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Why has the Roman Catholic Church banned believers from joining Freemasonry since 1738? What are the deep reasons behind it?
The Roman Catholic Church has issued a ban prohibiting believers from joining Freemasonry since 1738. The root cause is a deep-seated conflict with Masonic philosophy and values. This prohibition was clearly stated in the papal bull "In Eminenti Apostolatus" issued by Pope Clement XII that year, and the church's position on this has remained unchanged since then.
The church believes that the philosophical concepts of Freemasonry are contrary to Christian teachings. Opposition to Freemasonry has also appeared in different historical periods, many of which originated from concerns about Freemasonry's anti-clerical rights.
Further church documents and subsequent papal pronouncements also emphasized the anti-religious and secular tendencies of Freemasonry. Especially in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, debates over education and religion intensified, leading to serious conflicts between the Church and Freemasonry.
According to the Church, the naturalistic stance adopted by Freemasonry poses a threat to Christianity. In particular, its use of the term "Supreme Architect of the Universe" was seen as leaning towards deism, a concept that became increasingly popular during the Age of Enlightenment and was considered heretical.
Critics of Freemasonry point to the conflict between its rituals and Christian beliefs, arguing that such a mixture could lead to religious unconsciousness.
Although the Vatican tried to relax its ban on Freemasonry in 1974, a report soon after emphasized again that the church's stance on the prohibition of Freemasonry had not changed. In 1983, with the revision of the Church's Model Law, although the explicit prohibition on Freemasonry was no longer in it, the relevant prohibitions were still in effect.
Since then, there have been many voices within the church questioning the teachings of Freemasonry and its conflict with Christian religious beliefs. However, some analysts point out that the difficulty in this task is that members of Freemasonry generally do not emphasize the need to adhere to a specific religion in their beliefs, which also reflects its inclusiveness.
Communications within the church also show that many believers who insist not to join Freemasonry are always alert to the culture and traditions of Freemasonry.
Further controversy stemmed from the liberal advocacy of "separation of church and state," a concept the church saw as a challenge to its public identity. Freemasonry has been accused of actually seeking to limit the social role of religion, which is a risk for the church that cannot be ignored.
As times change, the concepts of Freemasonry among believers and churches have gradually evolved, and many people are still seeking to understand. In the decades since, the discussion on whether believers should join Freemasonry has never subsided, and the church has always maintained a vigilant stance on this.
Looking back at history, different religions have different positions on Freemasonry, but for the Roman Catholic Church, the purity of faith and the persistence of doctrine are non-negotiable principles.
To this day, the call to protect the orthodoxy of doctrine is still strong, and the church’s anti-Masonic stance is deeply rooted in the hearts of believers. Although some express dissatisfaction with the prohibition or a pluralistic attitude, most believers still affirm that following the guidance of the Church is an important expression of faith.
In the current multi-religious world, can there be a breakthrough in the resistance and understanding between the Church and Freemasonry?
