[EDITOR’S NOTE: We conclude the transcript of Bishop Sheridan’s October 2011 radio interview with Catholic attorney John Salza, a former 32nd degree freemason in the Scottish Rite and now author of “Why Catholics Cannot Be Masons,” (TAN Publishing). Salza’s book addresses the serious conflicts that lay between Catholicism and Freemasonry (including the Shriners).]

Bishop Sheridan: John I am guessing, and again you may know far more about this, but I am guessing there might be even concerned family members or friends of Catholic men who are Masons about the fact that their friend or their relative or spouse belongs to the Masons. Do you have any pastoral advice or pastoral plan on how these men might be brought to their senses about this?

John Salza: Sure, I think again it starts with education. I can tell you a wonderful story about how successful we can be in educating.
I just recently did a talk in a certain state for an hour and a half on Freemasonry. A gentleman who was a 25-year Mason came to that talk. He was a very educated man, was a long-time Mason, was a Vietnam veteran, and he was a prominent man in the business community. He told me that he came that night to debate the issue.

After I explained, not my own opinions, but what the lodge teaches and what the church teaches . . . after I did that for an hour and a half, this gentleman stood up in tears and said, “I am renouncing Freemasonry.” And he did it publically in front of everybody, which he didn’t have to do. That tells me that it was the education process that I gave, and that others can give, that will enlighten those who are disposed to the truth and who really want to know the truth.

It can convict the heart. It is very simple. When I told him that Freemasonry tells a man that his trust is in God even if he rejects Christ, that is objectively true, that is something that a man can relate to. Only then can God take over and by his grace convert the heart.
But it has to start with the intellect. If we can educate the intellect, God is going to work on the will by his grace. But we have to start with the education and we have to teach people what Masonry is teaching in the Lodge room, that is the key.

John, are you the lone prophet out there? I have not heard of anyone like yourself who is out there who is spreading this word. Are you it?

I think I am the only Catholic who ever became a Mason and left the lodge and is speaking about it. I don’t know that for sure. You know, there are a lot of Protestants out there. Even though they hold errors to the faith, there are Protestant ministries out there which were even helpful to me when I struggled with this, that are doing very good work on this issue. But as far as the faith is concerned I believe I am the only one.

And besides the books that you have written and your website, you have been on EWTN, right?

Yes I have, a number of times to talk both about Freemasonry as well as other apologetics issues. In fact, the first show that I did on Freemasonry was so well received that they even did a second show on it. And that is because of the education process that I talked about. People called in and wrote in. They were stunned to hear what I said Masonry is teaching. I brought the ritual book right on the set and I said, “Here it is.” And we couldn’t even cover enough in an hour, so we did another hour show about it. Of course the truth is going to speak for itself, we just need to get the truth out there.

I am stunned also. I appreciate the time that you have given us to get the word out about Freemasonry. As we come to the end now and with your emphasis on the educational component of all of this, let’s once again mention your two books on Masonry as well as your website.

Sure. The books on Masonry are “Why Catholics Cannot be Masons” and “Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge.” Those can be found at my website, Scripturecatholic.com. I would also like to mention, if I could, my latest book is called “The Biblical Basis for Tradition” on why Catholics don’t rely on Scripture alone. That can also be purchased from the American Catholic Lawyers Association. They helped me publish that book. It is a fine organization that provides civil defense to Catholics. For more information you can always go to my website at Scripturecatholic.com.

Very good. John, anything that you want to mention in just the few seconds that we have left that you feel as though you didn’t have the opportunity to do?

Well, of course, prayer. You know we have to deal with the educational process, but we have to bolster our efforts with prayer. Our Lady said that the rosary can accomplish anything according to God’s will. So I think if we really redouble our efforts with prayer and education we can win the battle for Our Lord.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The entire series and original audio can be found on this site by typing “Masons” in the search box and by visiting the audio/video page.]