The Patriarch of Lisbon criticises ‘Masonic influence in politics’


GIACOMO GALEAZZI
VATICAN CITY
The Archbishop of Lisbon, Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo, never ceases to amaze. In an interview last summer with the monthly magazine “Ordem dos Advogados” in which he spoke about female priesthood, he aired his views once again, this time on Freemasons. On this occasion, however, his views seem to be shared by the Vatican where no one complained about his declarations. “The Freemasons,” he said “have a direct influence in politics.” From the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Cardinal José Policarpo criticised the power Masons exert over national and international politics. This is not an isolated cry, the word ‘Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ’ is often mentioned in the Catholic Church, either in the loud accusations of the Catholic mass-media or whispered in the Vatican’s Sacred Palaces. From the viewpoint of the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, the crucial date as far as Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ is concerned was the 26th of November 1983. On that date the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a statement on Masonic societies. Since the beginning, the negative attitude of the Church towards the Freemasons has been motivated by many practical and doctrinal reasons. The Church didn’t simply find the Masons guilty of subversive activities against the Church, but ever since the very first papal docuмents written on the matter, especially the Enciclica "Humanum Genus" by Leone XIII (20th of April 1884), the Magisterium has also accused the Freemasons of having philosophical and moral ideas in direct contrast with Catholic doctrine. Leo XIII thought these Masonic ideas originated from a naturalistic rationalism that inspired plotting and actions against the Church. In his letter to the Italian people entitled ‘Custodi’ (Guardians) (8th of December 1892) Leo XIII wrote: “Let us remember that Christianity and Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ are incompatible, to join one is to relinquish the other.” The ‘anathema’ Joseph Ratzinger, guardian of religious orthodoxy, pronounced against Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ does not come as a surprise.

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/11613/