Biden’s Freemason Membership Sparks Canonical Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden‘s recent honorary membership in the Prince Hall Freemasonry lodge has ignited a debate over canonical implications, given the Catholic Church‘s centuries-old prohibition against Catholics joining Masonic organizations. The announcement, made by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina on Jan. 19, 2025, recognized Biden for his “exceptional dedication and service to the United States.”

The Church has historically banned Catholics from Freemasonry, citing its promotion of religious indifferentism and incompatibility with Catholic doctrine. Since 1738, Catholics who join Masonic lodges have faced automatic excommunication. However, Biden’s case is complicated by the nature of his membership, which was conferred rather than actively sought.

Freemasonry, founded in 1717 in London, has long been a controversial organization within the Catholic Church. Pope Clement XII first condemned it for promoting beliefs that undermined Church authority. Over the centuries, eight popes reinforced this stance, culminating in the 1917 Code of Canon Law, which explicitly banned Masonic membership. While the 1983 Code removed explicit references to Freemasonry, the Church’s position remains unchanged, as clarified by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1983.

Prince Hall Freemasonry, the branch that honored Biden, has a unique history in the United States. Established by free Black men excluded from mainstream Masonic lodges, it has deep ties to Black communities. Biden’s visit to a South Carolina lodge likely reflects his outreach to these communities. However, the Church views all Masonic branches as equally problematic.

The canonical implications of Biden’s membership hinge on whether he actively accepted the honor. Canon law penalizes the act of joining, not the status of membership. If Biden did not formally accept, he may not have violated Church law. However, the Vatican maintains that any Catholic enrolled in a Masonic lodge is in a state of grave sin and barred from receiving Communion.

The situation is further complicated by Biden’s status as a former president at the time of the conferral. Canon law reserves judgment of heads of state to the Roman Pontiff, making it unlikely that Pope Francis will intervene. Regardless, the Church’s stance on Freemasonry remains clear, leaving Biden’s canonical status in question.