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 ...
It is still the position of the LCMS.
>> “there are also conspiracy theories abounding that the Vatican is controlled by the freemasons” <<
.
It is an established fact that the Vatican was founded by Pharisees that held the same beliefs of the freemasons of the day.
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Found this Wiki about the KoC.
“The primary motivation for the Order was to be a mutual benefit society. As a parish priest in an immigrant community, McGivney saw what could happen to a family when the breadwinner died, and wanted to provide insurance to care for the widows and orphans left behind. He had to temporarily leave his seminary studies to care for his family when his father died.[8] In the late 19th century, Catholics were regularly excluded from labor unions and other organizations that provided social services.[9] In addition, Catholics were either barred from many of the popular fraternal organizations, or, as in the case of Freemasonry, forbidden from joining by the Catholic Church itself. McGivney wished to provide them an alternative. He also believed that Catholicism and fraternalism were not incompatible and wished to found a society that would encourage men to be proud of their American-Catholic heritage.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Columbus
So the KoC is a fraternal organization like Freemasons. The KoC has Supreme Knight, a Supreme Chaplain, four degrees in the order, officers, emblems, particular types of regalia to wear, and even junior level versions of the organization (similar to DeMolay and Eastern Star for the the Masons).
It seems that it is permissible for Catholic to be a member of a Mason-like organization as long it is under the aegis of the Catholic Church. Fascinating!
I guess
>> “there is no higher degree of Mason than The Blue Lodge” <<
Albert Pike disagreed with you.
Each lodge does seem to have a variant as in Posse conferred for LEO or the French version here I Burlingame which is very different but retains the requisite elements
>> “seriously, don’t they have a women’s adjunct?” <<
.
Job’s Daughters, Eastern Star, and many more.
Like a Hiram award
“If this is true it is not because of any thing the Masons believe.”
False. It is exactly because of Masonic beliefs stemming from their 18th century origins.
Is the Catholic Church fearing the pull of the Masons? Masons can go to church. Nothing prevents them from attend any church of their choosing.
You are expressing reasons why the Catholic church disalows membership in the masons I am expressing the Masons feelings toward catholics being members which is they are perfectly welcomed by Masons to be members if they wish!!
What!!!Washington died a mason and had all the privilagews of a Mason funeral.
George Washington, The Mason
George Washington joined the Masonic Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the age of 20 in 1752. His Masonic membership, like the others public titles and duties he performed, was expected from a young man of his social status in colonial Virginia. During the War for Independence, General Washington attended Masonic celebration and religious observances in several states. He also supported Masonic Lodges that formed within army regiments.
At his first inauguration in 1791, President Washington took his oath of office on a Bible from St. John’s Lodge in New York. During his two terms, he visited Masons in North and South Carolina and presided over the cornerstone ceremony for the U.S. Capitol in 1793.
In retirement, Washington became charter Master of the newly chartered Alexandria Lodge No. 22, sat for a portrait in his Masonic regalia, and in death, was buried with Masonic honors.
Such was Washington’s character, that from almost the day he took his Masonic obligations until his death, he became the same man in private that he was in public. In Masonic terms, he remained “a just and upright Mason” and became a true Master Mason. Washington was, in Masonic terms, a “living stone” who became the cornerstone of American civilization. He remains the milestone others civilizations follow into liberty and equality. He is Freemasonry’s “perfect ashlar” upon which countless Master Masons gauge their labors in their own Lodges and in their own communities.
Masons track their roots back much further than the eighteenth century!!!
Yup. I’m not sure if he even did more than one ceremony.
last time I read, there were no politicians who voted for abortion who were denied the sacraments. (perhaps on lone priest but they could obtain them somewhere)
what do politicians and abortion have to do with Catholics and Masons?
the concept of catholics facing a penalty. IOW there is no penalty.
Why would belonging to the Masons be a penalty?
I doubt it as well.
the catholic church allegedly punishes those who are masons.
masons do not care if a person is a catholic (per the postings here)
There are thousands of churches that will not grant church membership to Masonic Lodge members.
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