Q&A: What is the Catholic Church’s official position on Freemasonry? Are Catholics free to become Freemasons?

Source: Catholic Say

Full Question

What is the Catholic Church’s official position on Freemasonry? Are Catholics free to become Freemasons?

Answer

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 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.”

Masonry is also a secret society. Its initiates subscribe to secret blood oaths that are contrary to Christian morals. The prospective Mason swears that if he ever reveals the secrets of Masonry – secrets which are trivial and already well-known – he wills to be subject to self-mutilation or to gruesome execution. (Most Masons, admittedly, never would dream of carrying out these punishments on themselves or on an errant member).

Historically, one of Masonry’s primary objectives has been the destruction of the Catholic Church; this is especially true of Freemasonry as it has existed in certain European countries. In the United States, Freemasonry is often little more than a social club, but it still espouses a naturalistic religion that contradicts orthodox Christianity. (Those interested in joining a men’s club should consider the Knights of Columbus instead.)

The Church has imposed the penalty of excommunication on Catholics who become Freemasons. The penalty of excommunication for joining the Masonic Lodge was explicit in the 1917 code of canon law (canon 2335), and it is implicit in the 1983 code (canon 1374).

Because the revised code of canon law is not explicit on this point, some drew the mistaken conclusion that the Church’s prohibition of Freemasonry had been dropped. As a result of this confusion, shortly before the 1983 code was promulgated, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement indicating that the penalty was still in force. This statement was dated November 26, 1983 and may be found in Origins 13/27 (Nov. 15, 1983), 450.

PAINFUL TRUTH: OUTSIDE THE CHURCH THERE IS NO SALVATION!

Blessed Pope Pius IX

Father Michael Müller: Questions and Answers on Salvation

by Father Michael Müller, C.SS.R.

Source: Catholic Family News

www.cfnews.org

CFN Editor’s Note: Father Michael Müller was one of the most widely read theologians of the 19th Century. He ranks as one of the greatest defenders of the dogma “Outside the Church there is no salvation” in modern times. Father Müller always submitted his works to two Redemptorist theologians and to his religious superiors before publication, thus we are sure of the doctrinal soundness of his teachings. This article, first published in 1875, is one of the finest treatments of the doctrinal truth that Our Lord founded one true Catholic Church, outside of which there is no salvation. Father Muller’s firm writings are desperately needed in our time when this doctrine is denied by those who are the most influential members of our Holy Church. We publish Father Müller’s excellent little Catechism as an antidote to the prevalent religious indifferentism — an indifferentism that is the direct result of what Blessed Pius IX denounced as “Liberal Catholicism”.

1. Do all admit that the Catholic Church is the first and the oldest Church, and, consequently the Church established by Jesus Christ?

That the Catholic Church is the first and oldest and consequently the Church established by Jesus Christ, is and must be admitted by all, because it is a fact clearly proven by Scripture and by history.

2. Who bear witness to this fact?

The Jews and the Gentiles bear witness to it, and even Protestants themselves acknowledge it, because, if asked why they call themselves Protestants, they answer: “Because we protest against the Catholic Church.”

3. What follows from this answer?

That the Catholic Church is older than Protestantism; otherwise they could not have protested against her.

4. If we go still further back and ask the Greek Church how they came into existence, what will be their answer?

The Greek Church must answer: “We began by separating from the Catholic Church in the 9th Century.”

5. What follows from this?

That the Catholic Church existed for eight hundred years before the Greek Church began, and consequently, it is older than the Greek Church.

6. If we thus go back to the very days of the Apostles, what do we find everywhere in regard to the manner in which religious sects arose?

If we go back to the days of the Apostles, we find that every sect separated from the Catholic Church, and therefore we see Calvinists, Kilhamites, Quakers, Shakers, Panters, Seekers, Jumpers, Reformed Methodists, German Methodists, Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, Particular Baptists, Hardshell Baptists, Softshell Baptists, Forty- Gallon Baptists, Sixty- Gallon Baptists, Mennonites, Millerites, Universalists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Mormons, Christian Perfectionists, etc., etc., etc.

7. Is it not all the same to God whatever religion a person professes?

If it were all the same to God whatever religion a person professes, God would not have forbidden, in the First Commandment, to worship Him in any other than in the true religion. Nor would Christ have solemnly declared: “He who will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican.” (Matt. 18:17)

8. Who, then, will be saved?

Christ has solemnly declared that only those will be saved who have done God’s will on earth as explained, not by private interpretation, but by the infallible teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. “Not everyone,” says Christ, “who saith to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doth the will of My Father Who is in Heaven, he shall enter the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt. 7:21) The will of the heavenly Father is that all men hear and believe His Son, Jesus Christ. “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him.” (Luke 9:35)

Now Jesus Christ said to His Apostles and to all their lawful successors: “He that heareth you heareth Me, and he that despiseth you despiseth Me, and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him, the heavenly Father, that sent Me.” Hence all those who do not listen to Jesus Christ speaking to them through Saint Peter and the Apostles in their lawful successors, despise God the Father. They do not do His will, and therefore Heaven will never be theirs.

Freemason Converts to Catholicism and Exposes the Diabolic Cult of Freemasonry

Was INC 1914 aware that their LOGO was taken from FREEMASONRY…? Was it made on purpose or just truly coincidence…? – John D. Salvator

By Bro. John D. Salvador [Thanks to The Splendor of the Church blog]

Let us 1st examine the background of the founder who is Felix Manalo. Felix Y. Manalo was born in Barrio Calzada, Tipas, Taguig, Philippines on May 10, 1886. He was raised in the Catholic faith by his parents, Mariano Ysagun and Bonifacia Manalo.

YES Manalo is a CATHOLIC, raised a Catholic and Baptized a Catholic. It was sometime after his mother’s death that he decided on his mother’s name over his father’s name.

In his teenage years, Manalo became dissatisfied with Roman Catholic theology. According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the establishment of the Philippine Independent Church or the Aglipayan Church was his major turning point but Manalo remained uninterested since its doctrines were mainly Catholic.

In 1904, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, entered the Methodist seminary, and became a pastor for a while.

He also sought through various denominations, including the Presbyterian Church, Christian Mission, and finally Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1911.

Manalo left the Adventist church in 1913, and associated himself with Atheist and Agnostic peers.

As you can see it very clearly, MANALO was never a bearer of the Holy Spirit. Because if he was a real Prophet, then he must rely on himself and to the Guidance and help of the Holy Spirit not getting any IDEAS from any Religion he is joining.

John 16:13

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

Obviously, Manalo is having a hard time looking for the TRUTH even though the truth is already knocking on his face and abandon the real faith in the very Beginning. What happened, after joining a lot of different religion, he end up making his own which now aiming to destroy the real Church of Christ which is the Catholic Church. That’s the link now to Freemasonry. Just like Freemasonry, they contradict to all Doctrine of the true Church which is the bearer of the True Gospel. They don’t even follow any Bible Translation. They only believe on what the PASUGO is telling them which is created none other than by a MAN Felix and his succeeding Ministers.

Historically, one of Masonry’s primary objectives has been the destruction of the Catholic Church; this is especially true of Freemasonry as it has existed in certain European countries. It appears like INC 1914 is a small branch with the same motive just like Freemasonry. The New Catholic Encyclopedia 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.”

Now let’s see the real meaning of Freemasonry; Freemasonry is “secret” organizations appear to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in god. However, upon closer examination, we find that the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a “Supreme Being”, which includes the “god” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. The unbiblical and anti-Christian beliefs and practices of this organization are partially hidden beneath an outward appearance of a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith.

No wonder a member of INC 1914 is allowed to join Freemasonry. Just like during the painting of INC’s centennial image for Felix; the painter was a member of Freemasonry shown evidence on the ring he is wearing. A picture really paints a thousand words. While we Catholics are prohibited by the Church to join Freemasonry for them it is allowed. In fact the Church has imposed the penalty of excommunication on Catholics who become Freemasons. The penalty of excommunication for joining the Masonic Lodge was explicit in the 1917 code of canon law (canon 2335), and it is implicit in the 1983 code (canon 1374).

Now let us proceed to the real symbolic meaning of INC 1914 and how it coincides with MASONIC symbols.

Let’s start with the most visible one.

1. The COMPASS

For MASON it means “to circumscribe and keep us within bounds with all mankind”. To keep reachable by mankind is just the show-up meaning and what we do not know was the motives. If you want to conquer the whole world then it is the best Idea to be in reachable by all mankind. Imagine if all the people will join this organization then they could conquer the whole world.

HAYS RITUAL, 1860-1863. First definitive departure from the Francken Ritual. Based upon the Ritual of Albert Pike. One quotation conveys the spirit of the new emphasis:

“Here we see John the Baptist. The day of truth has come at last; all doubts will now be removed; from East to West, one God and one fraternity shall RULE the world. Freemasonry — that is to say. Truth — is no longer the happy lot of one Nation, of one Sect; it is now the lot of every man on earth who desires to know and to practice it; it calls to every man and is, at all times, ready to impart its light to all.

2. The Lamb that resting on the top of the BOOK of Seven seals. A 17th degree, Knights of the EAST and WEST Symbol. The lamb is a symbol of obedience, to obey all the organization’s commandments.

Seven Seals- Then follows the symbolism of the Seven Seals, which the Candidate opens one by one and takes from each some particular article:

A Bow and quiver, with arrows.

A Sword.

A balance.

A skull.

A cloth stained with blood.

A vase or pot of incense.

A vase with seven trumpets.

The Sealed Book in the 17° and 18° is not the Holy Bible, which is never sealed on any Masonic altar, They use the “Sealed Book” as the “Book of Life” in these degrees as a symbol to represent the history of man’s existence on earth with the significant eras being recorded in its successive chapters. The mysteries of human behavior lie hidden in its pages.

3. The INVERTED Triangle;

For the Upright Triangle, from time immemorial the Equilateral Triangle has been preeminently the symbol for Deity being the culmination of mind, body and spirit, or Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (TRINITY). For the Triangle is the primary figure from which all others are built up and the Equilateral Triangle, being wholly symmetrical, is the one perfect Triangle and thus clearly becomes the symbol for that Perfect Being in which all things find their beginning This Symbol is so completely appropriated to the purpose of a symbol for Deity and Perfection that to here treat of its various other, and decidedly minor, symbolic significances would but obscure its pre-eminent symbolic meaning. The triangle is an ancient symbol of Deity or the divine union.

Now how about the INVERTED Triangle a complete opposite? It sometime used as a Thaumaturgic Triangle for some sorcery like used for magical purposes such as spell casting or demon summing. Sometimes used as SATANIC symbols.

As some says Inverted triangle is the “Alchemical/Magical symbol” for WATER, symbolizing downward flow. The downward pointing triangle is an ancient symbol of femininity, being a representation of female genitalia. “One of the four alchemical elements, water has the properties cold and moist, and symbolizes intuition, the unconscious mind, and the enclosing forces of the womb.”

4. SCALE

For MASONS it is dealing with equality and balance. It is a perfect visual measure PERFECT/Equilibrium state. But it was not held by a Blind woman meaning it is an artificial Justice system meaning all is permissible and allowed even if the intent is immoral.

A Royal Arch Mason would be obligated to hire a Companion Mason, even for sensitive or skilled professions, even if he didn’t have nearly the qualifications required.

Additionally, though not mentioned in the oaths, many time Masons get a “fairer” trial in courts where a Masonic judge presides. A sizable majority of judges are Masons, and many attorneys are Masons as well. If a Mason appears in court against a non-Mason, all he has to do is give any number of obscure gestures or words to the judge, and the judge will be obligated to rule in his favor.

Just like during election, INC 1914 members are not allowed to vote for themselves. They are manipulated by their Ministers to whom they should cast their votes. These are just some of the links of INC 1914 to Freemasonry. There are a lot more but the members are already blinded and brain washed, even if the truth is knocking on their faces.

Do you still think the INC 1914 LOGO and symbols are just a coincidence out of Ignorance?No, it is very clear and unblemished on how the symbol is look like, exactly the same, a perfect match.

What's in the INC Logo?

Finally we found an attempt to explain the INC Logo. Note, this explanation from one of its members (probably a Minister himself) is not official. See below. (Thanks to readmeinc dot blogspot dot com).

1. The bird is the dove or Holy Spirit
2. The flame is the light of salvation
3. The shield is the shield of faith
4. The scale represents the equality of the justice of God;
5. The crown is the crown of eternal life
6. The lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ
7. The book is the Bible
8. The two scrolls seen in the Bible represent the OT and NT;
9. The upside down triangle means the equality of the members or brotherhood (Mt. 23:8);
10. White is holiness
11. Green is love
12. Red is courage
The logo of the INC has been used since 1919 but only appeared on its buildings of worship since the 1950s

On the contrary, here's what was thought about their logo (source: PinoyExchange.com)

On this image below, you’ll see a craftily “hidden” pattern of a “pentagram” on the compass and square. Observe really closely.
On this image below, you’ll see the scale, interlaced compass and square, and the craftily “hidden” pentagram. Now, this is a third coincidence already between the stark similarities between INC and Freemasonry. What do you call a 3rd coincidence? Is there such a thing in this world? Deliberate, copied, or just coincidence? Or, perhaps, they are the same institution!
Now, we see here on the image below a torch on top of the compass. Combining the craftily hidden pentagram here with the torch we have this, observe closely and take note:
We see here on the image below, a torch on top of the pentagram, with the torch in “drawing form”. Observe and take note.

And here is another from PinoyCatholic

Which is fairly explained by MonksHobbit.

The interlaced square and compass denotes Freemasonry
1. The crown at the center denotes the Order of Amaranth, a fraternal organization of master masons and their properly qualified female relatives
2. The compass, inverted triangle, and legs denotes the Order of the Eastern Star
3. The light rays at the background denotes the sun god.
4. The scales of justice denotes the Scales of Maat, the Egyptian goddess of truth, order, balance, and justice
5. The bible inside the inverted triangle and compass refers to the use of the bible in masonic lodge for swearing oaths
6. The dove and the color white denotes purity and innocence
7. The color red denotes courage, zeal, and blood of life–the color of Royal Arch Masonry
8. The color green denotes spiritual initiation into the high mysteries of life and god
9. The color blue recalls the dome of the heavens which denotes universal brotherhood and friendship
10. The inverted triangle points to the 22nd ray which probably signifies a 22nd degree mason–Knight of the Royal Axe.

To be fair to INC, I’ll try to provide a biblical meaning to the INC logo, with their doctrines in mind:

1. The dove is the dove of Noah. Just as the evil world was washed away by the flood and a new world was born, so was the apostate Catholic Church was abandoned by God and He established a new church, Iglesia ni Cristo, at the end of time.
2. The sun’s rays and the bible denotes the Prologue of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn 1:1-5) Surprisingly, this passage proves the divinity of Christ, which INC does not believe.
3. The lamb and dove denotes the Baptism of Christ: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’” Surprisingly, the INC also does not believe on the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Triangle denotes the Dogma of the Holy Trinity, which states that there are three Persons in one God. Christ himself gave the following Trinitarian formula for Bapstism: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20). Surprisingly, INC does not believe on the Trinity.

Thus, INC uses Christian symbols, but does not believe on the meaning of the symbols. (The INC has not still provided an official interpretation of their logo).

Now, where is the Sign of the Cross? I cannot find any.

1. “Then he called to the man dressed in linen with the writer’s case at his waist, saying to him: Pass through the city (through Jerusalem) and mark an X on the foreheads of those who moan and groan over all the abominations that are practiced within it. To the others I heard him say: Pass through the city after him and strike! Do not look on them with pity nor show any mercy! Old men, youths and maidens, women and children–wipe them out! But do not touch any marked with the X; begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the men (the elders) who were in front of the temple.” The Hebrew letter X is Tav (or Taw) whose ancient form is the cross †, from which came the Greek letter Tau .
2. “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily 11 and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Lk 9:23-24)
3. “If anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told it to you beforehand. So if they say to you, ‘He is in the desert,’ do not go out there; if they say, ‘He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels 18 with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Mt 24:23-31) The sign of the Son of Man is the cross because his corpse hung there.
4. “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.” Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:17-24)

So why is there no Sign of the Cross in the INC logo? Is INC inviting the wrath of God to destroy its members starting from its temples? Does INC wish to follow Christ but without a cross in its temples to carry? Does INC await the coming of Christ but thinks that the Sign of the Son of Man is not the cross but a compass? Does INC wish to proclaim the cross of Christ like St. Paul or rather the message of Felix Y. Manalo, whom they consider as an angel? As St. Paul said: “But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!” (Gal 1:7-9). Lucifer is also an angel of light because in Latin, the word “Lucifer” means “Light-Bringer” (from lux, lucis, “light”, and ferre, “to bear, bring”). Lucifer is he whom the Freemasons worship. As Christ said: “And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” (Mt 6:23)

And lastly, here's what Pinoy Catholic notices in the INC Logo: here and pasugo-1914.  Any originality in their logo?