Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons, [Part 1]

The Colorado Catholic Herald ^ | 11/4/11

[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.

[ontap]

You were required to read or quote from the Bible...And you were given a Bible to take home

Absolutely false!!

[Paperdoll]

Don’t the Catholics have the Knights Templar?

[Iscool]

Absolutely false!!

Could be...But that was my experience and of those in my lodge...I assumed it was universal...

[absolootezer0]

“G” is “Great Architect of the Universe” and Geometry.
I swore on a bible because i am christian, but they used “higher power” or “supreme being” for me to swear by.

Also, you don’t have to swear on a bible, if you are muslim you can use a koran, jewish a torah, etc.

[ontap]

I know of no lodge that would require such a thing...it would be strictly against Masonry rules. All Masonry rites and rituals are the same in any lodge and may not be written down. There are no readings of any bible and certainly not any passing out of any bible. There is no mention of GOD per se.

[pinochet]

>>>I am a Mason....I know of no conspiracies

What degree of masonry have you attained? Can anyone show up at a masonic lodge, and sign up?

[Boogieman]

"(History Channel pretty much had a documentary on this which poo poos the conspiracy kooks)"

LOL you are saying the History Channel is more authoritative than "conspiracy kooks"? The channel that gives airtime to this guy?:

[G Larry]

No...

Knights of Columbus

Quite different.

[M1903A1]

The 32nd Degree is a conventional degree...nothing really unique about it. The 33rd Degree is much more exclusive, very few attain that rank...but that’s an honorific degree more than a standard degree.

I regard it as more of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” than anything else.

[Boogieman]

“They require a belief in God, not a deity...”

When that “God” can be any god, whether it’s Christ, or Allah, or Buddha, or Krishna, then it’s just a belief in a deity they require, not a “big G” God. Same as Alcoholics Anonymous and their “higher power”.

[Cheburashka]

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 26 November 1983:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19831126_declaration-masonic_en.html

[ontap]

I am a Master Mason. One must be invited to join the lodge and must obtain the signatures of two Master Masons.

[Boogieman]

“their murder of so many Masons on “Friday the 13th”.”

Dude, the Templars were not Masons. There is plenty of evidence that surviving Templars created speculative masonry after they were banned as heretics, but there were no Masons killed on “Friday the 13th”.

[Rashputin]

Read, "Blood Covered Alters" by Francis Clement Kelly and then some of the stuff in the bibliography. While I've never had bad experiences with any Masons and have never had any Masons behave as if they were anti-Christian (far from it, most I've known have been active, practicing, Christians), there is a very clear and strong European strain of Masonic thought and practice that grew out of the French Revolution and is absolutely anti-Christian as well as anti-Islamic and anti every other form of worship.

I wonder if American Masons even know about the European strain that is rabidly anti-Christian and in reality, anti-God.

Regards

[editor-surveyor]

>> “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.” <<

.
That statement is false.

The 32nd degree is the top degree that is admitted through study.

Perhaps they meant the 33rd?

[editor-surveyor]

Washington ultimately rejected masonry, which is what led to his death.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone” <<

.
Other versions have that more accurately as “the head of the corner” in reference to the stone that finishes the pyramid, at the vertex. I.e. Christ finished the job of saving the elect.

[arthurus]

I hear about it from my priest.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “I don’t believe that either...They require a belief in God, not a deity.” <<

.
Wrong; they believe that man may become a god.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “where did the history channel get it wrong?” <<

LOL!

The history channel deliberately gets almost everything wrong.

Its a channel for the “skulls full of mush.”
.