What are the historic and current views of the Catholic Church concerning Masons?

I understand that there is a difference between being a Mormon and being a Temple Mormon (one who has gone through the Temple Ceremony at least once and maintains Temple worthiness). I also understand that it is quite similar to the Masonic Temple Ceremonies and that Joseph Smith was himself a mason. Where exactly, then, did this Temple Ceremony come from? Has it changed throughout the years and, if so, how specifically has it changed?

I've heard it stated that the founder of Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russel, was a Freemason (33rd Degree) which may have been partially responsible for his interest in collaborating bible prophecy with the pyramids, as well as the symbolism he used in some of his books. There seems to be arguments both for and against this, both convincing. Is there any solid historical proof of as to whether or not this claim is true?

I know the Catholic Church excommunicates Catholics who join Freemasonic lodges, as well as Catholics who the Church judges to be willful heretics. But has the Church ever excommunicated a Catholic purely for being a member of a Communist or National Socialist party? The Church has never excommunicated Adolf Hitler, and some other Catholics who belong to Marxists groups, so I'm curious.

According to the Catholic Church, a practicing and faithful Catholic cannot practice freemasonry. So why on earth are St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelists the Patron saints of Freemasons? Doesn’t that seem a little bit counter intuitive? Am I just missing something?

> The Permanent Instruction of the Alta Vendita (commonly called the > Alta Vendita) is a document, originally published in Italian in 1859, > purportedly produced by the highest lodge of the Italian Carbonari > and written by "Piccolo Tigre" ("Little Tiger"), which, according to > George F. Dillon, was supposedly the pseudonym of a Jewish > Freemason. > > The document details an alleged Masonic plan to infiltrate the > Catholic Church and spread liberal ideas within it. The Carbonari had > strong similarities to Freemasonry and so the document is seen by some > as a Masonic document. In the 19th century, Pope Pius IX and Pope > Leo XIII both asked for it to be published. It was first published by > Jacques Crétineau-Joly in his book L'Église romaine en face de la > Révolution in 1859. It was popularised in the English speaking world > by Monsignor George F. Dillon in 1885 with his book the War of > Anti-Christ with the Church and Christian Civilization. > > It is still circulated by many traditionalist and sedevacantist > Catholics, who believe it accurately describes the changes in the > church in the post-Vatican II era. > > ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_Vendita)) What is the connection of Alta Vendita in the present Church Crisis regarding homosexual scandal & cover-up involving clergy & prelates?

Related question here discusses the secret passwords and handshakes that are, according to LDS church, required in order to gain entrance to heaven. This question and this Wikipedia article discusses their relationship/similarity with Masonic rituals. Even if we accepted the view that Masonic symbolism originated before early Christianity (among the builders of Solomons's temple), I have not yet found any reference in the Bible to specific handshake(s) as a requirement to enter heaven. Unless this is mentioned somewhere in the Bible canon, it looks like early Christians or people living before that did not know of this requirement. How would worshipers of God who died before Joseph Smith have entered heaven since they would not have known the secret passwords or handshakes?

Many Protestant and Evangelical churches and Christians view Freemasonry as incompatible with Christianity and teach that a Christian should not be a member of the group. What is the basis, biblical or otherwise, for this position?

My community recently found out that one of our local priests is also a [Freemason](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry) . I'm not entirely sure of what Freemasonry is about and how it relates to Christianity. What exactly can outsiders know using publicly available sources about what Freemasonry teaches about the relationship between itself and Christianity? Does it teach that they overlap with, are a subset of, or are unrelated with the Christian faith? Note: Since one of our local priests is one, there must be others who profess Christianity and practice Freemasonry. How do they view the practice in relation to their faith? Where do ultimate allegiances lie for practitioners of both?

I need a list of papal encyclicals/bulls in which both Jews and Freemasons are mentioned in the same document.

I've got the idea from somewhere that Mormons aren't allowed to be freemasons. Is this true? If so, what is the reasoning? I think I've heard allegations of similarity between Freemasonry and some Mormon temple activities (neither familiar to me). How are such claims answered by the LDS church? Related: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/3947/is-freemasonry-appropriate-for-a-christian

The bible talks about being transparent. Could you be in a secret society such as Freemasonry and not be waling in error as a Christian? If we are to work in the body of Christ, in the church, could being a Freemason be a distraction?