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While most Christian denominations take no stance on Freemasonry, there are a few that are outwardly opposed to it, and either discourage or outright prohibit their members from joining the fraternity. The largest of these are the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Southern Baptist Convention is mistakenly understood to prohibit Freemasonry, but leaves such as a matter of individual conscience,〔http://www.sbc.net/faqs.asp〕 largely due to the findings within the SBC 1993 Report on Freemasonry,〔http://www.4truth.net/uploadedFiles/4truth/Content/Primary_Navigation/A%20Report%20on%20Freemasonry.pdf〕 in which it states: ''"In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, while others are compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, we therefore recommend that consistent with our denomination's deep convictions regarding the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church, membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, we exhort Southern Baptists to prayerfully and carefully evaluate Freemasonry in the light of the Lordship of Christ, the teachings of the Scripture, and the findings of this report, as led by the Holy Spirit of God."'' == Catholic Church == The Roman Catholic Church has been among the most persistent critics of Freemasonry. The Church has prohibited its members from being Freemasons since ''In eminenti apostolatus'' in 1738. Since then, the Vatican has issued several papal bulls banning membership of Catholics from Freemasonry under threat of excommunication. In 1983, the Canon Law was changed to read: "A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict", thus eliminating the penalty of excommunication for Masons. Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote in a letter that those who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion;〔(Declaration on Masonic Associations ) at ''www.vatican.va''. Retrieved 2011-10-20.〕 the penalty of excommunication is not declared in the current code of canon law, but membership remains forbidden.〔(Catholic Library: Declaration on Masonic Associations ) at ''newadvent.org''. Retrieved 2011-10-20.〕 However, the letter does not form part of Canon Law and during his tenure Benedict XVI did not make any attempt to change Canon Law to explicitly mention the ban on Freemasonry.〔 The Catholic Church argues that the philosophy of French Freemasonry (the Grand Orient, not the dominant variety of Freemasonry or the branch that is active in the English-speaking world) is antithetical to Christian doctrine and that it is at many times and places anti-clerical in intent.〔"French Masonry and above all the Grand Orient of France has displayed the most systematic activity as the dominating political element in the French "Kulturkampf" since 1877." From (Masonry (Freemasonry) ) from the ''Catholic Encyclopedia''〕 The 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' argued that some of the ceremonial in the Scottish Rite is anti-Catholic.〔"The Kadosh (thirtieth degree), trampling on the papal tiara and the royal crown, is destined to wreak a just vengeance on these "high criminals" for the murder of Molay () and "as the apostle of truth and the rights of man" () to deliver mankind "from the bondage of Despotism and the thraldom of spiritual Tyranny"." From the article (Masonry (Freemasonry) ) in the Catholic Encyclopedia〕 However this claim does not appear in subsequent editions.〔''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 1967 ed, Volume 6, pp 132–139, McGraw-Hill, New York. The most recent edition (2002) does not contain any article on Freemasonry.〕 The Masonic use of Biblical imagery was seen in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' as being done in such a way as to deny the revelation of Christianity.〔"In the text of 1738 particular stress is laid on "freedom of conscience," and the universal, non-Christian character of Masonry is emphasized. The Mason is called a "true Noahida", i.e. an adherent of the pre-Christian and pre-Mosaic system of undivided mankind." From (Masonry (Freemasonry) ) in the ''Catholic Encyclopedia''〕 However this complaint was not included in subsequent editions.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Opposition to Freemasonry within Christianity」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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