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Show CATHOLIC SECRET SOCIETIES. "What Is and Is Not Forbidden by Ecclesiastical Law. A great many persons seem to have the impression that secret societies of every sort may be under the ban of the church, and that it is a contradiction contradic-tion of terms for an organization composed com-posed of Catholics to call -itself a Catholic secret society. And yet an association might be secret, even oath-bound, oath-bound, possess signs and a ceremonial, and still not be forbidden by any ecclesiastical ec-clesiastical law. In themselves, these are not the objectionable features of the secret societies which the church condemns. The evil is in absolute secrecy, se-crecy, in rash promises or oaths that involve unconditional obedience or are otherwise immoral, in signs that are impure, in rituals that are religious. It is always on moral grounds that the church legislates. Secret societies j whose object and character are in no I way subversive of good order and re- ! ligious principles she does not concern j herself with. A secret society like the Knirrhts of Colnmhns needless to sav. is not secret in the Masonic sense. This society was founded by a priest and has been approved by numerous bishops. bish-ops. It is recognized that certain excommunicated ex-communicated societies effect much good in the material and social order, and it is well known that many of their symbols and ceremonies were originally or-iginally religious and Catholic. These societies are condemned because their secrecy is absolute; because unconditional uncondi-tional obedience is exacted of their members: because they are hostile to the church or in some way usurp her place. Ave Maria. ! I |
