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Since the end of January, several institutions and groups affiliated with the Catholic Church in Ghana have taken a stance to reaffirm the incompatibility between the Catholic faith and Freemasonry membership. This position follows a parliamentary debate that reignited discussions on the subject.

It all began during parliamentary hearings for the appointment of George Opare Addo as Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment. Questioned by the Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin, about his membership in Freemasonry, Opare Addo openly acknowledged his affiliation with the fraternity. This admission sparked a wave of reactions, particularly from the Archdiocese of Accra, which reiterated in a statement on January 26 that Catholics cannot be Freemasons.

In response, Afenyo-Markin, who identifies as Catholic, stated that he had not received any official communication from the Church on this matter. “My Archbishop Palmer-Buckle (Archbishop of Cape Coast) has not sent me any letter,” he declared in an interview on January 29. He added that he had seen documents circulating but had not received any personal notification from ecclesiastical authorities.

The Ghanaian Episcopal Conference intervened on January 31, issuing an official statement reaffirming the Church’s stance. Citing the teachings of various pontiffs since Pope Clement XII’s 1738 papal bull, as well as the Code of Canon Law and statements from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the conference reminded the faithful that membership in Freemasonry is a serious issue that can lead to spiritual harm. Catholics involved in such organizations are strongly encouraged to reconsider their affiliation to live their faith in the light of the Gospel fully.

The Catholic Church considers Freemasonry a separate religion with doctrines incompatible with Christianity. It emphasizes that the organization promotes a universalism that minimizes the central role of Jesus in humanity’s salvation and sometimes conveys a syncretic approach to religious beliefs, thereby compromising the exclusivity of the Christian faith.

In response to these statements, John Edusei, Assistant Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northern Ghana and himself a Catholic, sought to clarify the position of Freemasonry. Citing the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), he recalled that Freemasonry is neither a religion nor a substitute for religion and that it does not venerate a distinct deity.

The Knights of St. John International and Ladies’ Auxiliary of Ghana also issued a statement to prevent any confusion between Freemasonry and Catholic chivalric orders. They reaffirmed their commitment to Catholic values and their support for the Church’s position against Catholic membership in Freemasonry.

This debate once again highlights the sensitive issue of the relationship between Freemasonry and the Catholic Church, a topic that continues to spark passionate discussions within the Christian community in Ghana and beyond.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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