Catholics known to be Freemasons to be denied Holy Communion – Archbishop of Accra directs

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp., has announced that Catholics who are publicly known to be Freemasons will be denied the sacrament of Holy Communion until they renounce their affiliation with the secret society.

The announcement comes in the wake of growing discussions about the compatibility of Freemasonry and Catholicism.

In a January 26 statement, Archbishop Kwofie reiterated the Catholic Church’s stance on the matter saying, “You can’t be a true Catholic and a Freemason at the same time.”

“You can’t be a true Catholic and a Freemason” – Archbishop of Accra declares

The Archbishop has directed that the statement be read at all Masses in the Archdiocese of Accra on Sunday, 2nd February 2025.

He emphasised that priests must make it clear to their congregations that Catholics who publicly identify as Freemasons will be barred from receiving Holy Communion unless they renounce their membership.

He also advised that parishioners whose affiliation with Freemasonry is not publicly known should conscientiously refrain from receiving the sacrament.

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The Archbishop further called upon all Freemasons within the Archdiocese to seek spiritual guidance and direction from their parish priests to address the matter in a way that aligns with Catholic values.

Read the January 26 statement below

CATHOLICS AND FREEMANSONRY
My dearly beloved, in recent times, there has been a surge on whether the Catholic Church has changed her position regarding her teaching concerning Freemasons. The answer is simply “No”. The Church has not changed her position on Freemasons. You can’t be a true Catholic and a Freemason at the same time.

Many of our Catholics, especially the Young Adults, need to know this and follow the Church for direction, especially at a time when some people are presenting Freemasonry as an association worth being affiliated to. As a Church, the words of Proverbs 22:6, are of great importance in moulding our younger generation, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

On November 26, 1983, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the document called “Declaration on Masonic Associations” declared that “Masonic principles are irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church, and that Catholic membership in Freemasonry remains forbidden”. Catholics who are Freemasons are, therefore, in grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

I quote from the Declaration, “Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.”

Some tenets of Freemasonry contradict the teachings of the Catholic Church. Let me present some examples at this point. The Masons have denigrated Jesus Christ, our Lord, and God, and have put him at the same level as Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, etc. Prayers through Christ are omitted and addressed to the Great Architect of the Universe. Yes, freemasonry wants the destruction of Christianity, and no one can claim to be a proud Catholic and a Freemason.

More so, as we celebrate today, the Sunday of the Word of God, it is important for us to note that the Freemasons put the Bible and other religious writings at the same level. This is absolutely preposterous. In Matthew 6:24, the Lord mentions emphatically, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Mt 6:24).

Therefore, Catholics are banned from all forms of freemasonry.
Let us kindly take note of this, and may the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten us to follow His path. Thank you very much.