Et tu, Brutus? By the (in)actions of the Church’s own son who doubles as an honorable member of Ghana’s Parliament (MP), that famous phrase of J. Caesar comes to mind whenever I remember the consistent seeming public ridicule of the Faith he claims to love, through wanton attempts to equate the Catholic Knights to Freemasons. Unlike his forceful defence of Freemasonry, he couldn’t even make a necessary correction when his colleague insinuated that Catholics were unfamiliar with matters of the third Trinitarian Person.
Since then, there have been a general outcry from the local Militant Church for disciplinary actions against the MP and his likes, amidst heated debates, dialogues, and the exchange of formal and informal statements. However, especially considering the MP’s encounter with an admirable Church Knight (Hon. Omane Boamah) before the vetting committee of Ghana’s legislature, dispassionately, I would like to raise some few points for our possible consideration.
In 2017 (although it took effect on 1st July 2019), the Knights of Columbus (KC) with an inspiration from the Knights of Malta, formally discarded the about 79-year-old ceremonial capes and plumed chapeaus from their fourth-degree regalia to include beret and jacket. Their reimagined regalia currently then is tuxedo, tie, beret, emblem, white gloves, and sword.
That was because after three years of research, the excluded regalia was observed to be unattractive to the youth and so, according to Dan Heffernan (then Ontario state deputy for the KC’s) the decision was to facilitate the attraction of young persons who often had some misconception about the uniform.
Although probably with different effects, do similar misconceptions (the term used convincingly) not hover around the Church’s Knights? By the optical similarities of Regalia and the at-times ‘awkward’ meeting Times in isolated Temples, how many of us have not confused (in the past or even still) the Church’s Knights with Freemasons or groups that appear like them? And can we imagine innocent persons who may have fallen victim of such confusions?
Ask any social media handler of the Church’s Knights why they use large watermarks that almost render their pictures unfit for purpose, and they will tell you it is a conscious effort to avoid inundated impersonation from unfamiliar groups of the Catholic Church.
Who imagined that Freemasons could ever meet at a place like the Sir Agyemang Prempeh II Masonic Hall in Kumasi on the 25th of May 2025, and make it public even to the point of showing some ritual parts on social media? Or that in a fairly conservative society like Ghana, promising political figures like an MP cum Minority Leader of Parliament, and a Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment will courageously flaunt their affiliation to the Masonic Lodge before electorates who generally are suspicious of such groups?
Amidst the various debates of the (in)consistency of Freemasonry with the Catholic Faith, one thing is for sure: the Church gravely worries when Her Knights are loosely equated or linked to Freemasons. Paradoxically however, Freemasons appear to enjoy such misconceived (in)direct associations.
As strategically exhibited by some persons on the platform of Ghana’s Parliament and media outlets for instance, Freemasons now appear to be on a wild public recruitment drive with an entirely new campaign model. The Church may have Her own reservations to their ways but most importantly, She should not be perceived to give credence to, or associated to the Society in no formal capacity or ways, as Her teachings currently expect.
Therefore, not withstanding the need for proper catechesis for instance, the necessary attempts to preserve the charisms (charity, fraternity, and unity) of our cherished Knights should be carefully embarked on, so that the proper knitted ‘mystery’ intended to distinguish them may not be exaggerated to a possible scandalous proportion… especially, as regards Regalia, Time, and Space.
To mention a few, both Freemasons and the Church’s Knights have private-isolated temples; can the latter consider locating theirs on church premises at least? Often for initiations also, both are deemed to have awkward meeting hours; can our Knights reconsider various meeting times that may easily be considered suspicious?
Most importantly, both have traditional regalia that may not be easily deciphered, except by the nonempirical ‘mens rea.’ Taking inspiration from the Pontifical Swiss Guard or their colleagues of the Knights of Columbus for instance, and in keeping almost all present-pageant and colorful ceremonial regalia (tuxedo, crests, necktie, beret, capes, gloves, plumed-feathered chapeaus, lapel pin, medal or jewel of office, white shirt, gauntlet cuffs of office, black shoes…) that adds beauty to the convocated People of God, can our Knights consider abandoning the use of ‘collars’ (commonly called Masonic collars by Freemasons) and ‘gauntlet cuffs’ that are easily identified with Freemasons?
Rather than ‘collars,’ our Knights may adopt the use of ‘Social or Service Baldric.’ And instead of ‘gauntlet cuffs,’ ‘Medal of Office’ (or something similar) may be used with distinguished colors, shapes, and forms to serve same purpose of what they may replace. Indeed, except for those two (collars and gauntlet cuffs), the others are generally not a cause of confusion since they are often found among ceremonial wardrobes.
That been said, unless when push comes to shove, the Church remains a hospital for sinners, and the Eucharist not only a crown of saints but also a medication for sinners. Therefore, (threats of) excommunication, and the denial of Holy Eucharist or Christian burial may not always be the best solution. After all, objectively trekking that tangent would only empty both the sanctuary and the pews due to various reasons that may only be known to God and individuals.
In matters like this therefore, the Church should be seen exercising Her practical ‘pastoral’ Office than Her ‘kingly’ Office. Organically from within, let us begin a deliberate cure of the misconceptions we have immediate control of. Else, in the seeming tussle between the Church and Freemasons, the likes of the MP in question may fade away, yet, the existential disease may continue to breed many more symptoms to be dealt with tomorrow.
Non Nobis Solum Nati Sumus (cf. Cicero; Rm. 14:7)
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