''Custodi di quella fede'' was a
papal encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Roman Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from the Late Latin (originally fr ...
promulgated
Promulgation is the formal proclamation or the declaration that a new statutory or administrative law is enacted after its final approval. In some jurisdictions, this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect.
After a new law i ...
by
Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII (; born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2March 181020July 1903) was head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 until his death in July 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope, behind those of Peter the A ...
in 1892 addressed to the
Italian people
Italians (, ) are a European peoples, European ethnic group native to the Italian geographical region. Italians share a common Italian culture, culture, History of Italy, history, Cultural heritage, ancestry and Italian language, language. ...
.
It accompanied the encyclical ''
Inimica vis'' that was addressed to the
Italian bishops. It asked Catholics to work against
Freemasonry
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
by guarding families against infiltration, and establishing Catholic institutions such as schools, mutual aid societies and newspapers. It generally urged Catholics to shun secular and non-religious societies.
The Miter and The Trowel
by William G. Madison
See also
* Anticlericalism and Freemasonry
The question of whether Freemasonry is anticlerical is the subject of debate. The Catholic Church has long been an outspoken critic of Freemasonry, and some scholars have often accused the fraternity of anticlericalism. The Catholic Church forbi ...
* Anti-Masonry
Anti-Masonry (alternatively called anti-Freemasonry) is "avowed opposition to Freemasonry",''Oxford English Dictionary'' (1979 ed.), p. 369. which has led to multiple forms of religious discrimination, Religious violence, violent Religious persec ...
* Catholicism and Freemasonry
The Catholic Church first prohibited Catholics from membership in Masonic organizations and other secret societies in 1738. Since then, at least eleven popes have made pronouncements about the incompatibility of Catholic doctrines and Freemasonry ...
* Christianity and Freemasonry
While many Christian denominations either allow or take no stance on their members joining Freemasonry, others discourage or prohibit their members from joining the fraternity.
Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church has been among the mo ...
* Declaration Concerning Status of Catholics Becoming Freemasons
The ''Declaration Concerning Status of Catholics Becoming Freemasons'' is a February 1981 declaration by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) under Cardinal Franjo Šeper which restated the Catholic Church's prohibition against Cat ...
*
* Papal Documents relating to Freemasonry There are many papal pronouncements against Freemasonry
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in ...
References
Catholicism and Freemasonry
Encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII
1892 documents
1892 in Christianity
December 1892
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