A few years ago, I was on an internet forum discussing my Catholic faith with others and the topic of Freemasonry came up. I knew that Catholics were forbidden to be involved in Freemasonry but I was not sure exactly why. I understood that we were not to take secret oaths, yet beyond that I knew nothing about Freemasonry. As always when engaging in apologetics, I was drawn to look more deeply into the matter. Read what our Pope Benedict XVI stated in the following declaration, as Cardinal Ratzinger, on behalf of Pope John Paul II in 1983:It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.
This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance is due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.
Therefore the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations 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, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 [1981] pp. 240-241).
In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this Declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.
Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.
JOSEPH Card. RATZINGER
+ Fr. JEROME HAMER, O.P.
Prefect
Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary
It is clear even to the bleary-eyed that you cannot be a Catholic in a state of grace and a Mason.
The book Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge by John Salza helps one to more clearly understand Freemasonry, and the related 'brotherhood' of the 'Shriners'. The book is at times very disjointed and I found myself wishing the author had simply used bullet points to dispense much of the information. However, the method of compilation does not take away from the importance of the vast amount of information about the Masons and Shriners shared. Mr. Salza draws from Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and proves beyond any question that Freemasonry is totally contrary to the beliefs of Christianity.
In the book, the author (Catholic and former Mason himself) shares the rituals involved in Freemasonry. It becomes clear how alluring it may be to men who do not understand fully the gravity of Freemasonry when contrasted with Christianity. Full of symbols, unfamiliar words and names, brotherhood, secretive rituals and oaths - Freemasonry is certainly has been a tempting lure for millions of men for hundreds of years.
Some highlights of the book include:
Did you know???
- Freemasonry views all gods as equal to Christ and the Lodge views all religious writings as equal to the Bible.
- It doesn't matter to the Mason that the Bible affirms the divinity of Christ while the Koran denies His divinity. Both books are said to express the 'will of God'.
- Christian Masons are asked to place Christ alongside -- not above -- other gods. (Mt 6:24; 1st Commandment)
- Freemasons refer to God as GAOTU, or Great Architect of the Universe among other titles. In group prayer, Christ is omitted yet the Church teaches that "there is no other way of Christian prayer than Christ. Whether our prayer is communal or personal, vocal or interior, it has access to the Father only if we pray 'in the name' of Jesus" (CCC 2664)
- Masons are required to make secret signs of self-mutilation with their arms and hands. These signs evoke the penalties for breaking the Masonic oaths. If a man is physically or psychologically unable to make such signs, he is not allowed to be a Freemason.
- Most of the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan were Freemasons.
- Catholic candidates to Freemasonry are told that they are no longer forbidden to become a Freemason. They are also told that many Cardinals and even the Swiss Guard are Masons.
- The new Mason is told that he must die to his former life and be reborn into the new life of the Lodge. He is told this while blindfolded, wearing only his underwear and with a sharp implement being pressed into his bare chest.
- The apprentice Mason takes grisly oaths, promising that he will have his throat cut and tongue torn out should he share any secrets. Read Matthew 5:34 and following verses about taking oaths.
- 'Shriners', is a separate order where 32nd degree Masons who wish to join take their oaths with their hand placed upon a Koran. The real name of 'Shriners' is AAONMS or the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. (NOT IN THE BOOK: The money from the circus doesn't all make it to the Shriner hospital, by the way. In "2006, the organization's total unrestricted net assets (minus the portion that consists of land, building and equipment) were $7,504,675,000, or 11 times the charity's total 2007 budgeted expenses of $655,000,000." Source - Better Business Bureau)
Consider the following: in John:6, Christ tells us "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." A Catholic who is unable to receive communion has no life in him or her.
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More sources of information on Freemasonry:
Scripture Catholic
New Advent
Catholic Answers/EWTN
3 comments:
I understand that there are people out there that will malign, misquote and outright lie about an organization that stands for truth, tolerance and equality. The reason the Catholic church forbids its members from becoming Freemasons is that it cannot control it. Some falsehoods I must point out from your author Mr. Salza. First of Freemasonry in the spirit of religious tolerance only requires that a candidate have a belief in a supreme being, it is not Freemasonry's place to dictate ones spiritual beliefs. As the fraternity is open to all who profess a belief on a supreme being they may take their "obligations", not oaths or bloody oaths as some have purported on the holy book of their own faith. In most lodges in the US that book is the King James Bible. The reason Jesus' name is not invoked in lodge is for harmony of the members present. It is a long established rule that religion and politics are never discussed in lodge.
As for your assertion that the leaders of the KKK were Freemasons, well that is another baseless lie. It may be that there were men who belong to both organizations but it was not tolerated if known. Members of the KKK hide their membership from all. Masons do not hide their membership.
Another falsehood is that Catholic candidates are told that its OK to be a Freemason now and that many cardinals and the Swiss guard are Freemasons. This is not true. Freemasonry has never barred Catholics from joining, The Pope is the only one who barred membership for Catholics. Catholics are told that there is a Papal bull restricting their membership and that it has changed from excommunication to a state of grave sin over the years.
Also the 'grizzly' oaths are symbolic and no Mason has ever been subjected to these penalties. A candidate is told that this is how they should feel if they ever should break the obligation. The obligation also tells the initiate that he should be a faithful citizen and obey the law and be a faithful practitioner of his faith and attend church of his choice. As well he is told that he should look to the Bible and learn what is taught in it and apply it to his everyday life. Yeah, that sounds so ant-catholic (sarcasm).
Lastly the Shriners. They are an appendent body of Freemasons. In other words, all Shriners are Freemasons, but not all Freemasons are Shriners. Their soul stated purpose is to have fun and as a result they have raised billions of dollars for charity and for the 22 Shiners hospitals for children over the last century. Shriners hospitals never turn any away regardless of ability to pay. They are considered some of the finest hospitals in the world for burns and helping crippled children.
As a Catholic and Freemason myself I am ashamed of the Catholic church for its misguided intolerance and vitriol for a fine organization that has tried to do good in this country and the world. For creating a place where men of all faiths can meet in harmony and brotherly love. So what I believe is none of the business of the lodge and any prayer offered is generic and no where does it say that I cannot add "in Jesus' name we pray" to the end silently to myself before the Amen.
No one man speaks for all Freemasonry and since there are as many books exposing the secrets of Freemasonry as there are books about Freemasonry, it should be clear that the only secret is what is in the hearts of man. Is the Catholic church is so afraid of Freemasonry cutting into it's business? Is teaching men tolerance and equality really that much of a threat to the Catholic Church? Please!
The reason the Catholic church forbids its members from becoming Freemasons is that it cannot control it.
The Catholic Church does not forbid its members from joining the Freemasons. The Catholic Church forbids Catholics the reception of Communion - the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ - if you are Freemason. If you do not receive the Eucharist, 'you have no life within you.'
As for your assertion that the leaders of the KKK were Freemasons, well that is another baseless lie.
MOST of the leaders of the KKK were Freemasons. It is a fact with plenty of firm ground beneath it.
Catholics are told that there is a Papal bull restricting their membership and that it has changed from excommunication to a state of grave sin over the years.
If you cannot receive communion because of grave sin, ie: active membership in the Freemasons, you're excommunicated. Look up Ipso Facto Excommunication. You don't need the Pope to give you a decree; you did it on your own.
Also the 'grizzly' oaths are symbolic and no Mason has ever been subjected to these penalties. A candidate is told that this is how they should feel if they ever should break the obligation.
Why take the oaths in the first place if they are symbolic? No civil system of government would tolerate the murder of mutilation of one of its citizens for disclosing a password to a non-fraternity member. The penalty does not fit the 'crime'. Christ did not impose on his disciples the requirement to swear oaths with self-curses. Did you take such an oath at your Baptism or Confirmation? Ever heard of Captain William Morgan of Batavia, NY?
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If you are ashamed of being a part of the body of Christ, you sir, are not a member.
Another note because I neglected to address other assertions made by 'Anonymous':
The reason the Catholic church forbids its members from becoming Freemasons is that it cannot control it.
Do you really, truly believe that or do you just say it without discernment? The Catholic Church also forbids a member of the body to assist in an abortion. Does that mean that it is because the Church cannot 'control' an abortion or, more likely, that an abortion is inherently evil?
As a Catholic and Freemason myself I am ashamed of the Catholic church for its misguided intolerance and vitriol for a fine organization that has tried to do good in this country and the world. For creating a place where men of all faiths can meet in harmony and brotherly love.
Why not the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Moose clubs and lodges across the country? What separates those fine organizations that do good in this country and the world from Freemasonry? Why are you so drawn to Freemasonry and not some other fine organization?
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