On the last day of his presidency, Democrat Joe Biden joined the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina. This has led to rampant speculation about whether the Vatican will excommunicate the former president. Joe Biden is allegedly a practicing Catholic, and the Vatican has long held that Free Masonry is incompatible with the Catholic Church.
“I…on behalf of the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, hereby confer membership upon President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America, ” Victor C. Major, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the South Carolina Lodge, said in the induction ceremony.
This decision put Biden at odds with Catholic doctrine. As recently as 1983, the Catholic Church confirmed that joining the masons is grounds for excommunication. “Therefore, the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church, and therefore, membership in them remains forbidden,” said Cardinal Ratzinger, who would eventually become Pope. ” The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.”
“It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981,” he added. This passage explains that individual priests may not deviate from this ruling.
More recently, the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) upheld that ruling. “Active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is forbidden because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry,” they wrote. Conservative Catholics have criticized Biden for years. He has often clashed with the Vatican on the issue of abortion.
Biden has said, “I am personally opposed” to abortion, “but I cannot legally impose my religious convictions on others.” His statement flies in the faith of Catholic teaching. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would become Pope Benedict XVI, explained the Church’s position on politicians who advocate for abortion. “When a … Catholic politician… campaignin[s] and vot[es] for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws, his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion …he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.”
On their website, the Lodge describes the organization: “Our tradition, steeped in the principles of Freemasonry and the legacy of Prince Hall, is a beacon of light in the world. It is a place where brothers come together to cultivate their moral and intellectual virtues, seek knowledge, and contribute to the betterment of our communities and society as a whole.
Watch one man’s commentary on the event here:
“The Conference of Grand Masters Prince Hall Masons, Inc. stands as a symbol of unity and solidarity among Prince Hall Masons worldwide. It is here that we share our collective wisdom, exchange ideas, and work together to advance the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth,” they say. “Our purpose is not only to enhance the lives of our members but also to uplift the communities in which we live and serve.”
Featured image from embedded video.