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Timeline: Freemasonry and conspiracy claims

Key moments in the traditionalist Catholic world — councils and documents, communities and their founders, media launches and controversies — each with its sources.
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2023

  1. DDF reaffirms that Catholics may not join Masonic lodges

    Replying to Bishop Julito Cortes of Dumaguete (Philippines), the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith confirmed that active membership in Freemasonry is forbidden, including for clergy. It proposed parish catechesis on the irreconcilability of the two. The note was published on 15 November.

    SourcesThe Request of His Excellency, the Most Rev. Julito Cortes, Bishop of… (Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith)Catholics must not join Masonic groups, membership remains serious sin (The Catholic Spirit (OSV News))

2020

  1. Viganò's second open letter to Trump presents the 'Great Reset' as a global-elite plot

    A second open letter from Archbishop Viganò, dated 25 October 2020, described the World Economic Forum's 'Great Reset' as a plan by a global elite to subdue humanity through coercive measures. The Anti-Defamation League has described the letter as foundational to the Great Reset conspiracy theory.

    SourcesThe Great Reset Conspiracy Flourishes Amid Continued Pandemic (Anti-Defamation League)Viganò on the Great Reset (The Remnant)

  2. Viganò open letter to President Trump on a 'deep state' and 'deep church'

    An open letter from Archbishop Viganò dated 7 June 2020 and published by LifeSiteNews framed the pandemic and U.S. protests as part of a spiritual battle and described a 'deep state' and a 'deep church'. President Trump praised it on Twitter on 10 June.

    SourcesTweet from Trump puts controversial Archbishop Viganò back into US politics (National Catholic Reporter)Trump tweet latest twist in Archbishop Vigano saga (Catholic World Report)

2019

  1. Taylor Marshall publishes Infiltration

    Taylor Marshall's book Infiltration argues that modernists and Marxists planned to subvert the Catholic Church from within. National Catholic Reporter reported that it topped several Amazon categories while drawing criticism from conservative Catholic outlets.

    Sources[EWTN, connected conservative Catholic money and anti-Francis elements] (title… (National Catholic Reporter)Why White House Catholics are concerned about Trump's Catholic tweets (Catholic World Report)

1983

  1. CDF declares the Church's judgment on Masonic associations unchanged

    A declaration signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said that the new Code of Canon Law's silence on Freemasonry did not change the Church's judgment, and that Catholics who join Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

    SourceDeclaration on Masonic Associations (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)