Mati, Philippines - Bishop Patricio Alo asked Catholics who are members of Freemasonry to stay out of the church.
"We would like to inform our Freemason brothers and sisters that you are no longer allowed to enter the church because your group contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church," Bishop Alo said in a pastoral message read during masses here.
Fr. Medardo Salomia, spiritual director of the Diocese of Mati, said Bishop Alo and majority of the priests in the province have also agreed not to give Holy Communion to Catholics who are members of Freemasonry.
"The reason given why they are being barred from taking the Holy Communion was that they are being anti-Christ," Father Salomia said.
Salomia said however that he and several priests urged Bishop Alo and those supporting the ban against Freemasons "to reconsider their decision and to restudy this group."
"I have interviewed many Freemason Catholics here and they all said that there was no truth to allegation that their society is anti-Christ," Salomia said.
Former Davao Oriental Vice Gov. Cirilo Valles, a leader of the Freemasons here, said they were "very shocked" and "so disappointed."
"These people are close-minded, so unchristian," Valles said.