Did Joe Biden just excommunicate himself from the Catholic Church

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Joe Biden was reportedly conferred membership into the Freemasons by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South Carolina on January 19, 2025. This event took place just one day before he left office, marking him as an honorary or “Master Mason” member, according to announcements from the lodge and various posts on social media platforms like X.

This action is particularly significant due to Biden’s Catholic faith, as the Catholic Church has historically prohibited its members from joining Freemasonry under threat of excommunication. The Freemasons are often viewed as having philosophical and theological stances at odds with Catholic teachings. The Prince Hall Masons, a historically Black branch of Freemasonry, chose to honor Biden for his “exceptional dedication and service to the United States,” reflecting principles of the lodge like “brotherly love, relief, and truth.”

Did he or didn’t he?

However, the exact nature of Biden’s involvement—whether he actively joined or was simply conferred membership—remains a point of debate. Some argue that since he didn’t go through the traditional Masonic rituals but was rather “conferred” membership, it might not technically count as joining in the eyes of canon law, which specifically penalizes the act of joining. Nonetheless, this move has sparked a significant amount of discussion and concern among Catholic leaders and followers regarding potential canonical penalties, including excommunication.

The broader implications of this event include discussions on religious freedom, the intersection of faith and politics, and the historical friction between Catholicism and Freemasonry. It has also fueled conspiracy theories and debates about the influence of secret societies in politics.

For more detailed insights, you might look into the announcements from the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Lodge Freemasonry, various fact-checking articles, and the reactions from Catholic institutions, which have been referenced across multiple web sources and social media posts.