- Feb 5, 2002
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On January 19, the final day of his presidency, Joe Biden was presented with a “resolution of membership” in the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina. News of the presentation came from the Lodge, not the White House, and to date Biden himself has offered no comment on the event. But when the story emerged, it prompted a flurry of questions among Catholic commentators. Had Biden violated the Church’s strict rule that Catholics may not become Freemasons? If so, could he be excommunicated for the offense?
Since the 18th century, when Masonic lodges emerged as a significant social force in Europe, the Catholic Church has condemned the movement, with several Roman Pontiffs explaining that the teachings of Freemasonry are incompatible with the Catholic faith and destructive of objective morality. Pope Leo XIII, writing in Humanum Genus (1884), pointed to the liberal campaigns to make marriage a simple civil union, and to eliminate parental authority over their children’s religious training; he concluded; “If these be taken away, as the naturalists and Freemasons desire, there will immediately be no knowledge as to what constitutes justice and injustice, or upon what principle morality is founded.”
For that reason, the Code of Canon Law (#2335) promulgated in 1917 provided:
Continued below.
www.catholicculture.org
Since the 18th century, when Masonic lodges emerged as a significant social force in Europe, the Catholic Church has condemned the movement, with several Roman Pontiffs explaining that the teachings of Freemasonry are incompatible with the Catholic faith and destructive of objective morality. Pope Leo XIII, writing in Humanum Genus (1884), pointed to the liberal campaigns to make marriage a simple civil union, and to eliminate parental authority over their children’s religious training; he concluded; “If these be taken away, as the naturalists and Freemasons desire, there will immediately be no knowledge as to what constitutes justice and injustice, or upon what principle morality is founded.”
For that reason, the Code of Canon Law (#2335) promulgated in 1917 provided:
So at first glance it seems clear that Biden has incurred excommunication. But in fact the situation is not at all clear, for two reasons.
Continued below.
Should Biden be excommunicated for joining the Masons?
At first glance it seems clear that Biden has incurred excommunication. But in fact the situation is not so clear.
www.catholicculture.org
