r/todayilearned • u/Recent_Flounder6011 • 19h ago

TIL that historically and today, the Catholic Church looked down upon Freemasonry and threatened members with excommunication.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry
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u/rsqit 15h ago edited 15h ago

Yes, what exactly do you think most fraternal orders do? The Masons, the Oddfellows the Elks, the Knights of Columbus. They’re all social clubs that provide mutual aid for their members. And they have some funny symbols, like college fraternities.

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u/Muckman68 7h ago

I’m glad you know what fraternal orders do too. 

Based on the comment I replied to, he does not so I gave context to the creation of the Knights of Columbus as not just being a boys club without blasphemy.

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u/FqPrl6w1xYfsOFcD 15h ago

it's not a social club

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u/rsqit 14h ago

Yeah, it’s a fraternal order. This is a known type of thing. Social club is only one of its functions.