Victoria asked:I was thinking of attending a funeral where some part of it may be led by a Free Mason. What's the Catholic church's stance on this?Jimmy Akin replied:"... the Free Masons represent an organization that has various problems with it. In some countries it has actively opposed the Catholic church and tried to subvert the Church ... they have a religious philosophy that is contrary to the principles of the Catholic faith. Consequently Catholics are not permitted to be Masons or to participate in Masonic rituals. Now that's different than being at a funeral and them having a Masonic ceremony of some kind going on. One can in principal go to the ... funeral rites of people who aren't Catholic. One could go to a Jewish funeral, or to a Protestant funeral, or to a Muslim funeral, or to a Hindu funeral as a way of showing compassion for the person who died and for their family and so forth. It's understood that you're a Catholic so you don't believe in the religion of these people but you're still there in order to show compassion for them ...As long as you're not yourself participating in a Masonic ritual. As long as you're not saying Masonic prayers with people or things like that, the same kinds of considerations would apply to going to this funeral as to going to a Jewish funeral, or a Muslim funeral, or a Buddhist funeral, or an atheist funeral." Copyrights:Catholic Answers, "Open Forum" (San Diego: Catholic Answers, 2014)Editor's note: This is an excerpt of the answer provided. For the complete response download the podcast. |  Click icon for archived podcast answering this question in its entirety. Show air date: June 3, 2014 Name of show: Open Forum Guest comments by: Jimmy Akin Question appeared in show: 41:33 |
