Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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kingvozzo
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Posted: March 10 2006 at 12:20pm | IP Logged Quote kingvozzo

I thought I would ask for the collective wisdom of this group on a question that has been bothering me. My ds7, joined a cub scout troop this past year. The pack is based out of one of our local public schools, and was sponsored by the Kiwanis club. The den has just switched sponsors, and is now sponsored by a local Freemason chapter. This has made me uncomfortable. Dh and I are probably going to pull ds out of this pack and sign him up in another.
I know that Catholics are not permitted to join the Masons, but do you all think I'm overreacting to not want to be in a pack sponsored by the group?
If it was sponsored by a local non-Catholic church, I don't think I'd bat an eye, but this group bothers me.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks!

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kristina
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Posted: March 10 2006 at 1:18pm | IP Logged Quote kristina

Noreen,

If it were my children, I would pull them out of anything sponsored by the Masons.

My father was a Mason and our family was involved with several types of freemasonry.. I was a Rainbow girl for several years. As a convert to the catholic faith, I certainly would not allow any of our children to participate in anything sponsored by the Masons.

I found an article on EWTN titled CATHOLICISM VS. FREEMASONRY—IRRECONCILABLE FOREVER.

Perhaps it will offer more insight as to why you have this uneasy feeling about allowing your sons to continue in this particular pack.

Blessings,

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Sarah
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Posted: March 10 2006 at 1:30pm | IP Logged Quote Sarah

Probably best to pull out. We started our own HS Pack here---Catholics.

Even though we don't do as much as the other Packs, we have fun and more control.

You're not overreacting.

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guitarnan
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Posted: March 10 2006 at 8:28pm | IP Logged Quote guitarnan

Noreen,

You're not overreacting, for sure. I'd even feel uncomfortable in a pack sponsored by another religious denomination.

We've always done parish-sponsored packs; when ds became a Boy Scout we were overseas and had a military troop. Now we're part of a troop that is sponsored by the local Moose Lodge. This is OK (no religious activity whatsoever, and a very small troop), but I'm looking forward to being involved in a Catholic troop again after this summer.

Trust your instincts, always. They're there to help you. Even if you have to do the Lone Scout thing for a while, it's better than being involved with a Masonic-sponsored troop, IMHO.

(Side note: I worked for a gentleman who was very, very involved with Freemasonry and the Shrine for four years. I read all kinds of books that he lent to me. I did his Lodge activity calendar every month - on company time, sigh - and learned a lot about Freemasonry. I met many wonderful people who were Masons, but I'm certain I don't want my husband or son to be one.)



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Helen
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Posted: March 12 2006 at 1:47pm | IP Logged Quote Helen

St. Maximilian Kolbe witnessed a demonstration of Masons in Rome which ignited his desire to begin the Militia of Mary Immaculate.
If you scroll down halfway in this article you can read about the demonstration he saw, and the banners the Mason's used.
I don't think it is overreacting to avoid anything to do with the Masons. They want us to think we are over reacting.


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Helen
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Posted: March 12 2006 at 1:49pm | IP Logged Quote Helen

Please look for the part of the article which begins with
"The Evil of Freemasonry"
article

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Michaela
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Posted: March 12 2006 at 3:34pm | IP Logged Quote Michaela

HelenDilworth wrote:
Please look for the part of the article which begins with
"The Evil of Freemasonry"
article


Wow! I've been told to stay away from them, but no one could explain the reason. That article sure does.

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Helen
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Posted: March 12 2006 at 5:37pm | IP Logged Quote Helen

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee..
are the words on the miraculous medal which encircle Our Lady.
St.Maximilian added:
and for those who do not have recourse to thee, especially the free masons and those recomended to you.

(I don't know if I have the words exactly right, but the idea is right.)

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momwise
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Posted: March 12 2006 at 7:32pm | IP Logged Quote momwise

Great article. I may print this out and read it with 14 yo ds for Lent. He may choose St. Maximilian for his Comfirmation patron.

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Karen T
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Posted: March 19 2006 at 12:15am | IP Logged Quote Karen T

I wholeheartedly agree with everyone above. I never knew much about the masons either. My brother who is a policeman has joined them (it's very widespread in law enforcement and many men are pressured to join whether they want to or not, but my brother has a strong need to be a part of "the crowd" b/c of some physical handicaps he has, so I doubt he needed much pressuring)

Anyway, I'd heard just a little and read some websites about the Freemasons but wasn't sure how much to believe (after all, there are quite a few antiCatholic websites out there, too, which are full of untruths). I picked up a book called "Please Tell Me" by Tom C. McKenny at our local bookstore. It tells the whole story from the inside out, with MANY former masons telling their part. It is quite chilling, to say the least, and b/c there are so many levels that you have to earn, the lower ones aren't told much in the beginning, but after advancing begin to get more of the picture and by then they are in in pretty deeply.
Unfortunately, my brother would be the first to defend them if *I* said a word about it to him (can you tell we don't get along?) so all I can do is pray for him.
I would not hesitate to remove my son from any association with a Freemason group.
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abcmommy
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Posted: March 19 2006 at 9:48am | IP Logged Quote abcmommy

I dont know anything about the Masons at all, but generally the sponsorship doesnt have much to do with what goes on in the pack, at least in my experience. Our charter is "Parents of North Elementary" and we are not in school, but the pack is GREAT!

Sounds like you have reservations about the group, so follow your heart, but if you do love the group I dont know that the sponsorship change will affect much about the activities the pack chooses.
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