Fritz Springmeier

Subsection 3. Leo XIII. The best Anti-Masonic Encyclical.During the administration of this Pope, the Modernist CatholicMovement became active against the traditions of the church. Thedirector Jean-Baptiste Hogan of the Seminary of St. Sulpice inParis was an important figure in this movement. Various members ofthis movement were linked to Freemasonry and excommunicated orsuspended.In 1884, Pope Leo XIII sent out the strongest and mostcomprehensive encyclical against the Freemasons that was ever done.The warning comes across as very sincere. As to whether there wasa hidden agenda behind heating up the war of words with the Masons,this Author is not aware of any.Occasionally, this Author is asked why the Catholics wereagainst the Masons. (By the way this author is not Catholic. ) PopeLeo XIII answered that well with his encyclical.If any Catholics are reading this, they are reguested to readthis message from Pope Leo XIII. Masonry hasn't changed but yourChurch isn't warning its people any more. Other readers may want tojump over this next part. This condemnation of Freemasonry is sowell said that it deserves repeating at least in a condensed form."THE MASONIC SECTLEO, POPE, XIII.To all venerable Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops inthe Catholic world who have grace and communion with the ApostolicSee:...The Human Race...divided itself into two different andopposing parties, one of which assiduously combats for truth andvirtue, the other for those things which are opposed to virtue andto truth. The one is the Kingdom of God on earth..."The other is the kingdom of Satan, in whose dominion and powerare all who have followed his sad example and that of our firstparents."...Augustine clearly saw and described, ... "Two loves have madetwo states: the love of self to the contempt of God has made theearthly, but the love of God to the contempt of self has made theheavenly.". . .those who follow the evil one seem to conspire and strive alltogether under the guidance and with the help of that society ofmen spread all over, and solidly established, which they call Free-Masons."...Clement XII. first signalized the danger in 1738, andBenedict XIV. renewed and continued his Constitution. Pius VII.followed them both; and Leo XII., by the Apostolic Constitution-guograviora- recapitulating the acts and decrees of the above Pontiffsabout the matter, validated and confirmed them forever. In the sameway spoke Pius VIII., Gregory XVI., and very often Pius IX."...The purpose and aim of the Masonic sect having beendiscovered from plain evidence, from the cognition of causes, itslaws, Rites and commentaries having come to light and been madeknown by the additional depositions of the associated members, thisApostolic See denounced and openly declared that the sect of Masonsis established against law and honesty, and is egually a danger toChristianity as well as to society; and... many princes and rulersof States agreed with the Popes, and either denounced Masonry tothe Apostolic See or by appropriate laws condemned it as a bad