Manuale Theologiae Moralis
Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. VI, Ch. III, Art. I, § 3. On The Excommunications Existing Today, n. 516 — 516. 5. "Those giving their names to the Masonic sect or to other associations of the same kind which plot against the Church or legitimate civil powers" (can. 2335). For explaining this excommunication it is useful to s… Read in context →
Cases of Conscience for English-Speaking Countries, Volume II
Slater, Cases II, Censures, Case 5. A Masonic Ball, nn. ¶1–¶14 (14 passages)
The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology
Vol. II, Case VIII: Secret Societies, nn. ¶1–¶31 (31 passages)
Back to Morality
Chapter XVII: Reserved Cases, nn. ¶339, ¶341, ¶342, ¶343 & ¶344 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)
Treated under the broader heading Excommunications Simply Reserved to the Holy See — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology · Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884) · Marc, Institutiones Morales · Konings, Theologia Moralis — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)