***NEW - Reply received from Mike Penning M.P., Home Office, 6 Jun 2016*** (was: Reasons why the public need a report on Operation Grange: The letter handed in to Prime Minister, David Cameron, on 29 April 2016 in support of the petition

BarryTheHatchet wrote:The "praying Arab" gesture by the Mcs has always troubled me as well.  It is a Masonic gesture and I have noticed several others by Gerry as well.  But do I think they are being protected by Freemasons? No.  Although I'm quite sure that Gerry hoped that they would be.
The reason I say this is because I come from a family with a very strong tradition of Freemasonry and I cannot think of one man, in either my father's or brother's lodges, who would assist in covering up the death of a child, even if it were accidental. 
A Masonic "coverup" would just involve too many people to be practical.

BarryTheHatchet wrote:"Devout Catholics" wouldn't use IVF, or hire an Anglican Church to hold a mass.

BarryTheHatchet wrote:It is the hailing sign of a Mason in distress, according to my brother who is an Almoner in his lodge. 

There is a picture of Gerry standing under a banner of some sort, looking very defiant and pugilistic, with this hand down and the fingers clenched, that is one of the signs of an Entered Apprentice (not a Master Mason).  Another one was the picture of Kate under a tree, with her hand clenching her own throat as though she is suffering from heartburn.  Another sign of an entered apprentice.

And there are always the diagrams of the "wider agenda" on his Powerpoint.  Square and compass.

As I am not a Mason myself then I am just going by what my brother (literal, not Masonic!) has pointed out.  He did point out some more but I cannot remember them offhand.  I can put them up when I remember or come across the pictures, if you are really that interested. 

My brother's impression was that if Gerry is really a Mason, he hadn't been one for very long or he wouldn't have been quite so enthusiastic about doing these displays and drawing secret symbols on Powerpoints.  Far too flambouyant and keen to impress. And shouldn't have been sharing his newly learned knowledge with his wife.

Bishop Brennan wrote:Both GM and KM claim be devout Catholics.  As such, there is no chance that they are Masons.  The Church explicitly forbids it, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a Declaration on this very subject in 1983.

"The Declaration asserts clearly that “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."

http://catholicexchange.com/can-catholics-become-freemasons

Any 'masonic' gestures or displays are either coincidental, done for effect or to simulate an emotion that is not truly being felt.   IMO the whole Mason angle is a giant red herring (consumable by preference on a Friday).

Ladyinred wrote:Where have the McCanns ever claimed that they are devout Catholics?

It's a forum myth, IMO.

Ladyinred wrote:

sharonl wrote:Update on Tony's letter

Tony is unable to access the internet at the moment but he has just sent me a message which he has asked me to share with you.

He has received, from David Cameron, a holding reply dated 6th May 2016, which ends with "your correspondence is being considered".

Tony expects a more detailed reply in due course.