incorporation in the Catholic Church, should "discuss the implications of such membership" with their parish priest. Likewise, Catholics in Masonic associations were "urged to seek reconciliation." German Bishops' Conference In 1980, after six years of dialogue with representatives of the United Grand Lodges of Germany and investigation of Masonic rituals, the produced a report on Freemasonry listing twelve conclusions. Among the 's conclusions were that Freemasonry denies revelation, and objective truth. They also alleged that religious indifference is fundamental to Freemasonry, and that Freemasonry is Deist, and that it denies the possibility of divine revelation, so threatening the respect due to the Church's teaching office. The sacramental character of Masonic rituals was seen as signifying an individual transformation, offering an alternative path to perfection and having a total claim on the life of a member It concludes by stating that all lodges are forbidden to Catholics, including Catholic-friendly lodges. Šeper's clarification The 1981 Declaration concerning status of Catholics becoming Freemasons said that the 1974 reply had "given rise to erroneous and tendentious interpretations." The 1981 declaration also affirmed that the prohibition against Catholics joining Masonic groups had not changed and remained in effect. 1983 code of canon law The Catholic Church abrogated and replaced 1917 Code of Canon Law (), with present 1983 Code of Canon Law () which took effect in November 1983. canon 2335 developed into the 's canon 1374. Unlike the abrogated canon 2335, however, canon 1374 does not name any groups it condemns; it states: This omission led some Catholics and Freemasons, especially in America, to believe that the ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons might have changed, and caused confusion in the church's hierarchy. Many Catholics joined the fraternity, basing their membership on a permissive interpretation of Canon Law and justifying their membership by their belief that Freemasonry does not plot against the Church. The Catholic Church uses two parallel codes of canon law: the in the Latin Church of the Catholic Church and the 1990 Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (1990 CCEO) in the Eastern Catholic Churches of the Catholic Church. canon 1374 and canon 1448 §2 are parallel canons. canon 1374 differentiates between being a member of a forbidden association and being an officer or promoter but canon 1448 §2 does not. Declaration on Masonic Associations In 1983, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with