Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Catholic be a member of the Freemasons without penalty from the Catholic Church?

In the Code of Canon Law of 1917, membership in the Freemasons was expressly forbidden under pain of penalty such as excommunication. When the Code of Canon Law of 1983 was published, it omitted any reference to such penalty for membership. But also in 1983, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a clarifying declaration on the present state of such membership for Catholics today.

The foundational principles of Freemasonry are contrary to the doctrines of the Catholic Church. As a result, Catholic members of Freemasonry are in a state of grave sin, simply by virtue of membership. If one is in a state of grave sin, receiving Holy Communion is not an option. Therefore, a Catholic Freemason is banned from receiving Holy Communion. This continues as long as membership in the Freemasons continues.

Reference: The Jurist, 56 (1997) 735-755; "The Evolution of the Church's Prohibition Against Catholic Membership in Freemasonry."
The SCDF Declaration is dated November 26, 1983 and appears in AAS 76 (1984) 300 (AAS is the Acta Apostolicae Sedis Commentarium officiale, Rome)

If I am a divorced Catholic, am I excommunicated from the Church?

No, No, No. Divorce does not trigger any kind of penalty at all. It is remarriage outside of the Church that causes a change in status. If the first marriage is annulled by a Church Tribunal, then a subsequent marriage can be celebrated in the Church. If a civil marriage is entered into without the first marriage being annulled, then your subsequent marriage is not recognized as a valid, sacramental marriage by the Catholic Church, and you are living in a state of sin. You cannot receive the sacraments and the benefits derived from receiving the sacraments are denied you. To proceed anonymously to receive the sacraments in another Church or parish compounds the sin, it does not impart grace.

When I die, can I be cremated instead of buried?

Yes. The Code restates the strong preference of the Church that your remains be buried. In the Code of 1917, cremation was specifically banned, based on a history of cremating as an act of anti-clericalism dating back to the French Revolution. When Pope Paul VI reviewed this, he took into consideration, among many other things, environmental concerns, and lifted the automatic ban. Cremation is acceptable by the Church now, as long as it is not chosen for reasons "which are contrary to Christian teaching".

Reference: Canon 1176 Paragraph 3.

Isn't true that Catholic Church annulments cost a lot of money?

They certainly cost only a fraction of the usual divorce proceeding. In some Dioceses in the United States, there is no cost at all because the individual parishes subsidize the Diocesan Tribunal. Where there is a fee, it usually covers only the cost to actually get the Annulment Petition processed. Every Tribunal will work with a Petitioner through discounted fees and time payments, if your financial situation warrants it. This is not a business. The Tribunals are there to help people and bring them back into good standing with the Church. Money is the last thing a Tribunal will let stand in the way of keeping you in the faith community. On the other hand, if you can afford the fee do not ask for a break or fail to make the payment. It only makes it more difficult to continue to help all people who petition the Tribunal for assistance. It is not cool to ask the Tribunal for a break on its fee because you are trying to amass enough money to add caviar to the menu at your next wedding reception.