Declaration on Masonic Associations, known by its opening words Quaesitum Est, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's 1983 primary text, was issued 26 November 1983 over the signature of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as Prefect and approved by Pope John Paul II, stating that the Roman Catholic Church's negative judgment on Freemasonry remains unchanged and that Catholics enrolled in Masonic associations may not receive communion. Its strength is that it is the doctrinal office's own primary statement of the church's position, issued in its own name and approved by the pope, so it is the authority on what that church holds. Its limit is that it states the church's own judgment rather than an independent historical or comparative account of Freemasonry itself.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier3
Reliability tier 3: the church's own primary declaration of its position, issued and approved in its own name, authoritative for what that institution holds but not an independent historical or comparative account of the subject. NotesIssued 26 November 1983 over the signature of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as Prefect and approved by Pope John Paul II. It answers the question raised by the revised Code of Canon Law, which no longer names Freemasonry explicitly, and states that the church's negative judgement is unchanged and that Catholics enrolled in masonic associations may not receive communion.
Custodian
Custodian SourceYes
Custodian BodyCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Custodian BasisIssued in its own name by the doctrinal office of the Roman Catholic Church and approved by the pope, so it is the authority on what that church holds.
Citation
AuthorCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Publication Year1983
Source Typeprimary-text
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names John Paul II directly: "Ratzinger as Prefect and approved by Pope John Paul II, stating that the Roman Catholic Church's negative judgment on Freemasonry remains unchanged and that Catholics enrolled in Masonic..."
Claims Backed By This Source (11 claims)
This source backs 11 claims across the atlas. As facts: 9 well-attested. As cited relationships: 1 holds. Plus 1 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 10 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Denominations, 1 claims: 1 general references.
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