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Considering Catholicism

The Pope vs. the Shriners: What’s the Real Problem with Freemasonry? (#414)

Considering Catholicism

Everyone’s seen the Shriners in their tiny cars and funny hats, but why has the Catholic Church been warning against Freemasonry for almost 300 years — and still considers it an excommunicable offense? In this episode Greg and Cory unpack the real origins of Freemasonry (hint: it’s got nothing to do with actual bricklaying), its Enlightenment roots, its deistic “Great Architect” religion, and why it set itself up as a direct rival to Catholic Christianity from day one. We trace how those ideas fueled both the American and French Revolutions, quietly shaped modern secular culture, and why — even today — a Catholic simply cannot square Masonic oaths with the Creed. If you’ve ever wondered why the Church seems to “punch down” on what looks like a harmless men’s club, this episode will flip the whole picture upside down. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is free and ad-free for everyone, thanks to listeners like you. Become a patron for a Q&A video every other week, curated topic collections, Deep Dive courses, and a monthly live session: https://patreon.com/consideringcatholicism Or give a one-time or recurring gift with PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5LGR5E89Z7Y2Y CONNECT WITH US • Website & contact form: https://consideringcatholicism.com • Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com • Leave a comment on Patreon (I read every one!) RATE & REVIEW If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating (and even better, a review) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — it really helps new listeners find us. SHARE THE SHOW Know someone who’s curious about Catholicism? Send them a link or share an episode on social media. Thank you! Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.

Categories
Religion & Spirituality • Christianity
Society & Culture • Philosophy
History

About Podcast

Considering Catholicism explains the beliefs, history, Scripture, and life of the Catholic Church clearly and charitably. It's for curious Protestants, seekers, people in OCIA, and Catholics who want to know and share their faith. Host Greg Smith spent decades serving across the Protestant world, which gives him an insider's understanding of the questions people bring. Faithful to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.