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This is an anti-masonic article published in the Catholic Newspapers in Massachusetts in August 2007: Below it is my analysis Freemason philosophies not compatible with Church teaching By GAIL BESSE ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT Can Catholics also be Masons? The question repeatedly arises, and the answer is still no, a Vatican official reminded participants at a recent conference on Freemasonry. The worldwide fraternal group certainly accomplishes impressive charitable works, as its 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children attest. But Freemasonry’s core philosophy is incompatible with the Catholic faith, noted Bishop Gianfranco Girotti at a forum on the issue at Rome’s St. Bonaventure Pontifical Theological Faculty, Zenit news reported. Bishop Girotti, regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, quoted the 1983 “Declaration on Masonic Associations,” signed by then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The text states that because the principles of Masonic associations “have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church,” membership in them, therefore, “remains forbidden:’ Masonry’s philosophy is based on relativism, explained Father Paul Robinson, judicial vicar of the Fall River Diocesan Tribunal. The main discrepancy regards the question of truth, said Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum University, in an earlier Zenit report. “Masonry requires that its members adhere to a minimal belief in a supreme architect of the universe and leave aside all other pretensions of truth, even revealed truth,” he said. This basically means that Masonry requires members to renounce truths such as Christ’s divinity and the Trinitarian nature of God. “A Catholic cannot ignore the fundamental principles behind an organization, no matter how innocuous its activities appear to be,” Father McNamara noted. Father Robinson said he believes most American Masons join for fraternal reasons, although in Europe, the group is “a different animal?’ Particularly in Europe and Mexico, Masonry has a record of anti-Catholicism. In Mexico anti-clerical policies were enforced from 1928 to 2000 by the Masonic-dominated political party. The Church could not own schools or communications media, and priests and religious could not vote. Mexican bishops recently announced their intention to regain these rights. This prompted the Grand Lodge of the Valley of Mexico to accuse the Church of trying to control politics, according to an August 9 Catholic News Agency report. The Lodge’s Great Teacher Pedro Marquez complained, “The Catholic hierarchy wants to dictate a political policy and that is a very grave error, as our society is no longer in the era of Christianity and priests are no longer viceroys of New Spain.’ Zenit reported that during the Rome conference, Franciscan Father Zbigniew Suchecki, an expert on the subject, referred to Number 1374 of the Code of Canon Law: “Whoever is inscribed in an association that plots against the Church must be punished with a just penalty; whoever promotes or directs that association, must be banned?’ Adds the declaration signed by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XV1, “The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive holy Communion?’ Apparently there are more than a few Catholics unclear on the issue. In a book released by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, author John Salza explains how as a lifelong Catholic, he was initiated into Wisconsin’s Masonic Lodge. Although attracted by its camaraderie and philanthropy, he became increasingly troubled by its philosophy. His parish priest was unaware of any prohibition against joining. Finally, Salza became more literate in his own faith, and found theologians who showed him the light. In “Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge:’ he gives a Catholic perspective. Nebraska Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz made the issue clear in his Lincoln Diocese in 1996. He forbid Catholics there to belong to Freemasons and 11 other groups whose goals were “perilous to the Catholic faith.” Among the groups were Planned Parenthood, the Hemlock Society, and three groups affiliated with the Masons: DeMolay and Rainbow Girls for youth, and the Order of the Eastern Star for women. Bishop Bruskewitz gave members a month to renounce their membership and seek reconciliation. Those who remained members after that were forbidden to receive holy Communion: their actions constituted grounds for excommunication, his order read. The dissident group Call to Action protested the order to Rome, which in 2006 upheld the bishop’s ruling. There are nearly five million Masons worldwide, according to the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. Within the state, there are 236 lodges, some sharing the same building, as do the two in Fall River. Both the King Philip Lodge and the Massasoit-Narragansett Lodge are housed at 152 Columbus Drive. Father Roger Landry, pastor of St. Anthony’s in New Bedford and executive editor of The Anchor said he’s approached a few times a year by Catholics asking whether it’s possible to become Masons. “In Europe, the anti-Catholicism of the Masons has been and remains much more overt. Here in the United States, while many individual Masons would not be anti-Catholic, the institutional position of the organization they belong to is. Faithful Catholics for obvious reasons should not join an anti-Catholic organization:’ Father Timothy Goldrick, pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in North Dighton and an Anchor columnist, said he has been asked about membership in Masonic youth groups, and always advises against it. “I am aware of the animosity of the Masons towards all things Catholic — and even Christian— especially with our essential doctrine of the resurrection of the dead,” he said. “Since membership in the Masons is in decline, a recruitment drive is underway. I expect to be asked more questions about the possibility of membership?’ My Response I am still a practicing Catholic only because of my Masonic affiliation. When I was young I attended Catholic school for eight years, I was an Alter Boy, and as a Boy Scout I received the Ad Altarie Dei award. During this time a variety of events occurred, which turned me away from my desire to join the priesthood, and only my love and respect for my parents kept me going to church which we did as a family. The nuns taught me that we are all children of God, made in his image, and that we should love one another. They also taught me that the Jews killed Jesus and all his followers, also that no one but a Roman Catholic can go to heaven. These were, to me, conflicting and troubling thoughts, because Richard Cardinal Cushing’s brother in law was a Jew. When I applied to become a Mason the questions asked were: “Do you believe in a Supreme Being?” and “What church do you attend?” I put in the name of my parish church, started attending, and have ever since. After joining I again heard that we all created by “One Almighty Parent” and that we should help, aid, and support each other. Further we are all “Level” in God’s sight and when we die we will be judged by Him according to our merits. As a result of my membership I have met men from every Country, Sect, and Opinion who meet together join in prayer to our Creator and practice Charity. The most important lesson I have learned is not to judge the whole by the actions of one or two but each individually only by their moral character regardless of visual or societal differences. Liars, thieves, murders, pedophiles and immoral people can found in every station, profession, and vocation. We must never paint them all with same brush. Jesus taught us to “Love one another” He looked into the hearts of each person and judged them on its contents, thieves, murderers, and prostitutes, the good and bad, His last words “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” sums up his total understanding of frailty and imperfections of human nature and its shortcomings. To be more like him we must emulate Him by making our judgments individual person by person. I have said enough. I am enclosing an analysis of the more blatant falsehoods contained in the article and an explanation why. For obvious reasons I have included a comparison between both the Masonic Fraternity and the Knights of Columbus to the extent that they are both “Secret Societies” those secrets being only words, grips, and tokens used for identification. The Ritual of both organizations can be found on the World Wide Web, and in books that have been written about them. What are the Knights of Columbus The Knights of
Columbus (K of C) is an organization answerable only to the Pope through
their Supreme Council, located
in New Haven, Connecticut,
and are “soldiers” of a foreign Nation (the Vatican), whose sole goal is
the total assimilation of all the peoples of the world through
Conversion. The laws of our country prohibit “Fraternal Organizations” with a national headquarters from discriminating in membership selection. This reinforces the fact that they are not a Fraternal Organization, but, a Religious Brotherhood functioning under the direction of an “International” Supreme Council which is bound to comply with PAPAL edicts issued by the Vatican, a “Foreign Nation”. Growth of the
Knights of Columbus The Order has been called "the strong right arm of the Church," and has been praised by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church, programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need. The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is responsible for the development of the organization as a whole. Supreme Council duties include establishing the Order in new regions and setting up regional authorities, defining and advancing its values and goals, undertaking organization-wide initiatives, promoting awareness of the Knights' mission worldwide, and protecting the families of members through its extensive insurance program. Members working in local or subordinate councils, however, carry on the majority of the Knights' beneficial work. Growth of Freemasonry
Freemasonry is the world's first and largest fraternal organization. Open to men of adult age of any color, any religion, nationality or social standing, the only requirement is a belief in a Supreme Being. Its body of knowledge and system of ethics is based on the belief that each man has a responsibility to improve himself while being devoted to his family, faith, country, and fraternity. Freemasonry (often simplified to “Masonry”) enhances and strengthens the character of the individual man by providing opportunities for fellowship, charity, education, and leadership based on the three ancient Masonic tenets: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. We also include “Faith, Hope and Charity”, teaching Faith in God, Hope in Immortality, and Charity toward all mankind. The Massachusetts Grand Lodge is a crowning legacy of this venerable heritage as we strive to “make good men better.” Unlike the K of C or any “Fraternal” organization each Grand Lodge is an entity unto itself having only the common thread of the Tenents’ stated above, and the allegory used in teaching and reinforcing their importance in all our dealings with mankind. Each Grand Lodge has its’ own Constitution, Bylaws and Regulations and they vary in a great degree and the only common thread is those stated above. We must also understand that “Catholic” (from the Greek) means universal, however just as Masonic Grand Lodges are separate and Masonry is Universal, the Greek, Russian, Armenian, Churches, etc. as part of “One (universal) Catholic and Apostolic Church are each separate and distinct from the Roman. There are many Greek, Russian and Armenian Orthodox Catholics members of the Masonic Fraternity. On this basis each church and each member should be judged individually as should Masonry and its’ members. Masonic use of the term “Supreme Architect of the Universe” is being condemned as improper, anti Christian and possibly blasphemous. God has many other names: Lord, Yahweh, Jehovah, Abba, Father, Allah, Buddha, ad infinitum. The Masonic term refers to the Creator and Designer of the Universe and all things therein contained, just as a stone mason refers to the creator of the plans that he uses. I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. Monotheistic faiths believe that there is, and can only be, one unique Supreme Being; beings can vary widely, but the word God in English and its counterparts in cognate languages are normally used for all of them. Other languages have similar generic names, and a common experience is for the word for "God" in one language to be perceived by speakers of other languages as the name of a specific deity worshipped by speakers of that one language. However some names refer almost exclusively to the supreme being of a single religion. Some of the names are used in approximately the same sense (e.g., when a Catholic uses both "God" and "the Holy Trinity"), but for the most part, the names mark important differences in meaning. Positivists (e.g., advocates of Logical empiricism) should take note that a robust theory of the meaning of Religious Language, however dismissive, ought to be able to account, in some fashion, for these differences in meaning. “Supreme Architect of the Universe” Genesis
Masons are Anti Christian Farther Timothy Goldrick , an Anchor columnist said, I am aware of the animosity of the Masons towards all things Catholic --- and even Christian --- especially with our essential doctrine of the resurrection of the dead,”. This is the most fallacious statement that has ever been made about the Masonic Fraternity. I cannot find anything in the Christian Faith which denies this doctrine, nor is it found in Masonic ritual or writings. An Atheist cannot be made a Mason. Masonic Lodge membership has always been representative of the demographics of the community in which they are located. In the early days Masonic Lodges were predominantly Catholic as the world was so at that time, the ethnicity and religious composition of the town or neighborhood, in which it was located, determined the makeup of the Lodge; it is the same today in many countries. However, in this country and many of the European Countries, particularly Great Britain, Ireland and Scotland between eighty and ninety percent of the members are Christian of many denominations, in Greece they are predominantly Greek Orthodox (Catholics) I am certain that there would be many more Roman Catholics except for the “Vatican’s” Bann on membership. I would suggest that rather than paint all with one brush look at every Grand Lodge’s Constitution and regulations for the anti Catholic – Christian directive, that Father Goldrick alludes to, and if one is found Bann membership in that one not all. Father Edward McNamara said, “Masonry requires its members adhere to a minimal belief in a supreme architect of the universe and leave aside all other pretensions of truth, even revealed truth,” he said. This basically means that Masonry requires members to renounce truths such as Christ’s divinity and the Trinitarian nature of God. This is another fallacious statement: Freemasonry has only two absolute requirements a belief in a supreme being before you can even be considered for membership, and after you have taken your oaths or obligations on the Holy Book of your choice, to kiss the book. So I am led to doubt not only the integrity of John Salza, who wrote the book cited in the article, but also his faith, I believe that anyone who believes in a just God and takes an oath before Him on that Holy Book, to keep secret and inviolate the things he learns, kisses the book, and then he violates that oath and publishes a book for profit is destined to meet the same fate as Judas. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Knights TemplarThe Knights Templar is the final order joined in the York Rite of Masonry. Unlike other Masonic bodies which only require a belief in a Supreme Being, regardless of religion, membership in Knights Templar is open only to Master Masons who are Royal Arch Masons, apply, and promise to defend the Christian Faith. Its affiliation with Masonry is based on texts that indicate persecuted Templars found refuge within the safety of Freemasonry. A local Knights Templar organization is called a Commandery in the United States, and a Preceptory elsewhere, membership in a Preceptory is by invitation, and candidates are required to be Master Masons, holders of the degree of the Holy Royal Arch and to sign a declaration that they profess the Doctrine of the Holy and Undivided Trinity. (Excerpt from) LETTER OF APRIL 19, 1996 TO U.S. BISHOPS by Cardinal Bernard Law For your own personal information, the Administrative Committee, on March 20, 1985, authorized my sending you the report of the Committee for Pastoral Research and Practices on the pastoral issues arising from Catholic membership in Masonry. The enclosed report shows that the principles of Masonry are incompatible with Christian faith and practice whether or not a specific Masonic organization happens to be engaging in activity against the church. For this purpose, we include three studies that explain the issue of incompatibility— the study of Masonic principles and rituals done by the West German Conference of Bishops in 1980, a study of American Masonry by Professor William Whalen of Purdue University written for the committee, and a recent article that appeared in the March 11, 1985, L'Osservatore Romano, "Irreconcilability Between Catholic Faith and Freemasonry." This report should be seen in the context of the 1973 and 1983 decrees of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith dealing with excommunication and incompatibility respectively. Since many bishops stated in their reply to an earlier survey that confusion had been generated by a perceived change of approach by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, we hope that the information you find here will be a useful clarification. Since neither the religious naturalism nor the required oaths of Freemasonry are ever likely to change, the hope that these irreconcilable principles can ever be reconciled is dim. Another objection to U.S. Masonry which should give pause to any Christian is the blatant racism of the lodges. This may someday change, but the lodges have lagged far behind the rest of American society in this matter. Simply stated, the predominant Blue lodges refuse to initiate anyone known to be black. There is a single exception: Alpha Lodge No. 116 of Newark, N.J., which is recognized by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. Stories have circulated in recent years about a black candidate in Wisconsin or some other state being initiated, but these are unverified. Blacks long ago established their own parallel organization of Masonry known as Prince Hall, along with black counterparts of the Scottish rite, Shrine, etc. These are viewed as clandestine and irregular by white Masonry. A Prince Hall Mason cannot be admitted to a meeting of the Blue lodges, and a black man who evidences an interest in Masonry will be politely directed to a Prince Hall lodge. This situation is an embarrassment to many American Masons as well as to the Grand Lodge of England, the mother lodge, which does not practice such racial discrimination. Sooner or later, we believe, the American lodges will have to re- examine their racist standards and bring them into alignment with the rest of society. The Catholic Church and other churches need not apologize for their stand on lodge membership. One of the boasts of Freemasonry has been that it fosters brotherhood; the church's refusal to allow dual membership in the church and the lodge may seem mean-spirited to some. We can, however, ask our non-Catholic friends which institution best exemplifies brotherhood: American Freemasonry or the church, which is open to men and women, blacks and whites, young and old, rich and poor? Does this mean that antagonism between Freemasonry and the Christian churches which forbid membership should be fostered? In no way. Dialogue between Christians and Masons can lessen hostility between these groups. Cooperation in civic and charitable works can be encouraged. Some Catholics believe the most fantastic things about Masonry and should be helped to form a rational judgment on the lodge. Some Masons see the church of Rome as the church of the Inquisition, the Crusades, the prop for discredited monarchies. No one benefits from such caricatures. The Catholic Church now engages in dialogue with many Protestant, Eastern Orthodox and even non-Christian bodies. The fact that a Roman Catholic may not at the same time profess Islam does not mean that fruitful Catholic-Moslem dialogue is impossible or useless. The Catholic Church should not launch any kind of new vendetta against Freemasonry and should welcome the lessening of antiCatholicism, whether in the lodge, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or any other group. At the same time it must affirm that membership by Catholics in the lodge is inappropriate. http://showcase.netins.net/web/clearlight/mason.html#005
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