The Catholic Church has never rescinded the penalty of "excommunication" for those who enroll in "Masonic or other similar association"

Below are two documents from the Vatican on the matter of Freemasonry and "similar associations."

Given that Rotary, and the Lion's Club, were founded by the same Freemason, one can reasonable ask the question, "are these amongst the "similar associations" referred to?"

If that is the case, why did the Bishop of Rome hold an audience yesterday for Rotarians who support financially, Planned Parenthood and why did he accept honourary membership in the organisation?

The Catholic faithful have a right to know!

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19810217_massoni_en.html

Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

DECLARATION

CONCERNING STATUS OF CATHOLICS

BECOMING FREEMASONS

On 19 July 1974 this Congregation wrote to some Episcopal Conferences a private letter concerning the interpretation of can 2335 of the Code of Canon Law which forbids Catholics, under the penalty of excommunication, to enroll in Masonic or other similar associations.

Since the said letter has become public and has given rise to erroneous and tendentious interpretations, this Congregation, without prejudice to the eventual norms of the new Code, issues the following confirmation and clarification:

1) the present canonical discipline remains in full force and has not been modified in any way;

2) consequently, neither the excommunication nor the other penalties envisaged have been abrogated;

3) what was said in the aforesaid letter as regards the interpretation to be given to the canon in question should be understood – as the Congregation intended – merely as a reminder of the general principles of interpretation of penal laws for the solution of the cases of individual persons which may be submitted to the judgment of ordinaries. It was not, however, the intention of the Congregation to permit Episcopal Conferences to issue public pronouncements by way of a judgment of a general character on the nature of Masonic associations, which would imply a derogation from the aforesaid norms.

Rome, from the Office of the S. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 17 February 1981.

Franjo Cardinal Seper

Prefect

Fr. Jerome Hamer, O.P.Titular Archbishop of Lorium

Secretary

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19831126_declaration-masonic_en.html

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH DECLARATION ON MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS 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 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. 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. 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). 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, 26 November 1983. Joseph Card. RATZINGER Prefect + Fr. Jerome Hamer, O.P. Titular Archbishop of Lorium Secretary

Bishop of Rome welcomes his fellow Rotarians to the Vatican for audience -- Rotary funds Planned Parenthood!

In 1951, the Holy Office, now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the authority of Pope Pius XII issued a decree banning priests from joining the Rotary Club. It was reported in the secular press at the time.

Rotary funds Planned Parenthood. 

Rotarians are not directly Freemasons, but the origin of Rotary is in Freemasonry as describied by Master Mason and Shriner, Joel Montgomery. According to Montgomery:

Freemasons were founding members of both the Lions Club and the Rotary Club.  Gustave E. Loehr, a Mason, was a charter member of the Rotary Club (though it was founded by Paul P. Harris, who was not a Mason to my knowledge), and Melvin Jones, the founder of the Lions Club, was actually a Mason.  But again - Lions and Rotary are not Masonic organizations.

Notwithstanding the Holy Office's decree, in 1999, Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires graciously accepted Honourary membership in the "prestigious organisation."

Today, in Rome, Jorge Bergoglio, its Bishop, and at his invitation, had a special audience with Rotarians.

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/04/30/pope_greets_rotary_members_at_special_jubilee_audience/1226522

Pope greets Rotary members at special Jubilee Audience

Pope Francis greets members of Rotary International at Saturday's Jubilee Audience - AFP

30/04/2016 09:00

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(Vatican Radio) Nearly 9,000 Rotary members attended the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday at the invitation of Pope Francis. A delegation greeted the Pope at the end of the Audience.

Rotary, which brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian issues, kicked off the Rotarian Jubilee on Friday afternoon, with a conference on the challenges refugees are facing worldwide.

The conference organized by the Jesuit Refugee Service - in partnership with Rotary, UNHCR and WFP -  and entitled “Helping Refugees to Start Over”, focused on the work that can be done to give millions of refugees dignity and quality education – the best possible tool for them to be able to shape their lives, not lose hope, dream of a future. 

Linda Bordoni spoke to Ravi Ravindran, President of Rotary International about the Jubilee Audience with the Pope and about Rotary’s commitment to improving the lives of refugees.

Listen to the full interview:

 

Mr. Ravindran called Pope Francis a model for Rotarians, saying "he is doing exactly what every Rotarian should be doing. So we see a great synergy of thought with this Pope, and being here, receiving his blessing, I think is something quite wonderful for us."

"We are all very excited; we are passionate about this. We have Rotarians who have come from 80 countries to be present, so you can imagine the excitement."

Mr. Ravindran compared the conference on giving refugees a new start to lighting a candle in the darkness. "I realize that trying to take on this whole problem is beyond us. I have to be honest and say that Rotary cannot solve this problem, but rather than cursing the darkness, we can light a candle. I definitely know of many, many Rotary Clubs who in their own small way are doing what they can to give refuge, to educate, to take care, to nurse refugees. So if many of us do what we are doing, then to a large extent the problem gets alleviated."