CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH 
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DECLARATION ON MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS&nbsp;</p>
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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.&nbsp;</p>
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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.</p>
<p>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.&nbsp;</p>
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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).&nbsp;</p>
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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.&nbsp;</p>
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Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.&nbsp;</p>
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Joseph Card. RATZINGER
Prefect

+ Fr. Jerome Hamer, O.P.
Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary</p>
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<p>If I remember correctly, the above information came from the Vatican Website
during the year 2010.</p>
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<p>Comments below are from the author of this website and not from the Vatican.</p>
<p>Remember that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the latest
name that the Catholic Church uses for the Inquisition, which seems to still be
alive and well.</p>
<p>It seems that the Pope and the Vatican does not consider the local priests to
have enough brains to make a decision about Freemasonry on their own, since a
decision is beyond their competence.&nbsp; That would really piss me off if I
was a priest!</p>
<p>At any rate the bigotry of the Catholic Church against the Freemasons
continues.&nbsp; It will probably never change unless the Freemasons make a real
large monetary contribution to the pope and agree to obey him without question.&nbsp; Not going
to happen!</p>