Historical Circumstances
The encyclical argued that the late 19th century was a time of particular danger for Christians as the "partisans of evil" were now far more open, as evidenced by the new openness of Freemasonry. Freemasonry had been condemned by previous Popes as contrary to Christian doctrine, but the nature (if not beliefs) of Freemasonry was changing as Freemasons were now far more open in their practices and affiliations.
The encyclical specifically condemned certain practices of the Freemasons, such as: religious indifference; the promotion of public education which denied the Church's role and where "the education of youth shall be exclusively in the hands of laymen"; the approval of the notion that the people are the only source of sovereignty, and that "those who rule have no authority but by the commission and concession of the people."
The Church had forbidden Catholics from becoming Freemasons since 1738 with the issuing of the papal bull In eminenti. This prohibition remains in effect today.
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