The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued a response to Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin’s claim that he is both a Freemason and a Catholic, clarifying that the Catholic Church’s teachings strictly prohibit such an association.
In a statement dated January 31, 2025, the Bishops’ Conference reaffirmed the Church’s long-standing position that Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic faith.
“The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in its pastoral responsibility, seeks to reaffirm the long-standing teaching of the Catholic Church on the incompatibility of Freemasonry with the Catholic faith,” the statement read.
“This stance is grounded in the magisterial teachings of the Church, which have consistently expressed grave concerns about the principles and practices of Freemasonry.”
The statement emphasised that the Church views Freemasonry as a religion in itself, with doctrines that are irreconcilable with Christian teachings.
Therefore, Catholics who join the Freemason fraternity commit a grave sin and should not receive Holy Communion.
In reference to the 1983 declaration from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Church reiterated that membership in Masonic associations remains forbidden. The faithful who join these associations are considered to be in a state of grave sin and may not partake in the Eucharist. The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reiterated this position in a statement issued on November 13, 2023.
Background:
The controversy surrounding Freemasonry surfaced during the vetting of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo. During the vetting process, Afenyo-Markin raised questions about Opare Addo’s affiliation with the Freemasons. In response, Opare Addo openly acknowledged his membership and the principles he has embraced through the organization.
The admission sparked mixed reactions, with the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra reiterating its longstanding position that Catholics should not associate with Freemasonry. In reaction to this, Afenyo-Markin stated that he had not received any official communication from the Church regarding his membership in the Freemason fraternity.
“My Archbishop Palmer-Buckle has not written any letter to me,” Afenyo-Markin said in an interview on January 29, 2025. “I have been seeing letters flying around, but nobody has written to me personally.”
The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to his Catholic faith, expressing his willingness to have a candid discussion with his Church on the matter. He also acknowledged that many Catholics who are Freemasons are hesitant to discuss their membership openly.
Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, further stated that should the Church take an official stance on his membership, he would decide whether to remain in the Catholic Church or move to the Anglican Church.
“If I receive a delegation of my church leaders for a conversation, we will have a good discussion,” he said.
“If it gets to a point where the Church takes a position and says, ‘Kwamina, we really disagree with you,’ then it would be for me to decide whether I would still remain a Catholic or move to the Anglican Church and become an Anglican.”
Read the full statement of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference below:
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