What is it about Freemasonry that would cause churches to forbid or openly discourage seventy million Americans from membership? Why have eight popes condemned the Lodge? Why has the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Masonic order been strained for centuries? Christianity and American Freemasonry answers these and many other questions and describes why Christ ianity and Freemasonry are incompatible. Today over two million American men belong to the Masonic order, the largest and oldest secret fraternal society. In earlier history the Freemasons boasted a prestigious membership, including fourteen American presidents and such founding fathers as Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, and Alexander Hamilton. This is the most complete reference book available on the subject. Chapters discuss the rituals and oaths, the Scottish and York rites, allied organizations such as the Shriners, and the historic antagonism of Christianity toward Masonry. It is thoroughly documented with facts from: • the three most noted experts on Masonry in America • Masonic ritual books, encyclopedias, and histories • three former Masons, now active Catholics, who contributed firsthand knowledge of Masonic ritual and structure. William Whalen is a nationally known expert on comparative religion, and an author of 15 books and numerous magazine articles.

This book aims to educate and construct, to be charitable even to those with whom the author may disagree, and never to vent the venom of spite or malice even upon those who seem deliberately determined to mislead. I revere the Catholic religion and Freemasonry as both are divine in essence and were born to further the aspiration of the striving soul, each have hidden messages and a missions in the world not apparent upon the surface today. Humans have made the ceremonial in part to hide secret knowledge. This book seeks to reveal this knowledge and show the Cosmic purpose of these two Great Organizations, which have at times historically been bitterly antagonistic to each other. Without any aim to reconcile them, however, for though they are both designed to further the emancipation of the soul. Although their methods are different, and the attributes of the soul fostered by one method will indeed be very different from the qualities of the soul nurtured in the other. This book endeavors to show the cosmic root of both of these institutions, the purpose of each and the training which each inaugurates; also the nature of the soul quality which may be expected to result from each method. The author is neither a Freemason nor a Catholic, and thus is free to reveal what he knows without fear of violating any obligations or other reprecussions.

A probing analysis of Freemasonry in the U.S. in general, but especially relative to religious education, opposition to the Catholic Church, directing national social policy and how Masons attract members. Thoroughly documented. Immensely revealing. Covers the birth and rise of Freemasonry, the Catholic Church's early condemnation of it, etc. Essential to understanding the forces behind the scenes.

Some say that the only force powerful enough to destroy the Knights Templar was the Roman Catholic Church. Alarmed by the persistent reports that Freemasonry was the rebirth of the Templars, the Church took deadly aim at this seemingly innocent organization. Noted Masonic scholar Dudley Wright recounts the events of the Church's history of attacks and persecution of Freemasonry. It is a story that must be read. Included in this revised edition is the 1884 "Humanus Genus" by Pope Leo XIII and the answer by Albert Pike.

The Catholic Catechism on Freemasonry: A Theological and Historical Treatment on the Catholic Church’s Prohibition Against Freemasonry and its Appendant Masonic Bodies contextualizes the history and provides a theological analysis and commentary on the nine Papal documents, two Canon Laws, and two documents issued by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, which relate specifically to the Catholic Church’s dogmatic prohibition against Freemasonry. This book departs from the traditional apologetic approach to explain the Catholic Church’s prohibition against Freemasonry to better examine it in a thorough, comprehensive, theological, and historical context. This book is well researched and referenced, and written only how a person with an extensive and high-level experience with Freemasonry and an academic background in history and Catholic theology could have written it. In addition to this rare look behind the theological and political arguments that the Catholic Church has made against Freemasonry and its appendant Masonic Bodies since Pope Clement’s Papal Bull In Eminenti in 1738, this catechism also answers such questions as: What are the Catholic Roots of Freemasonry? What is the Structure of Freemasonry? Is Freemasonry a Religion? What are the Core Principals of Freemasonry? What is the Masonic Legend of Hiram Abiff? Which Popes were Freemasons? Why were Haydn and Mozart Freemasons? What Role did Freemasons Play during the European and American Revolutions? What is the Relationship between Protestantism, Freemasonry, Communism, and Homosexualism? To what Degree did Freemasonry Influence the Creation of the Novus Ordo Rite? How did the Freemasons and their Ideological Allies in the Catholic Church (i.e. the Masonic lobby) work to remove the word ‘Masonic’ from the 1983 Code of Canon Law? Are Catholics who belong to the Masonic Order Excommunicated?

Excerpt from Freemasonry and Catholicism: An Exposition of the Cosmic Facts Underlying These Two Great Institutions as Determined by Occult Investigation HE Rosicrucian Fellowship aims to educate and construct, to be charitable even to those from whom we differ, and never to vent the venom Of vitu peration, spite, or malice even upon those who seem deliberately determined to mislead. We revere the Catholic religion; it is as divine in its essence, as Mystic Masonry - both are rooted in hoary antiquity, both were born to further the aspiration Of the striv ing soul, and both have a message and a mission in the world not apparent upon the surface today, be cause man-made ceremonial as a scale has hidden the kernel Of divinity in each. It is the Obj ect Of the present articles to remove that scale and show the Cosmic purpose Of these two Great Organizations, which are so bitterly antagonistic to each other. We do not aim to reconcile them, however, for though they are both designed to further the emancipation Of the soul, their methods are difierent, and the attributes Of the soul fostered by one method will in deed be very different from the quality Of the soul nurtured in the other School. Therefore the strife must continue until the battle for the souls Of menhas been lost and won. The issue is not, however, the persistence Of the Masonic or Catholic institutions; but the outcome will determine the nature Of the training humanity will receive in the remaining Periods Of our evolution. We shall endeavor to show the cosmic root Of both Of these institutions, the pur pose Of each and the training which each will inau garate, if successful; also the nature Of the soul qual ity which may be expected to result from each method. The writer is not a Mason, and thus he is free to say what he knows without fear of violating obligations, but he is a Mason at heart, and there fore frankly opposed to Catholicism. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Many good Catholic men have been deceived into becoming Masons. In this powerful little book, a Catholic attorney and former 32nd degree Mason, John Salza, clearly shows why joining Masonry (including the Shriners) means embracing a false religion. Having authored Masonry Unmasked for general readership, here John Salza writes specifically for Catholics, showing why the Church has always condemmed Freemasonry, and continues to condemn Freemasonry today (despite mistaken claims to the contrary.) He explains Masonic doctrines, history, rituals, oaths and curses, showing that Masonry is totally incompatible with Christianity and the Catholic Faith. He answers the questions: Who is the god of Freemasonry? How does Freemasonry view the Holy Bible? What are the self-curses of Freemasonry? Why does Freemasonry appear to be compatible with the Christian Faith? What have the Popes said about Freemasonry? Are Catholics involved in Freemasonry excommunicated? How does a Catholic exit Freemasonry? Packed with facts and very well documented, Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons is a brief but potent revelation by a man who has been there - and then returned to the One True Faith. John Salza has appeared on EWTN, and he hosts Catholic radio programs on Relevant Radio and EWTN Radio. He is the author of several apologetics books including: The Biblical Basis for Purgatory, The Mystery of Predestination, and The Biblical Basis for the Papacy.