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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)
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