Review: Freemasonry and the Christian Faith

 Book Review: Freemasonry and the Christian Faith by Fr. Ashley Beck

This booklet does a great job at giving you a history of the Church's position on Freemasonry over the years.  It also shows you how Freemasonry has evolved over the last few centuries.  Overall, as the tagline states it answers the question, "Is Freemasonry compatible with Catholicism?"  As you might have guessed, the answer of course is a resounding "No."

This is one of many great booklets/pamphlets published through the Catholic Truth Society and can easily be read within a few short hours.  From the Table of Contents the booklet breaks down the overall topic into some of the following areas (this is not the complete Table):

• What is Freemasonry
• I think it is important that if you are going to be against something you should know what it is exactly that you are against.  This section covers how this secret society came to be, what its origin claims are and how it organizes itself today.  Masons are everywhere, but how much do we really know about them?  They do a good job at doing good works so most don't look past the surface, but even Hamas does charity work.
•  This section also cuts through the myths of what Freemasonry claims to be and how its claims in regards to religion fall quite short and contrary to what we as Catholics believe. 
  
• Catholic Teaching about Freemasonry
• The recent pontificates of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI made clear points decrying Freemasonry and regarding Catholics associating with "The Craft."  
• Past papal texts from Clement XII, the 1917 and 1983 Codes of Canon Law are also abundantly clear on the topic.  
• The section also covers Freemasonry as a "naturalistic religion" which again runs greatly contrary to some of the core teachings of the Church.  
• Freemasonry is also home to traces of age old heresies that have been combated and defeated by the Church, yet seem to crop up now and again in different circles.  
• This section closes by covering their oaths and rituals and why the words, symbols and meanings used run contrary to our beliefs and the teaching of the Church.
  
• Freemasonry and Catholic Social Teaching
• In terms of some of the Church's "hard line" teachings on social issues, Freemasonry stands terribly athwart of how we as Catholics view the world.  
  
• Freemasonry, History and Society
• We again learn some background of the Masons and how they have become embedded in the governments and apparatus of Europe (CTS is based in England and the historical coverage come from that lens).  
• Freemasonry, like many other fraternal organizations is hurting for numbers and is in crisis mode.  They are just as desperate for numbers to keep lodges open as the Knights of Columbus are for council stability (a topic I could write a whole pamphlet on myself). 
•  We can combat their desperation and fragility by bolstering our own organizations and groups and stand stronger and more unified than they do. 
  
• Freemasonry and Other Christian Churches
• In many areas the Church of England (COE) has strayed far from Rome in practice of religion, doctrine and morality, Freemasonry being prominent among the heap.  Freemasonry is well embedded into the Anglican community from laity to top clerics.  While there have been anti-Masonic sentiments within the COE, there is a lack of definitive ruling either way from their leadership.  

If you're Catholic and know nothing about Freemasonry other than the Church stands against it, or even if that is news to you, this booklet is a great primer on the matter.  I was quite intrigued by Freemasonry for a brief moment, the mystique, the history, the esoteric ritual of it all.  However once I learned the Church opposed it, I ceased interest, but never looked into it more.  This booklet gave me the information I needed to be able to stand strong against Freemasonry and know why I stand by the Church on the matter.