The Vatican has reportedly dismissed anti-abortion leader Frank Pavone from the Catholic priesthood for what it said were “blasphemous communications on social media” as well as “persistent disobedience” of his bishop.
The decision against Pavone’s remaining a priest was made on Nov. 9, though the decision was not made public until Dec. 13, when a letter to U.S. bishops from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, was leaked to the media.
The letter stating the decision against Pavone, who heads the anti-abortion group Priests for Life, said that he has “no possibility of appeal.”
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According to the National Catholic Register, a separate statement attached to Pierre’s letter explained, “Father Pavone was given ample opportunity to defend himself in the canonical proceedings, and he was also given multiple opportunities to submit himself to the authority of his diocesan bishop.”
Despite the letter being leaked to the media, Pavone said he has yet to receive any notification from the church about his status as a priest.
“The communication from Archbishop Pierre does not specify the actions that led to Pavone’s dismissal or name the bishop he disobeyed,” according to a report from the Catholic News Agency.
Hi friends… So in every profession, including the priesthood, if you defend the #unborn, you will be treated like them!
The only difference is that when we are “aborted,” we continue to speak, loud and clear.— Fr. Frank Pavone (@frfrankpavone) December 18, 2022
In a YouTube broadcast that lasted almost two hours on Saturday night, the national director of Priests for Life responded and took questions from viewers about the matter. He noted that some bishops have a problem with how “outspoken” he has become about certain politicians who support abortion. He publicly supported former President Donald Trump for president.
“There are some in the hierarchy that do not want this emphasis on abortion,” Pavone said. “There are those in the church who don’t want abortion to be seen as the No. 1 issue because they have friends in the Democratic Party.”
He added, “Some of these clergy are strutting around in their hats and robes, and they got their Democratic politician friends patting them on the back.”
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Pavone continued to respond on Twitter on Sunday, writing: “So in every profession, including the priesthood, if you defend the #unborn, you will be treated like them! The only difference is that when we are “aborted,” we continue to speak, loud and clear.”
Pavone has been known for helping convert high-profile figures to the Catholic faith. He was involved in the confirmation of Norma McCorvey, known as “Jane Roe” from the historic Roe v. Wade case. With the help of Pavone, McCorvey became an advocate for the anti-abortion cause.
News reports suggest the timing of the clergyman’s dismissal is related to “Pope Francis facing criticism for putting an abortion advocate on the Pontifical Academy for Life, claiming that giving an abortion support a Catholic Church platform help ‘dialog.'” Sources told the Washington Examiner that Pavone has not criticized the pontiff or commented on this issue.
