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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity evil?	Jeff	Sunday, July 15, 2007
Question: I am currently Anglican but I am converting to Catholic and I am currently in RCIA. I joined Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity and I have been reading Catholic doctrine against freemasons and other secret societies. I was wondering if the Catholic view is against all fraternities or if it is just against those who are opposed to the church. I am currently converting to become Catholic and I want to make sure that I have a perfectly clean slate when I receive communion. Phi Sigma Pi has rituals and oaths like any other fraternity and you have to pledge your life to its values of scholarship, leadership, and fellowship -- which I am told is a standard credo for any organization or club. After the initiation I asked one of the head people what they meant by this credo because obviously I couldnt put that organization above God, family, school, and many other things in my life. The person said that they just hope that I would be an active member and hopefully contribute to the fraternity. I have petitioned to have the credo changed to more accurately reflect the desired meaning. While their website professes no discrimination regarding religion, this subject matter still worries me and I know several other Catholics in the fraternity. Ive read that most fraternities get their material (if traced back far enough) from the masonic rituals which scares me and I also read that the freemasons try to use fraternities as recruiting grounds. At the same time I am under great pressure from family to remain in the fraternity because it is a symbol of my academic achievement. Almost everyone I have talked to including the priests at the Catholic campus church I am attending and my Anglican church say that I shouldnt worry about being in the fraternity. Next fall I am going to look over the ritual in detail so that I have a greater knowledge of it and I can better use that to make my descision on whether or not to resign. In your perspective am I sinning by being in the fraternity and should I leave it?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Jeff: Thanks for you question. I would think that the symbol of your academic achievement is your GPA and later your diploma. A Catholic must evaluate any Fraternity of interest from a Catholic point-of-view. The Greek system Fraternities are notorious for immoral behavior, but other Fraternities may behave more maturely. Regardless of which Fraternity in question, a person needs to evaluate whether or not you as a Catholic can belong to the Fraternity and still conduct yourself as a good and moral Catholic. Is the Fraternity into "partying" with drugs and/or alcohol and women. The "party-spirit" is a sin. This does not mean that one cannot have parties, it means that we need to avoid the improper party spirit that is rowdy, drunken, and lascivious. If this Fraternity is into that sort of behavior openly or secretly, then I would suggest that a Catholic ought not to join. If the rituals of the Fraternity are lewd, rude, degrading, humiliating or violent then a Catholic ought not to join. As Catholics we are to treat each other with respect and with human dignity. Rituals that violate human dignity are improper and not worthy of a Catholic. If the ritual oaths include death and mutilation clauses if violating the secrecy of the ritual, then a Catholic ought not to join. If the Fraternity has any secret aspect that is not subject to scrutiny of school authorities and to parents if asked, then a Catholic ought not join. I realize that this eliminates almost all Fraternities. So be it. What ever benefits come from the Fraternize does not outweigh the harm to the soul. As Catholics we are to live our lives with integrity, honor, dignity, and respect. ANYTHING that cheapens or violates that is not worthy of our support and association. Since Phi Sigma Pi is not part of the Greek system, that is a mark in its favor. It is the Greek system Fraternities that causes most of the problems on college campuses. You will have to make the evaluation and decide if membership will enhance your life as a Catholic or not. Just remember, living the victorious Christ-life is more important than any Fraternity, or any group of any kind. I don't know it this helps, but at least it can give you something to think about. The decision will be yours. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity evil?

Jeff

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Question:

I am currently Anglican but I am converting to Catholic and I am currently in RCIA. I joined Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity and I have been reading Catholic doctrine against freemasons and other secret societies. I was wondering if the Catholic view is against all fraternities or if it is just against those who are opposed to the church.

I am currently converting to become Catholic and I want to make sure that I have a perfectly clean slate when I receive communion.

Phi Sigma Pi has rituals and oaths like any other fraternity and you have to pledge your life to its values of scholarship, leadership, and fellowship -- which I am told is a standard credo for any organization or club. After the initiation I asked one of the head people what they meant by this credo because obviously I couldnt put that organization above God, family, school, and many other things in my life. The person said that they just hope that I would be an active member and hopefully contribute to the fraternity.

I have petitioned to have the credo changed to more accurately reflect the desired meaning. While their website professes no discrimination regarding religion, this subject matter still worries me and I know several other Catholics in the fraternity.

Ive read that most fraternities get their material (if traced back far enough) from the masonic rituals which scares me and I also read that the freemasons try to use fraternities as recruiting grounds.

At the same time I am under great pressure from family to remain in the fraternity because it is a symbol of my academic achievement. Almost everyone I have talked to including the priests at the Catholic campus church I am attending and my Anglican church say that I shouldnt worry about being in the fraternity.

Next fall I am going to look over the ritual in detail so that I have a greater knowledge of it and I can better use that to make my descision on whether or not to resign.

In your perspective am I sinning by being in the fraternity and should I leave it?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Jeff:

Thanks for you question. I would think that the symbol of your academic achievement is your GPA and later your diploma.

A Catholic must evaluate any Fraternity of interest from a Catholic point-of-view. The Greek system Fraternities are notorious for immoral behavior, but other Fraternities may behave more maturely.

Regardless of which Fraternity in question, a person needs to evaluate whether or not you as a Catholic can belong to the Fraternity and still conduct yourself as a good and moral Catholic.

Is the Fraternity into "partying" with drugs and/or alcohol and women. The "party-spirit" is a sin. This does not mean that one cannot have parties, it means that we need to avoid the improper party spirit that is rowdy, drunken, and lascivious.

If this Fraternity is into that sort of behavior openly or secretly, then I would suggest that a Catholic ought not to join.

If the rituals of the Fraternity are lewd, rude, degrading, humiliating or violent then a Catholic ought not to join. As Catholics we are to treat each other with respect and with human dignity. Rituals that violate human dignity are improper and not worthy of a Catholic.

If the ritual oaths include death and mutilation clauses if violating the secrecy of the ritual, then a Catholic ought not to join.

If the Fraternity has any secret aspect that is not subject to scrutiny of school authorities and to parents if asked, then a Catholic ought not join.

I realize that this eliminates almost all Fraternities. So be it. What ever benefits come from the Fraternize does not outweigh the harm to the soul.

As Catholics we are to live our lives with integrity, honor, dignity, and respect. ANYTHING that cheapens or violates that is not worthy of our support and association.

Since Phi Sigma Pi is not part of the Greek system, that is a mark in its favor. It is the Greek system Fraternities that causes most of the problems on college campuses.

You will have to make the evaluation and decide if membership will enhance your life as a Catholic or not.

Just remember, living the victorious Christ-life is more important than any Fraternity, or any group of any kind.

I don't know it this helps, but at least it can give you something to think about. The decision will be yours.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.