Catholicism and Freemasonry: Why are the two incompatible?

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“There is quite a lot written by our Holy Church regarding Freemasonry… So that you understand where the Holy Catholic Church is coming from in condemning Masonry, a general statement is in order. The Catholic Church exists to assist Jesus in saving our souls and getting us to heaven. Holy Church does not make a habit of condemning people or organizations. Holy Church will only admonish a person or an organization that is involved in mortal sin for the purpose of helping the individual(s) involved to repent and convert.”

"Therefore the Church’s negative judgement in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principals 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."[1]
[1] Declaration on Masonic Associations, (11/26/1983), Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI
(Quoted from report prepared on August 2, 2005 by Ronald Smith, 11701 Maplewood Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024-8482, e-mail: hfministry@roadrunner.com.)

The Catholic Church has a clear teaching that "Catholics cannot be Freemasons". 12 popes through 23 documents have banned Freemasonry. I have listed them all at the end of this article. The Code of Canon Law continues to hold that Catholics cannot associate with this organization. I even checked with the present Vicar General of our Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore, Rev. Fr. Dr. S. J. Antonyswamy and he confirmed the same: joining Freemasonry puts a soul in grave risk and is not allowed for Catholics. There was some confusion among Catholics whether the Church had changed its stand when the New Canon Law was promulgated in 1983. That’s why, in the very same year, the Holy Church issued a declaration (cited above), clarifying that the Church continues to ban Catholics from enrolling in Freemasonry.

The paragraphs below give explanations in greater detail....

Read the full article at J.A.M.

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