They seem to move freely within our circle and passionately debating the Christian principles, beliefs and values to unsuspecting Christians and Catholics who are not aware of their motives.
These people rarely identify themselves as Masons for fear of being cut off from the mainstream community. Mason conforms to the basics of Christian teachings except for a significant part which is intrinsic to our Catholic faith. As Christians, “Salvation” can only be found in Christ Jesus. For (the worthy and the unworthy) non-Catholics, their judgment is reserved to our God and our God alone.
The Declaration of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (SCDF) affirms that membership in Masonic associations remains forbidden by the Church, and the faithful who enrols in them are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
In making this Declaration, the SCDF has not intended to disown the efforts made by those who, with the due authorization of this Congregation, have sought to establish a dialogue with representatives of Freemasonry. But since there was the possibility of spreading among the faithful the erroneous opinion that membership in a Masonic lodge was lawful, it felt that it was its duty to make known to them the authentic thought of the Church in this regard and to warn them about a membership incompatible with the Catholic faith.
Only Jesus Christ is, in fact, the Teacher of Truth, and only in him can Christians find the light and the strength to live according to God’s plan, working for the true good of their brethren.
The present canonical discipline remains in full force and has not been modified in any way to present; consequently, neither the excommunication nor the other penalties envisaged have been abrogated by the Holy See and the Magisterium of the Church.
(Excerpts from the Vatican Website. To view the full context, please follow the link: Irreconcilability between Christian faith and Freemasonry http://www.vatican.va/)