Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1898 — Catholics May be Masons. [ARTICLE]

Catholics May be Masons.

» Roman Catholics in this country ; who were virtually excommunicat- 1 ed some years ago because of the ■ papal decree forbidding them to J belong to secret societies, rejoiced I when they learned that the ban had practically’ been taken off. The decree just issued from Rome permitting interment of Roman Catholics in consecrated ground though they belonged to secret societies, and particularly to the Masonic order, is considered to be as sweeping as the original decreej excommunicating those who did not resign from such orders and organizations. It nullities the decree of seven years ago, and it is claimed will reconcile hundreds of Roman Catholics to the church who were banned because of their affiliations with the Masons.