Left: The Masonic Square and Compasses (us.fotolia.com/Serj Siz`kov); right: Pope Leo XIII, who denounced the Masonic Lodge as “a deceitful and crafty enemy" (Wikipedia).
By Sandra Miesel
Many Catholics view Freemasonry as a dangerous—even Satanic—conspiracy founded to destroy the Faith. On the other hand, the Craft likes to present itself as “an ancient…
The first fraternal benefit societies came into being after the Civil War and by 1880 had grown quite popular. They answered a real need--the need for affordable life insurance in an age when the loss of a breadwinner frequently meant instant destitution for his family. Unfortunately for Catholics, the Vatican did not approve of Catholics belonging to…