Bulletin Q&A published 7-24-22:
Why does the Catholic Church prohibit participation in the Masons?
There are two reasons for the prohibition against Catholics becoming Masons. The first is tied to the historical roots of Freemasonry and its origins in Europe as an anti-Catholic organization. For this reason, the 1917 Code of Canon Law imposed a penalty of excommunication for those that joined the Masons. The current 1983 Code of Canon Law no longer specifically refers to the Masons by name, but states: