A friend of mine, who happens to be the father of a Catholic priest is a member of a Masonic lodge. He claims that the prohibition against Catholics joining the Masonic order is no longer in force and the Church now allows Catholics to be Masons. Is this so?
Answer. The Church, through its Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has formally declared that Catholics who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion. This declaration (See below), which is the most recent teaching of the Church, has affirmed nearly 300 years of […]
The Catholic position on Freemasonry
Catholics, since 1738, are under penalty of excommunication, incurred ipso facto, and reserved to the pope, strictly forbidden to enter or promote in any way Masonic societies. Under the 1917 Code of Canon Law (CIC), also referred to as the Pio-Benedictine Code, which was promulgated on 27 May 1917[1] and took legal effect on 19 May 1918. It was in force until […]
Guidelines for Deliverance Prayers for the Laity Concerning Freemasonry
1) The prayers included in this section are for use by the Laity. 2) The prayers in this section are typically phrased to be used for praying over oneself. All individuals have authority over their own selves and bodies and thus they are free to use both imprecatory prayers (directly commanding demons to leave) and […]
Prayers to Break the Freemasonic Curse
If you were once a member of a Masonic organization or are a descendant of someone who was, it is recommended that you pray these prayers. It is advisable to read it through first so you know what is involved. It is best to pray this aloud in the presence of a witness who is […]
Papal Pronouncements Concerning Freemasonry
The papal pronouncements relating to Freemasonry are as follows:
Declaration on Masonic Associations
Pope John Paul II approved the 1983 Declaration on Masonic Associations from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In 1983, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the personal approval of Pope John Paul II, issued a Declaration on Masonic Associations, which reiterated the Church’s objections to Freemasonry. The 1983 declaration states that […]
Papal Bulls Against Freemasonry
An edict or proclamation issued from the Apostolic Chancery, with the seal and signature of the Pope, written in Gothic letters and upon coarse parchment. This derives its name from the leaden seal which is attached to it by a cord of hemp or silk, and which in Medieval Latin is called bulla. Several of […]
What is the Catholic Church’s official position on Freemasonry? Are Catholics free to become Freemasons?
Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic faith. Freemasonry teaches a naturalistic religion that espouses indifferentism, the position that a person can be equally pleasing to God while remaining in any religion. Masonry is a parallel religion to Christianity. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states, “Freemasonry displays all the elements of religion, and as such it becomes a rival […]
The Masonic Religion
William A. WhalenMasonry Encompasses All Elements of a Religion of Naturalism The basic Christian objection to Freemasonry is that the Craft constitutes a religious sect in opposition to the revealed truths of the Gospel. Whatever the religious doctrines of the Masonic sect it is plain that they do not embrace the central Christian doctrines of […]
Catholics and the Freemason ‘Religion’
What are the Masons? Are Catholics allowed to belong to this organization? Fr. William Saunders The origins of the Masons, or what is officially called Freemasonry, are hard to pinpoint. With the decline of cathedral building in the aftermath of the Protestant movement, the guilds of masons began accepting non-masons as members to bolster their […]