freemasonry ban ended

From a Special Correspondent MGR. FAUSTO VALLAINC, head of the Vatican Press Office, said on Tuesday that "absolutely nothing is known" of any Vatican decision to permit Catholics to become Freemasons. Reports in several newspapers that day said the Vatican had virtually scrapped an old church law which excommunicated Catholics who joined the movement.
The reports said that Catholics were now free to join the order with the exception of the European Grand Orient Lodge type of masonry, established mainly in France and Italy, which the Church still considered to be atheistic or anti-Catholic.
There are more than five mill ion freemasons in the world, mostly in English-speaking countries. Pope Clement XII condemned the movement in 1 738 and his action has been affirmed by seven other Popes.
SCANDINAVIAN MOVE One Vatican source suggested that the reports might have arisen because "someone got the Scandinavian move all mixed up." The "Scandinavian move" was a recent decision by the Scandinavian Bishops that freemasons there who become convert Catholics may remain freemasons.
This ruling was largely inspired by the fact that Scandinavia has relatively few Catholics and therefore equally few Catholic societies which the converts could join. It was felt it would be a hardship for them to have to give up the companionship they have long enjoyed in their masonic groups.
It is not clear yet to what extent the Scandinavian Bishops' decision has the backing of the Vatican, but what is extremely clear is that the Vatican rule barring Catholics from membership of the freemason movement is not to be revoked.
Rome short of churches?
PoPE PAUL, giving his weekly blessing to several thousand persons gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, appealed to Romans to contribute funds to build more churches in the city.
Bishop Cashman indisposed
itISHOP CASHMAN of -1-1 Arundel and Brighton has been indisposed for the past few weeks, his secretary confirmed on Tuesday. The Bishop is now in Ireland "to take things easy for a while."