Does the Catholic Church Teach That Freemasons Control the World?

Brief Overview

• The Catholic Church’s condemnation of Freemasonry rests on fundamental theological and philosophical disagreements, not on conspiracy theories about world domination or secret control of governments.
• For nearly three hundred years, popes have identified Masonic principles like naturalism and religious indifferentism as irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine and harmful to the faith of believers.
• The Church’s teaching distinguishes between acknowledging Masonic political influence in history and claiming that a secret Masonic organization runs all world governments or controls major global decisions.
• Naturalism, a core Masonic principle, proposes that human reason alone determines truth and excludes both divine revelation and the supernatural order that Catholicism teaches as central to human understanding.
• Religious indifferentism, another key Masonic doctrine, holds that all religions are equally valid paths to God, which contradicts the Catholic faith in Jesus Christ as the unique Savior and the necessity of His Church for salvation.
• For Catholics, the path to truth comes through public revelation in Jesus Christ and His Church, not through secret rituals and hidden teachings of organizations that operate according to a fundamentally different worldview.

The Foundation of the Church’s Teaching

The Catholic Church possesses a long, consistent, and deliberate history of condemning Freemasonry based on careful theological analysis rather than political speculation or unverified claims. This condemnation began with Pope Clement XII’s papal bull In Eminenti Apostolatus Specula in 1738 and has been reaffirmed by at least eight successive popes throughout the centuries. The Church’s initial judgment was not a reaction to popular theories about political intrigue or secret conspiracies but emerged from a serious examination of the core principles underlying Masonic philosophy. From the very beginning, Church authorities determined that Freemasonry’s foundational tenets were fundamentally incompatible with Catholic doctrine and dangerous to the spiritual welfare of believers. The Church’s concern centered on the society’s use of secret oaths, its promotion of a worldview that excluded the Church’s authority, and its potential to subvert both spiritual and temporal order. The judgments made by the popes were based on philosophical, theological, and moral grounds rather than on claims about who held political power or how governments functioned. This historical consistency demonstrates the seriousness with which the Church views the incompatibility between Freemasonry and Catholicism. The Church did not act hastily or without reflection but maintained its position across centuries and through various historical periods. This steadfast stance reveals that the issue concerns the intrinsic nature of the organization itself, not external political circumstances or popular theories of the moment.

Naturalism as the Central Problem

At the very heart of the Church’s critique of Freemasonry lies the philosophical error of naturalism, which represents one of the most fundamental departures from Catholic truth. Naturalism is a worldview that asserts human reason and the natural world are the ultimate sources and standards for truth, effectively excluding the necessity of divine revelation or any supernatural reality beyond material existence. This perspective stands in direct and irreconcilable opposition to the foundational tenets of Catholicism, which teach that faith and reason are complementary and that God has revealed Himself and His will to humanity in ways that transcend the limits of reason alone. The fullest expression of God’s revelation came in the person of Jesus Christ, whom Catholics believe is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. From the Church’s perspective, Masonic naturalism promotes a self-sufficient view of humanity that sidelines essential Catholic concepts like grace, sin, and redemption. It fosters a belief system where society can and should be organized without any reference to God or His Church, a principle that Pope Leo XIII strongly condemned as detrimental to both individual souls and the common good of society. This philosophical divergence is not a minor point of disagreement between two organizations; rather, it represents two fundamentally different understandings of reality, morality, human purpose, and the source of truth itself. Naturalism removes God from the equation of human knowledge and decision-making, placing all authority in human hands alone. For a Catholic, this represents a profound spiritual danger because it encourages people to reject the guidance of divine revelation and the Church that preserves and teaches that revelation. The incompatibility between naturalism and Catholicism cannot be resolved through compromise or dialogue because the two systems are based on opposite assumptions about the nature of reality and truth.

Religious Indifferentism and the Gospel

Flowing directly from the principle of naturalism is the error of religious indifferentism, which constitutes another primary reason for the Church’s absolute prohibition of Masonic membership for Catholics. Indifferentism is the belief that all religions and beliefs are more or less equal paths to a higher power, which is often referred to in Masonic lodges as the “Great Architect of the Universe.” This concept, while appearing inclusive and tolerant on the surface, is entirely irreconcilable with the Catholic faith, which professes that Jesus Christ is the one universal Savior for all humanity and that He established the Catholic Church as the necessary instrument for salvation (CCC 846). By treating all religious claims as equally valid expressions of a generic spirituality, Freemasonry fundamentally undermines the unique and essential truth claims of the Gospel. For a Catholic to participate in such a system would be to implicitly accept that the specific doctrines of the Catholic faith, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church are not of ultimate importance. The Church has always taught this position as a grave danger to an individual’s faith and a contradiction of the First Commandment, which calls believers to worship the true God and to reject idolatry and false worship. Religious indifferentism suggests that one’s particular faith commitment is merely a matter of personal preference rather than a response to objective truth revealed by God. This conflicts fundamentally with the Christian understanding that salvation comes through faith in Christ and participation in His Church. Catholics who join Masonic lodges and participate in their rituals implicitly accept this indifferentist worldview, even if they do not consciously reflect on the contradiction. The Church’s teaching protects the integrity of the faith by refusing to allow Catholics to participate in organizations that treat the unique revelation of Christ as merely one valid option among many. This protection reflects pastoral concern for the spiritual welfare of believers and commitment to the truth of the Gospel.

The Problem of Secret Oaths and Hidden Loyalty

Furthermore, the structure of Freemasonry, with its reliance on secret oaths and binding rituals, has always been a source of legitimate concern for the Church because such practices create conflicts of conscience and competing loyalties. Historically, new members were required to take oaths that invoked severe physical penalties for their violation, a practice the Church found morally objectionable as it usurps God’s authority over life and death. The intense secrecy surrounding the ultimate aims and teachings within Masonic lodges created a system of loyalty and obedience that could easily conflict with a Catholic’s primary duties to God, their family, and their country. The Church does not object to privacy or confidentiality in principle; however, it has consistently questioned why an organization that professes to be dedicated to fraternity and philanthropy would require such a thick veil of secrecy regarding its teachings and practices. This system of secret, binding oaths creates a parallel moral authority in a person’s life, which can challenge the role of a well-formed conscience guided by the teachings of the Church. A Catholic’s ultimate loyalty must be to God and His Church, not to an organization that demands secrecy and binding obedience under penalty. The requirement for secrecy raises legitimate questions about whether the organization has something to hide that would be unacceptable if it were public knowledge. Transparency in matters affecting one’s soul and conscience is important for discernment and spiritual safety. The Church’s concern about secret oaths reflects a pastoral desire to protect Catholics from situations where hidden commitments might compromise their faith or lead them to act in ways contrary to Catholic teaching. This concern about competing loyalties and hidden commitments represents a serious spiritual danger that the Church addresses through its prohibition.

Pope Leo XIII and the Theological Analysis

Among the most significant and detailed papal condemnations of Freemasonry is the 1884 encyclical Humanum Genus by Pope Leo XIII, which provides a comprehensive and powerful theological analysis of why Masonic principles are entirely incompatible with Catholicism. Pope Leo XIII described history as a struggle between two kingdoms: the kingdom of God on one hand and the kingdom of Satan on the other, asserting that Freemasonry served as a primary instrument of the latter. He systematically examined the Masonic worldview, highlighting its foundation in naturalism, its goal of removing all religious influence from public life and education, and its persistent efforts to undermine the authority of the Church. The encyclical was not merely a condemnation but a detailed explanation intended to arm bishops and the faithful with a clear understanding of the philosophical dangers posed by the organization. Pope Leo XIII did not base his analysis on claims about secret global conspiracies but rather on the actual teachings and documented goals of Masonic organizations as they had expressed them in their own writings and publications. His analysis focused on how Masonic ideology contradicts Catholic truth and how participation in such organizations endangers the faith of Catholics. The Pope recognized that Masonic lodges had been engaged in anti-clerical political movements and had worked to reduce the Church’s influence in society, particularly in Europe and Latin America. However, he presented this as a doctrinal and pastoral concern rather than as evidence that a single secret organization controlled all world governments or orchestrated all historical events. The encyclical remains a cornerstone of the Church’s position, illustrating that the objection is not to individual Masons or to their political activities as such, but to the system of belief the organization promotes and the inherent spiritual danger it poses to Catholic faith. The document demonstrates that the Church’s teaching is grounded in careful analysis of Masonic principles rather than in unfounded speculation or conspiracy theories.

The 1983 Declaration and Modern Clarification

In 1983, the Church issued the Declaration on Masonic Associations by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), with the explicit approval of Pope John Paul II, to clarify definitively the Church’s unchanged and unchanging teaching on this matter. This brief but decisive document was published to put an end to confusion that had arisen after the Second Vatican Council, when some bishops and theologians had suggested that the Church’s stance had softened or that the prohibition was no longer in effect. The Declaration stated unequivocally that the Church’s negative judgment regarding Masonic associations remains unchanged because their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church. It further clarified that consequently, membership in Masonic associations remains forbidden for all Catholics, whether they are lay people or members of the clergy. The document also specified the canonical penalty for joining a lodge, stating that the faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and are not permitted to receive Holy Communion. This declaration effectively closed the door on any speculation that the Church’s stance had been altered or that local bishops possessed the authority to permit such membership. The Declaration also noted that local ecclesiastical authorities, such as diocesan bishops, do not have the competence to issue judgments on the nature of Masonic associations that would contradict the universal teaching of the Holy See. This centralized authority is necessary to maintain the unity of Catholic teaching and to protect the faithful from local decisions that might be based on incomplete or misleading information. The 1983 Declaration demonstrated the necessity of clear guidance from the Church’s highest teaching authority to prevent pastoral confusion and protect the integrity of the faith. The document reinforced the principle that judgments on matters of faith and morals pertaining to such organizations are reserved to the supreme authority of the Church.

Reaffirmation in the Twenty-First Century

The Holy See has continued to reaffirm the Church’s position regarding Freemasonry in the twenty-first century, demonstrating that the core objections raised nearly three hundred years ago remain as relevant today as they were then. In November 2023, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the approval of Pope Francis, reiterated that active membership in Freemasonry is forbidden for any member of the faithful, cleric or laity, due to the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry. This recent statement was issued in response to a bishop who had raised concerns about the growing number of Catholics joining Masonic lodges in his diocese. The document confirmed that those who are formally and knowingly enrolled in Masonic lodges fall under the provisions of the 1983 declaration, placing them in a state of grave sin. This reaffirmation demonstrates the enduring and unchanged nature of the Church’s teaching on this matter, showing that the philosophical and theological objections to Freemasonry have not been superseded by time or cultural change. The Church recognizes that while specific historical circumstances may change, the fundamental principles underlying Freemasonry remain opposed to Catholic truth. The modern stance of the Church is one of unwavering consistency across centuries and popes, indicating that this is not a temporary or culturally conditioned teaching but a permanent feature of Catholic doctrine. The recent reaffirmation shows that confusion about this teaching can still arise in contemporary times and that clarity from Rome remains necessary to guide the universal Church. Pope Francis’s approval of the most recent declaration demonstrates that this teaching is not merely a legacy of past centuries but remains the binding teaching of the Church today. The consistency of the Church’s teaching across such a long period, under different popes and in vastly different historical circumstances, indicates that the basis for the condemnation is solid and rooted in principle rather than in political circumstances or temporary concerns.

Distinguishing Between Influence and Control

While the Catholic Church maintains a deeply critical and prohibitive stance against Freemasonry, its official teachings do not endorse the specific conspiracy theory that a secret Masonic cabal runs all world governments or controls all major global decisions in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The Church’s condemnations are based on theological, philosophical, and moral grounds regarding the principles of Freemasonry itself, not on an affirmation of a particular theory of covert political domination. The magisterial documents, from In Eminenti Apostolatus Specula to Humanum Genus and the modern declarations from the CDF, focus on principles like religious indifferentism, naturalism, and problematic oaths. While popes have certainly condemned Masonic plots against the Church and state, acknowledged their political influence in specific historical contexts, and noted their role in anti-clerical movements, this is distinct from teaching that Freemasons have achieved total world control. The Church addresses the real and documented influence of Masonic ideas and activists in society, but it does not ratify the more elaborate narratives of a monolithic global conspiracy orchestrated by a single secret organization. Historical evidence shows that Masonic lodges have been politically influential in various countries and periods, particularly in nineteenth and twentieth-century Europe and Latin America. However, acknowledging this influence is different from claiming that they possess complete and undisputed control over all levers of power in every nation and throughout the entire world. Many complex factors shape historical events, including economic forces, military power, cultural movements, national interests, and the free choices of individuals and groups. To attribute all significant world events to the secret machinations of one organization would be to oversimplify history and to underestimate the role of other actors and circumstances. The Catholic perspective encourages a realistic assessment of societal forces and the genuine influence of various groups, both religious and secular, without lapsing into a belief system where a single, all-powerful human group is seen as the cause of all evil or the controller of all events.

The Role of Vigilance Without Fear

From a Catholic theological perspective, an overemphasis on conspiracy theories can actually distract believers from the spiritual battles that truly matter and can undermine proper Christian faith in God’s providential care. A worldview that sees human history primarily as a struggle between secret human factions rather than as the stage for the unfolding of divine providence can lead to despair and anxiety rather than to the peace and trust that Christ offers. Christian faith holds that God is the Lord of history and that even when evil works in the world, He has the power to bring forth a greater good and ultimately to triumph over sin and death (CCC 312). Attributing ultimate control over world events to any secret society, no matter how influential, can border on a form of secular determinism that leaves little room for God’s sovereignty or human free will. A Catholic worldview encourages vigilance and prudence regarding evil and injustice in the world, but its foundation is trust in Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death, not fear of hidden human powers. The Christian response to evil in the world is prayer, evangelization, and living a virtuous life, rather than becoming consumed by the search for secret plots or spending energy tracking the movements of supposed conspirators. Catholic moral teaching calls for a commitment to truth and charity, which can be undermined by unsubstantiated theories that spread fear and suspicion. Spreading claims without sufficient evidence can be a violation of justice and charity toward the people being accused. While the Church has definitively judged the principles of Freemasonry to be erroneous, it does not make sweeping judgments about the personal intentions or actions of every individual Mason, many of whom may join for social or professional reasons without fully understanding the philosophy behind the organization. The moral imperative for a Catholic is to adhere to what is clearly and authoritatively taught by the Church and to be cautious about embracing or propagating speculative theories that can create undue fear, division, or hasty judgment. A commitment to truth requires careful discernment and reliance on verifiable information rather than on theories that appeal to emotion or create a sense of crisis.

The Importance of Intellectual Honesty

The distinction between the Church’s actual teaching on Freemasonry and the conspiracy theories sometimes attributed to the Church is important for intellectual honesty and for maintaining the credibility of the Church’s genuine concerns. Some people have mistakenly believed that because the Church condemns Freemasonry, the Church must therefore endorse all theories about Masonic control of the world, but this conflates two very different claims. The Church’s official position is that Freemasonry is spiritually dangerous and incompatible with Catholicism because of its philosophical principles, not because it has achieved global political domination. To claim that the Church teaches a comprehensive conspiracy theory when in fact the Church teaches something quite different misrepresents the Church’s actual magisterium. This misrepresentation can damage the credibility of authentic Catholic teaching by associating it with speculative theories that lack solid evidence. When Catholics spread conspiracy theories and attribute them to Church teaching, they potentially lead others away from genuine Church doctrine and toward unfounded speculation. Intellectual honesty requires that we distinguish between what the Church actually teaches and what some individuals believe or claim, even if they do so while claiming to represent Catholic perspectives. The Church’s teaching on Freemasonry is clear, consistent, and grounded in solid theological reasoning. That teaching stands on its own without need for embellishment or the addition of conspiracy theories. In fact, adding such theories may weaken rather than strengthen the case for the Church’s actual positions. A honest assessment of the Church’s teaching shows that it is primarily concerned with protecting Catholic faith and practice, not with explaining how world governments operate or who controls historical events.

The Problem of Unsubstantiated Claims

Catholic moral teaching distinguishes between justified vigilance regarding genuine threats and the spread of unsubstantiated claims that can cause harm to the accused and create unnecessary fear among the faithful. The virtue of prudence requires that Catholics carefully evaluate claims before accepting or spreading them, particularly when those claims make sweeping assertions about powerful hidden forces. Making accusations against entire groups of people without sufficient evidence violates the virtue of justice and can constitute calumny or detraction, which are serious sins. The Church’s tradition teaches that one should presume innocence and give others the benefit of the doubt, particularly when dealing with complex historical questions or contemporary events. To accuse a group of secret world domination requires extraordinary evidence, not mere speculation or circumstantial reasoning. The burden of proof should be high for claims that affect people’s reputations and can lead to prejudice or harmful actions. Many alleged proofs of Masonic world control rest on coincidence, selective interpretation of events, or logical fallacies such as assuming that correlation implies causation. A critical evaluation of such theories often reveals that they rely more on intuition or emotion than on solid historical documentation or logical reasoning. The Church’s approach to moral truth requires that Catholics be cautious about embracing narratives that, however plausible they might seem, lack rigorous support. This caution protects both the reputation of those being accused and the spiritual health of Catholics who should base their understanding of the world on truth rather than on speculation. Catholic formation should include training in critical thinking and the evaluation of sources so that the faithful can distinguish between well-grounded claims and theories that lack sufficient foundation.

God’s Providence Over History

The Catholic understanding of divine providence provides a framework for understanding how God works through history while maintaining both God’s ultimate sovereignty and human freedom. Catholic theology teaches that God knows all events before they occur and that His providence encompasses and guides all of creation toward its ultimate good, which is union with God (CCC 302, 304). This does not mean that God causes all events directly, nor does it mean that human beings lack free will or that evil does not truly occur. Rather, God’s providence works through natural causes and human choices while ensuring that His ultimate purposes are accomplished. A Catholic worldview that over-emphasizes hidden conspiracies may inadvertently undermine trust in God’s providence and suggest that human history is ultimately driven by secret human forces rather than by God’s care and guidance. The Gospel repeatedly calls believers to trust in God rather than to fear earthly powers or hidden enemies. Jesus taught His disciples not to fear those who can harm the body but rather to fear God alone and to trust in God’s loving care. When Catholics become preoccupied with theories of world control by secret societies, they may lose sight of the greater truth that God remains in charge of history and that His purposes cannot be thwarted by human schemes. The Church’s teaching emphasizes that Christians should be engaged citizens who work for justice and speak truth to power, but this engagement should be grounded in faith and hope rather than in fear and suspicion of hidden conspiracies. A well-formed Catholic conscience combines realism about the genuine influence of evil in the world with faith that God’s grace is more powerful than any force of evil. This balance allows Catholics to remain vigilant against injustice without becoming consumed by conspiracy theories.

Freemasonry’s Actual Historical Influence

The historical record shows that Masonic lodges have exercised genuine political and cultural influence in specific times and places, particularly in Europe and Latin America during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, without this influence constituting total world control. In some countries, Masonic lodges were centers of intellectual activity and secular thought that opposed the influence of the Catholic Church in public life. During certain periods in France, Spain, Mexico, and other nations, Masonic activists worked to reduce Church influence in education, law, and government. These activities were not secret conspiracies but were part of open political conflicts between liberal and conservative forces, between secular and religious visions for society. The Church recognized and condemned these efforts because they threatened religious freedom and the Church’s role in society, but the Church understood them as part of the normal political struggles of diverse societies. To acknowledge that Masonic organizations have been politically influential in certain historical contexts is simply to recognize historical fact, not to concede that they control the world or operate as a unified global conspiracy. In many countries where Masonic lodges were present, they represented one voice among many in public debates, and their influence varied depending on the particular political circumstances. Different Masonic lodges in different countries had different goals and different levels of influence. Some were primarily philanthropic organizations with minimal political engagement, while others were more explicitly political in their activities. The diversity and complexity of actual Masonic influence across different times and places does not fit neatly into a narrative of unified global control. A responsible historical account recognizes both the genuine influence that some Masonic organizations have exercised and the limitations of that influence, accepting neither the exaggeration of total world control nor the dismissal of their genuine historical role in certain contexts.

The Spiritual Battle and Worldly Struggles

Catholic teaching recognizes that spiritual and worldly struggles are related but distinct, and that the fundamental battle for human souls is a spiritual one even as worldly powers and ideas compete for influence in society. The Letter to the Ephesians speaks of spiritual warfare and describes the struggle as being “not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). This passage reminds believers that while earthly conflicts and political struggles are real, the ultimate battle is a spiritual one between good and evil, between faith and faithlessness. The Church’s condemnation of Freemasonry focuses on this spiritual dimension: the organization promotes worldviews and principles that are opposed to Catholic truth and that endanger the salvation of souls. The Church is less concerned with whether Freemasons hold particular political offices or control specific governments than with whether the beliefs and practices of Freemasonry lead Catholics away from the truth of Christ and His Church. This spiritual focus is the proper concern of the Church, which exists to guide souls toward salvation rather than to analyze political power structures or to develop theories of governance. While Catholics certainly have the right and duty to engage in political and civic life and to work for justice, the Church’s primary mission is the sanctification of souls and the proclamation of the Gospel. The Church’s teaching on Freemasonry should be understood in light of this spiritual mission. The danger of Freemasonry is not primarily that it might control governments, but that it might lead Catholics to abandon their faith or to compromise their commitment to Christ and His Church. A focus on conspiracy theories about world control can actually distract from the genuine spiritual dangers that the Church addresses through its teaching. Catholics who remain focused on the authentic spiritual concerns raised by the Church will be better protected from genuine spiritual harm than those who become preoccupied with unverified theories about hidden powers.

The Call to Holiness as the True Force

The Catholic response to evil in the world and to the influence of ideologies opposed to the faith is ultimately a call to holiness, virtue, and spiritual transformation rather than a call to fear or to conspiracy investigation. The Church believes that the most powerful force in the world is not secret political maneuvering or hidden organizational control, but rather the transformative power of grace working through holy lives. Saints and holy people throughout history have changed the world not through secret power or hidden influence but through their union with God, their commitment to truth, and their willingness to sacrifice for the Gospel. The Church’s response to Freemasonry and to other ideologies opposed to the faith is ultimately the same response Jesus taught: to love truth, to seek holiness, to preach the Gospel boldly, and to trust in God’s ultimate victory. Catholics are called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” acting openly and honestly in society rather than engaging in secret schemes or preoccupied with hidden conspiracies. The more Catholics focus on their own spiritual growth, on living virtuously, on studying and defending the faith, and on sharing the Gospel with others, the more effectively they will counter ideologies like Freemasonry. This positive approach—building up the Church, educating the faithful, and living witness to the power of the Gospel—is more effective and more in keeping with Christian teaching than becoming consumed by fears of hidden enemies. The Church’s confidence in the power of Christ’s redemption and in the working of the Holy Spirit provides a basis for hope and trust rather than for fear and suspicion. Catholics who ground their lives in prayer, sacrament, and virtue will be far less vulnerable to ideologies opposed to the faith, whether those ideologies come through secret organizations or through more open channels. The ultimate battle is won not through political maneuvering or exposure of conspiracies but through the sanctification of the world through the living witness of faithful Catholics.

Conclusion: Doctrine, Not Conspiracy

In conclusion, the Catholic Church provides a robust, consistent, and compelling teaching on why a Catholic cannot be a Freemason, focusing on the fundamental incompatibility of Masonic philosophical principles with Catholic doctrine. The Church’s condemnations are based on serious theological analysis of naturalism, religious indifferentism, and problematic oaths rather than on speculation about secret world control. The severity of the Church’s condemnation and the absolute nature of the prohibition reflect the Church’s conviction that Masonic membership poses a grave spiritual danger to Catholics. However, the Church does not officially teach that Freemasons secretly control the world, nor does the Church ratify elaborate conspiracy theories as part of its magisterium. The Church warns against the real dangers of Masonic philosophical principles and their societal influence, but this is distinct from claiming that a secret organization orchestrates all world events. The Catholic response is not one of panicked fear of a shadowy conspiracy but of confident faith in the power of God, a firm commitment to the truth of the Gospel, and a call to holiness as the true force for transforming the world. For Catholics, the path forward is clear: to accept the Church’s teaching on Freemasonry as a matter of faith and obedience, to avoid organizations that promote principles opposed to Catholic truth, and to focus energy on spiritual growth and the evangelization of the world through authentic Christian witness. The Church’s teaching protects the integrity of the faith and the spiritual welfare of believers by calling them away from participation in organizations that lead them toward false ideas about the nature of reality, truth, and human salvation. Catholics who remain faithful to the Church’s clear teaching will be well-guided in this matter, protected from both the spiritual dangers of Freemasonry and from the distraction of unfounded conspiracy theories. The path to holiness and truth lies in union with Christ and His Church, not in fear of hidden human powers or in speculation about secret world control.