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Posted on 03/08/2012 6:58:13 AM PST by marshmallow
Catholic attorney John Salza once found himself inside a masonic hall, being asked to take off his wedding ring and crucifix as he swore an oath to be reborn as a Freemason.
Although he knew in his heart that something was wrong, he did not leave right away. Over several years, he advanced to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite — a level that only a select group of masons are invited to.
While he was told that masonry was compatible with Catholicism, he eventually could not reconcile the two and left the masons. In 2008, Salza wrote a basic, short treatise, “Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons,” (TAN Publishing) that addressed the serious conflicts that lay between Catholicism and Freemasonry (including the Shriners).
In mid-September, Bishop Michael Sheridan interviewed Salza for his Catholic Radio Network weekly show, “Bishop Sheridan Presents,” and the show aired Oct. 1-7. Over the next 2-3 issues, we are running a transcript of the show.
— Bill Howard, Editor In Chief
Bishop Sheridan: Welcome to all in the Lord Jesus. On our program today we are going to be discussing the topic of Masonry, or the Masons, or sometimes called the Freemasons; an organization that we know is not associated with the Catholic Church but wanted to bring up on this program because it seems, at least in my experience in talking to other priests and bishops, that there are perhaps a good number of Catholic men who become involved with the Masons, very often in very good faith, thinking that they are in a fraternal organization that is not in any way at odds with the Catholic Church. Our guest today, I think, is going to lead us in a very different direction. We are joined by John Salza. Welcome John.
John Salza: Your Excellency, thank you.
(Excerpt) Read more at coloradocatholicherald.com ...
Whut?
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fake.
the way I understand it, pope john paul changed this.
Does anyone who happens to be a member know the real deal and not the silly conspiracy theories?
(History Channel pretty much had a documentary on this which poo poos the conspiracy kooks)
Plenty of circa 1800 articles attaching Washington to the ceremonies of Masonry.
Psalm 118:22
New International Version (NIV)
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
Although he knew in his heart that something was wrong, he did not leave right away. Over several years, he advanced to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite — a level that only a select group of masons are invited to.
I don't believe him...I think he's lying...
From the article:
“Now remember, the only requirement to join Freemasonry is to believe in Deity. I didn’t say believe in the Trinity, I didn’t say believe in the God of heaven and earth, or Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it is to believe in Deity — to believe in a supreme being or something beyond you. That is why Masonry uses this term ‘deity.’”
I have noticed over the years that Bill O’Reilly uses the term “deity” to refer to God. I have always thought that it was just a manifestation of his usual pedantic bombast.
Now, I am led to wonder whether O’Reilly is a Freemason.
You understand incorrectly.
Catholics may not be Masons.
It isn’t about “all the good work they do” or “all the great people I know who are Masons”.
It is about the fundamentals of the organization.
If you ever take a tour of the frescoes in the Senate gallery, there is one with washington doing the capitol cornerstone ceremony dressed in mason attire. (BTW the frescoes are really worth seeing, the dome frescoes are the only example of the founders alongside mythological figures)
As far as I know, the teaching on this has not changed in the Church, and the ban is still in effect.
I don't believe that either...They require a belief in God, not a deity...
such as?
where did the history channel get it wrong? no atheism allowed, good moral character...etc.
The Catholic Church still persecuting Masons after all these years of their self avarice of Masonic Banking, the outright theft or attempt of the Masons banking assets some centuries ago and their murder of so many Masons on “Friday the 13th”.
So what is going to happen this Monday?
I’d like to shake his hand...shoulder to shoulder.
“the way I understand it, pope john paul changed this.”
(This statement was promulgated with the approval of Pope JPII; the author (Cardinal Ratzinger) is now Pope Benedict XVI)
DECLARATION ON MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS
NOTE: The following is the most recent decree from the Vatican on the subject of Freemasonry and is thus is the most current statement of the Church’s law on this topic…
Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on November 26, 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
Prefect
+ Fr. JEROME HAMER, O.P.
Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/masons1.htm
I’m not debating the History Channel, I’m giving you a fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that it’s members may not be Masons.
In fact, a belief in God is a requirement for becoming a Mason.
You will be asked about it and tested.
I recall sitting in a Lutheran church (Missouri Synod) a man being excommunicated because he became a Mason. This was 40 years ago, I do not know if the LCMS, still abides by this rule.
interesting. just poking around the internet there is a york rite which is explicitly christian.
there are also conspiracy theories abounding that the Vatican is controlled by the freemasons.
If you keep looking on the internet you eventually come to the conclusions that the same people who see demons in this are the same ones who say dungeons and dragons games as devil worship. (and in earlier days pinball machines were anti-christian)
there are evangelical sects that prohibit the trinity.
all claim to have “THE” answer as to what is or is not christian.
The ban is still in effect. It will never be changed.
Is it even enforced?
I don’t see enforcement divorce rules anymore. (annulments vs echlisiatical (sp?) divorces)
the vatican did just make nice nice with the knigts templar.
My pastor who is also the Chaplain of my Knights of Columbus Council explained the penalty we would incur if any us us joined the Masons. This was last month. We were very surprised.
I am a Mason....I know of no conspiracies.
So do they accept women?
That’s the problem. LOL
My dad became a Mason and a Shriner and offered to sponsor me. I had to tell him (a devout Christian, as am I), “They require a blood oath, and my blood is spoken for.” I can’t understand how one can be a Christian and take the oaths required by freemasonry.
What a stilted piece. I don’t really want to comment on the ritual but he was asked to remove the cross and the wedding ring not because they represented the church but because they are considered jewelry. He is using some sort of paranoid fantasy to ascribe anti-christian reasons for things that have nothing to do with christianity. If you walk into a hall you will meet decent hardworking Americans who all believe in God and most would feel at home amongst Freepers!
This is not a correct statement, there is no higher degree of Mason than The Blue Lodge.Scottish Rite is an additional responsibility but does not constitute a higher step!!
my intiation required belief in a higher power.
If this is true it is not because of any thing the Masons believe. Masonic rules allow Catholics to participate!
that’s a problem?
seriously, don’t they have a women’s adjunct?
(the vatican does not allow women priests.)
forgot about that, knights of columbus was started as a “catholic” fremason group.
has anyone been penalized? publicly in a documented location that can be referenced. (IOW not some anecdote)
Friday October 13, 1307
youtube has some old conspiracy theories talking about a 100th degree!
we need a central conspiracy theory site. something like
tinfoild had .com.....oh wait we have one it is over at du.com.
youtube has some old conspiracy theories talking about a 100th degree!
we need a central conspiracy theory site. something like
tinfoild hat .com.....oh wait we have one it is over at du.com.
It's known as The Order of the Eastern Star
But they were Templars, not Masons. Certainly not the same thing.
This is all nonsense. There are Catholics who are Free Masons and there is cooperation between the Knights of Columbus and the Masons.
Let me remind you that the Masons in England and the U.S. have no communication with many of the European Masonic lodges. That is a long complicated story that has roots before the French Revolution.
Never expect an honest statement about Free Masonry from a Catholic zealot.
There is no shortage of conspiracies about the freemasons.
In 1967 at SheaStadium the NY Mets had a nite to announce a joint effort by NY area Masonic lodges and KofC chapters to raise charitable donations for IIRC children’s medical care. The representatives of both orbs were in their formal organizational attire.
The 32nd degree is achievable by all adult males who become Masons.
Sorry, but I stopped right there.
Disclaimer: I am a 32nd degree mason in both the Scottish and York Rites.
Firstly, freemasonry was explicitly anti-Catholic in recent history and in some parts of the world, still is. It aimed to undermine the Catholic Church. For this reason, the Code of Canon Law of 1917 (canon 2335) mentioned freemasonry explicitly and stated that membership carried a penalty of excommunication. The revised Code of Canon Law of 1983, does not mention freemasonry explicitly but it is implicit in canon 1374.
As the revised code does not mention freemasonry explicitly, some got the idea that the penalties for freemasonry membership had been revoked but this is not the case. In fact, The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement to this effect on November 26 1983.
The second issue with freemasonry is that, it can lead to indifferentism, i.e. that a person can be equally pleasing to God while adhering to any faith. It also masquerades as a quasi-religion itself.
As the "New Catholic Encylopedia" states...."Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival to the religion of the Gospel. It includes temples and altars, prayers, a moral code, worship, vestments, feast days, the promise of reward or punishment in the afterlife, a hierarchy, and initiation and burial rites."
I am secretary of Keith Lodge.
Yes, I am aware we do not communicate with European Lodges the sames as Prince, though I think we should find a way to communicate with them.
Anyone interested ca n go here for a partial list of Masonic members.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Freemasons
Correct.
Freemasons among the U.S. Founding Fathers
Some people think that almost all the Founding Fathers were Freemasons, and others that very few were. You can find information about which of the Founding Fathers, signers of the Declaration of Independence, signers of the Constitution, and Generals in the Continental Army under Washington, were Masons.
Signers of the Declaration of Independence who were Freemasons
Signers of the U.S. Constitution who were Freemasons
Generals in the Continental Army under George Washington who were Freemasons
In summary:
Category Total Number Involved Number & Percent Who Were Freemasons
Signers of the Declaration of Independence 56 9 — 16%
Signers of the U.S. Constitution 39 13 — 33%
Generals in the Continental Army 74 33 — 46%
Not in Free Masonry.
I think the woman’s adjunct is called The Eastern Star.
This is from England:
http://www.ugle.org.uk/static/masonry/freemasonry-and-religion.htm
Freemasonry and Religion
Introduction
The following information is intended to deal with a topic mentioned in the leaflet ‘What is Freemasonry’.
It explains the United Grand Lodge of England’s view of the relationship between Freemasonry and religion.
Basic Statement
Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It demands of its members a belief in a Supreme Being but provides no system of faith of its own.
Freemasonry is open to men of all religious faiths. The discussion of religion at its meetings is forbidden.
The Supreme Being
The names used for the Supreme Being enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as each sees Him) without the terms of the prayer causing dissention among them.
There is no separate Masonic God; a Freemason’s God remains the God of the religion he professes.
Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together. There is therefore no composite Masonic God.
Volume of the Sacred Law
The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open at every Masonic meeting.
The Obligation of Freemasonry
The Obligations taken by Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume of the Sacred Law, or the book held sacred by those concerned. They are undertakings to help keep secret a Freemason’s means of recognition, and to follow the principles of Freemasonry.
The physical penalties, which are purely symbolic, do not form part of an Obligation. The commitment to follow the principles of Freemasonry is, however, deep.
Freemasonry Compared with Religion
Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion.
a) it has no theological doctrine, and by forbidding religious discussion at its meetings will not allow a Masonic theological doctrine to develop.
b) It offers no sacraments.
c) It does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by secret knowledge or by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition and not with salvation.
Freemasonry Supports Religion
Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practice it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other duties his duty to God, by whatever name He is known. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religions.
Freemasonry is thus a supporter of religion.
see also: http://www.ugle.org.uk/what-is-masonry/frequently-asked-questions/
these are from wikipedia footnote links.
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