tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post8681091341731356772..comments2024-03-26T12:05:58.591-04:00Comments on Freemasons For Dummies: "Masonry Unmasked"Christopher Hodapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-11811353645108666572017-01-08T15:59:13.245-05:002017-01-08T15:59:13.245-05:00Any man whose version of Faith includes the idea t...Any man whose version of Faith includes the idea that God would be unhappy with him working or affiliating with men of other faiths are, by definition, not suited to membership in Freemasonry.<br /><br />It's not supposed to be suited for everyone.<br />GeorgeOfTampahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11748462279356837403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-27323837180344794932016-12-21T17:42:20.724-05:002016-12-21T17:42:20.724-05:002016 Just reading this excellent post. Thank you. ...2016 Just reading this excellent post. Thank you. Ron Swan MMron swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14581504414535433648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-3079824752037729652015-08-18T18:18:13.121-04:002015-08-18T18:18:13.121-04:00In my opinion, it seems to me that Salza has done ...In my opinion, it seems to me that Salza has done what a few others have done, and used his time in Masonry to promote himself for writing books, having lectures (which he's paid for), and selling videos. As Leo Taxil said, "it dawned upon me that there was lots of money in being a Munchausen of the right kind".<br /><br />As you mention, his ramblings about pseudoscience make him stick out as the oddity, and to not be trusted, instead of Freemasonry, real science, and proven fact. On top of that, he seems very unpatriotic, to uphold condemning freedom of speech, freedom of religion, democracy, liberty, and education for all, as that is what the Papal Bulls actually condemned. Maybe he should seek moving to Vatican City?hooahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01466943661623918281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-22287381608164540432013-08-20T01:30:21.267-04:002013-08-20T01:30:21.267-04:00John Salza is completely correct! The Catholic Chu...John Salza is completely correct! The Catholic Church has been consistent and unequivical in it's condemnation of the lodge. Salza has done his research to the max and the conclusions are unambiguous: Catholics (that is REAL CATHOLICS, not "former Catholics" nor "recovering Catholics") may never join a lodge.<br /><br />There is no such thing as a "pick and choose Catholic". You are either in full communion accepting all that the Church teaches or your not --- thus placing yourself outside the Church.<br /><br />It is interesting that all of the previous comments against Salza come from those who self identify as being "former", "recovering", "pick and choose", "tainted by Catholic education" etc. I hate to break the bad news to you guys....by placing yourself in any of these categories means you are not really Catholic at all!<br /><br />So sad that anyone would trade the riches of the Catholic Faith and Heavenly Eternity for a few fleeting years of lodge camaraderie.Trumarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14048334165211254179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-64344354585042686512007-11-05T18:29:00.000-05:002007-11-05T18:29:00.000-05:00Excellent post brother! I just read it after find...Excellent post brother! I just read it after finding a link looking for other masonic information. I to have often wondered and many times been dismayed by certain religions lack of tolerance toward freemasonry. I find it promotes nothing but brotherhood and unity amongst it's adherents. Greetings from the great state of Utah and Bonneville Lodge #31jlechemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14670970446696919360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-52613770902907198592007-09-26T10:09:00.000-04:002007-09-26T10:09:00.000-04:00I dunno. How many of you guys go to church to hea...I dunno. How many of you guys go to church to hear the minutes read, pay the bills, and argue about fluorescent vs. incandescent?<BR/><BR/>Maybe they do that in Salza's church!Fuzzy Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802539927743643041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-40776552725596541552007-09-26T08:46:00.000-04:002007-09-26T08:46:00.000-04:00I do not understand what they thought they were se...<I>I do not understand what they thought they were seeing in Freemasonry that led them to such an opinion.</I><BR/><BR/>Bro. Tim, last year I was part of an interesting online discussion with a sort-of ex-Mason who claimed all sorts of things. Upon further investigation, he was never an officer, was not active in his lodge, and only went to several meetings. His "knowledge" of Masonic religion, etc., was based almost exclusively on some videos and books he'd seen by a southern baptist anti-Mason. <BR/><BR/>If you don't go to meetings, and if you don't see, much less understand the degrees, then it's pretty easy for someone to twist your mind by claiming all sorts of things.Tom Accuostihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07005315193581153959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-26259119690804802532007-09-26T08:25:00.000-04:002007-09-26T08:25:00.000-04:00I know. I read through part of it. A 160 page rebu...I know. I read through part of it. A 160 page rebuttal. Must've been a slow week in court – it's half the length of his book.<BR/><BR/>Again, if he wants to stand by papal encyclicals and bulls back to Clement VII, that's fine. But I find it curious that Cardinal Ratzinger in his 1983 "clarification" was able to so blithly ignore the differences between differing variants of US and European Masonry, viz. the allegation of "fighting against the Church," and the degree to which some Grand Orients and spurious groups like the P2 lodge really did fight against the Church, as opposed to the majority of Masonry that is not. <BR/><BR/>And EVEN IF we all were to cave tomorrow (which we won't) and say, "Okay, we give. Mackey, Coil, PIke and Hall all said Masonry is a religion, along with the PGM of Wisconsin. You have us." How is what goes on in a lodge room a "worship service?" But more important, if it were (which it isn't), isn't Paul VI's statement in 1965 sufficient to cover peaceful coexistence between Catholics and Masonry? To wit:<BR/><BR/><I> The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men . . .<BR/><BR/>The Church therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.</I><BR/>Pope Paul VI, "Nostra Aetate", 10/28/1965<BR/><BR/>-------------------<BR/>I don't pretend to be a Catholic scholar, but as someone who was raised a Catholic (and as some in the extreme wing of the Church would no doubt believe, "tainted" by a Jesuit education), I find this ongoing controversy unbelievable. There were attempts under John Paul II, largely by a German Masonic delegation, who attempted to get the Church to reconsider the 1983 position, but that ended when Ratzinger/Benedict XVI assumed power. He's very conservative, and he wrote the "clarification" himself. So it looks like the status quo will continue. <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, I continue to meet Catholic Masons all over the country who don't seem the least bit concerned over it. Why Mr. Salza is so vitriolic on the subject, I do not know.Christopher Hodapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-48411584844431581702007-09-26T06:57:00.000-04:002007-09-26T06:57:00.000-04:00Hey Bro Hodapp, I am very pleased to see that yo...Hey Bro Hodapp,<BR/> I am very pleased to see that you commented on that wack-job Salza. I am a recovering Catholic as well, and Like Bro. Bonney said, these guys write these exposes in order to make a buck and sell books. Brother David Julian made a point-by-point refutal of Salza's book. Here is the link<BR/><BR/>http://dsjulian.home.comcast.net/files/unmasked.pdf<BR/><BR/>It is a HUGE essay, where David Julian writes a response to Salza's book then afterward writes another rebuttal in response to Salza's 160 page rebuttal Bro Julian's review. Good back-and-forth there. <BR/><BR/>Travel light,<BR/>DocMikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-14097698619027056762007-09-25T23:25:00.000-04:002007-09-25T23:25:00.000-04:00W.B. Hodapp:You are correct. I misunderstood. I th...W.B. Hodapp:<BR/><BR/>You are correct. I misunderstood. I think my present Masonic Schedule must be placing my powers of observation and reasoning somewhat under a cloud.<BR/><BR/>S&F<BR/><BR/>Traveling ManTraveling Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965508897438794269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-37570092461833691892007-09-25T17:55:00.000-04:002007-09-25T17:55:00.000-04:00Recovering Catholic here, too, Chris. The "Tenness...Recovering Catholic here, too, Chris. The "Tennessee Snake Handling" reference was particularly well done.<BR/><BR/>Like you, I am disappointed when a seemingly good man fails to live up to the ordinary expectations of an honorable life.Wayfaring Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751379276577510809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-22223088851890589202007-09-24T23:53:00.000-04:002007-09-24T23:53:00.000-04:00Brother Chris,Those of us who are both Christian c...Brother Chris,<BR/><BR/>Those of us who are both Christian clergy and Freemasons are equally baffled by Christians who have been Masons and now are anti-Masonic. I do not understand what they thought they were seeing in Freemasonry that led them to such an opinion.<BR/><BR/>Some of it seem sincere, some of it seems to be a willful misunderstanding for the sake of $$$$ and the selling of books and tapes.<BR/><BR/>And, as you have stated, I have a hard time having respect for anyone of has shown that they cannot keep their word.<BR/><BR/>TimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-23618561679536739182007-09-24T23:46:00.000-04:002007-09-24T23:46:00.000-04:00Sorry, that should be Bro H*o*dapp, of course. Dar...Sorry, that should be Bro H*o*dapp, of course. Darn these fat fingers of mine!<BR/><BR/>CalvinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-51764055338512697072007-09-24T23:44:00.000-04:002007-09-24T23:44:00.000-04:00Excellent post, Bro HadappCalvinExcellent post, Bro Hadapp<BR/><BR/>CalvinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-87097879111791374972007-09-24T21:02:00.000-04:002007-09-24T21:02:00.000-04:00Traveling Man said:"I disagree with you W.B. Hodap...Traveling Man said:<BR/><I>"I disagree with you W.B. Hodapp when you say that the Lodge is completely silent concerning religion. In my jurisdiction, we are told that a belief in a Supremem Being is requisite for membership, and the Craft encourages us to be active participants in our respective houses of worship. "</I><BR/><BR/>You misunderstand. I mean simply that the Lodge is silent on the personal beliefs and practices of its members, apart from requiring a belief in a Supreme being. How we choose to worship is none of the Lodge's concern.<BR/><BR/>These types of books and articles continue to baffle me because the anti-Masonic evangelists continually claim that what goes on in a lodge room is "worship," therefore non-Christian, therefore anti-Christian. How an ex-Mason who has attended dozens of lodge meetings comes to that conclusion escapes me every time I read it.Christopher Hodapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-11319508738885745382007-09-24T20:56:00.000-04:002007-09-24T20:56:00.000-04:00Since I brought up religion, I might as well bring...Since I brought up religion, I might as well bring up politics, too. It seems that Freemasons aren't the only group us Catholics are struggling with:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1933184191/ref=s9_asin_image_2/105-4608328-4206022?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1C8RZMPZZ93YF4DH36YP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=310664801&pf_rd_i=507846" REL="nofollow">"Can A Catholic be A Democrat?"</A>Christopher Hodapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-80737176974648730462007-09-24T14:14:00.000-04:002007-09-24T14:14:00.000-04:00Nicely said, as always, Chris.Some days I wish Pik...Nicely said, as always, Chris.<BR/><BR/>Some days I wish Pike had fallen at the Battle of Pea Ridge. Life would have been simpler for all of us.<BR/><BR/>So it goes.Fuzzy Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802539927743643041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-65319208711734669602007-09-24T09:44:00.000-04:002007-09-24T09:44:00.000-04:00Great article Brother Chris!TimGreat article Brother Chris!<BR/><BR/>TimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-54070242698886964762007-09-24T09:43:00.000-04:002007-09-24T09:43:00.000-04:00By all appearances, all of the religious objection...By all appearances, all of the religious objections to Masonry seem to be more about controlling members of said faiths than any substantive proof that Masonry as an institution is in direct conflict with any given faith's teachings.<BR/><BR/>The charge of relativism is no more applicable to Masonry than it is to the AAA.<BR/><BR/>I disagree with you W.B. Hodapp when you say that the Lodge is completely silent concerning religion. In my jurisdiction, we are told that a belief in a Supremem Being is requisite for membership, and the Craft encourages us to be active participants in our respective houses of worship. While not an official communication of the Grand Lodge, I have been exhorted by various Brothers to appeal to the God of my understanding in times of crisis and in times of joy. To me, this is a statement on religion, but not sectarian religion in that it does not endorse one faith over the other.<BR/><BR/>Forgive me if I am picking at nits.<BR/><BR/>Be Well,<BR/><BR/>Traveling ManTraveling Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965508897438794269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-25006021526404211392007-09-24T00:16:00.000-04:002007-09-24T00:16:00.000-04:00According to Bishop Ussher's calculations, the Ear...According to Bishop Ussher's calculations, the Earth is only 6.011 years old. <BR/>On this October 23rd. <BR/>Lightfoote clarified it, as 9:00 AM.<BR/><BR/>I know, it all feels like the Playbill notes for <A HREF="http://xrl.us/6m9o" REL="nofollow">"Inherit The Wind."</A>Christopher Hodapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-8259874611632839422007-09-23T23:06:00.000-04:002007-09-23T23:06:00.000-04:00Considering he thinks that the world is no more th...Considering he thinks that the world is no more than <A HREF="http://scripturecatholic.com/evolution.html#scripture-II" REL="nofollow">14,000 </A> years old, ignoring all scientific evidence to the contrary, should we take this guy seriously? <BR/>I happen to know many devout Catholics who are active in my district. As a former catholic myself, I agree with you about the need for a change in the church doctrine.Ambling Scroogehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04351004399336123077noreply@blogger.com