Please note the response from the story’s subject at the bottom of this text.

The following comes from a late Sept. email from a Calif. Catholic reader.

Very interesting given the sensational subject, the level of documentation, the close-to-home setting, and the rawness of the scandal.

You are familiar with the $60million+ Crystal Cathedral that the Catholic diocese of Orange has purchased and is refurbishing to be the new diocesan cathedral.

In this official video from the diocese on the “catholicizing” of the cathedral, at 1:35, communications director Ryan Lilyengren says: “We see ourselves as a center point for many faiths to come together and engage.”

This is Ryan Lilyengren’s Facebook page.

In his Likes, you can see that he is a fan of Obama’s Organizing for America, as well as Huntington Beach #380 F. & A.M. – Masonry. This is the Masonic Lodge in Huntington Beach.

Indeed, in photos on the Lodge’s Facebook page, you will find multiple photos of Catholic diocese of Orange communications director, Ryan Lilyengren, celebrating his induction into various Masonic orders. Ryan has even “Liked” these photos, with captions such as “Congratulation to Brother Ryan Lilyengren, our newest Master Mason!”

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a clarification explicitly affirming that Canon 1374’s prohibitions apply to Masonic organizations: “The Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden.

“The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion. It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above.”

 

The following email was received by California Catholic yesterday, Oct. 8.

The reader of Cal Catholic who sent the news tip notes, “Ryan ‘Liked’ the Masonic Lodge and the Freemasons on Facebook as of last week when I sent you that email. He has apparently un-Liked them on his Facebook now.”

From: Ryan Lilyengren <rlilyengren@rcbo.org>
Subject: RE: Christ Cathedral & Masons
Date: October 8, 2014 2:46:20 PM PDT
California Catholic Daily,
I was recently alerted to an online post shared on your website that made an assertion that I am not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church because of my membership in the Freemasons. I want to assure you that this is indeed not the case. For a brief time, years ago, when I was a practicing member of the Presbyterian faith community I was indeed a part of this group. I no longer am a member.
Since that time I have been welcomed into the Catholic faith and have dedicated my life to sharing the immense love of Christ with the world. I can assure you that I am dedicated to living and upholding the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
I trust that you will reach out to verify the accuracy information concerning me personally and our diocese in the future.
In Christ,
Ryan Lilyengren, APR, MA
Director of Communications
Office: 714-282-3075
Mobile: 714-305-5413
Diocese_emailsig
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Together we Journey, Together in Faith