In 1884, Pope Leo XIII issued a papal encyclical, Humanum Genus, strongly condemning Freemasonry. The encyclical declared that no one can join Freemasonry & remain a Catholic. He condemned any involvement with Freemasons, other than out of complete necessity or under the strictest of circumstances. Leo XIII also warned that secret societies were subverting governments, institutions & even churches in an attempt to destroy the Catholic Church.
Some time after the Holy See issued Humanum Genus, Albert Pike, the "Supreme Pontiff of Scottish Rite Freemasonry", sent a letter in reply. Albert Pike mocked & threatened the Catholic Church. He declared that Freemasonry was at war with the Church, arrogantly claimed that Freemasonry would rise & that the Catholic Church would fall.
Albert Pike wrote in his book "Morals and Dogma" that 'Lucifer is god' alongside the One True God. Elsewhere, Pike wrote that all 30th°, 31st° & 32nd° Scottish Rite Freemasons (which includes the 33°) hold the …More