A Game That I Can Get Preg In

Since 1973, the clergy "dialogue" with the Grand Lodge of Quebec (!)

(NOTE: In 1991, Cardinal Edouard Gagnon said that English Freemasonry was also anti-Christian than the Grand Orient de France.)
also read the reply of the historian Jean-Paul Lagrave to this letter in the comments.
In short, Freemasonry is condemned by the Catholic Church since 1738. Now at that time, only the masonry "regular" existed.
extract the bubble of 1738:
"We have resolved to condemn and defend these centers, meetings, groups, or aggregations conventicles, or Freemasons, valid in perpetuity.
Let the rest is pretty bold to dare to attack or contradict this statement, sentencing, defense and interdiction.
If someone was up to this point boldness, he knows he will incur the wrath of God Almighty and the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. "


Catholics and Freemasons in Quebec

Le Devoir, April 3 1976

We are often asked if relations between the Catholic Church and the Masonic Order have changed. On July 18, 1974, Cardinal Seper, president of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, sent a letter to the presidents of all episcopal conferences around the world. It was the number 2335 of the Code of Canon Law "that prohibits Catholics under pain of excommunication to be part of Freemasonry and other similar associations which form conspiracies against the church or civil authorities legitimate. "
Recent studies make a clear distinction between Freemasonry "regular" inspired the English and the so-called "irrégullère" Latin inspired. The vast majority of Freemasons in the world (about 6,000,000) adhere to the Regular Freemasonry is modeled on the United Grand Lodge of England. To be included, the aspirant must believe in God, Architect of the Universe, in his Providence, the immortality of the soul, he must want to progress in the practice of moral virtues and humanitarian.
Freemasonry regularly appears as a sort of fraternal association
interdenominational.
Cardinal Seper, pending the release of the new Code of Canon preparation, moved dlrective Next: "You can safely teach and apply the opinions of the authors saying that the canon applies only 2335 Catholics who belong to associations acting against the Égllse.
It is up to the bishops of the Episcopal Conferences of each country to distinguish whether the Masonic lodges of their environment "act against the church" or not.
In Canada, Freemasonry is organized on a provincial basis. In each province there is a Grand Lodge which itself is formed of all local lodges. Thus, the Grand Lodge of Quebec has 109 local lodges (including 4 French-speaking) with a total of 14,500 members. It is independent automatic while maintaining certain relationships
affinity with other Grand Lodges "regular" of Canada and the world.
It is true that in Quebec in the 1900s, the lodge's Emancipation connected to the Grand Orient of France, was erected against the institutions of Catholic church. This has certainly contributed, among other reasons, to confirm a prejudice that all Freemasons, without distinction, as anti-Catholic.
Since April 1973 a committee composed of Masons and Catholic leaders sought to restore the facts by studying the present situation of Freemasonry in Quebec. In a context of dialogue he was rethinking attitudes and to establish new relations in truth and justice, The results of this study, which traced the origins of Freemasonry and its evolution. revealed that the 109 boxes connected to the Grand Lodge of Quebec, adhere to the regular Freemasonry. Now it "offers nothing in its constitution that can legitimately afford to believe or say that she is plotting against the Catholic Church."
We had the opportunity to check the validity of this assertion.
From this light, is it appropriate to maintain the excommunication of Catholics who would be part of a lodge affiliated with the Grand Lodge of Quebec?
We think not, unless on grounds other than prejudice, are taken into account.
In a spirit of objectivity, should we not move towards an effective acceptance of the values of the Church and the values of regular Freemasonry?

Irenaeus Beaubien, SJ Adrien Brunet, op Paul Morisset, SJ members of the Research Committee on Freemasonry in Quebec.
Montreal, March 22, 1976