America’s No. 1 Prolife Priest Cancelled by Pope Francis

David Martin | The Daily Knight

A new martyr saint has emerged in our midst. Fr. Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life who is regarded as America's no. 1 prolife priest and who has saved more babies from abortion than any priest living has been laicized by the order of Pope Francis—cancelled. Clearly, Francis does not agree with Fr. Pavone’s cause for life.

In a December 13 letter to the Bishops of America, the pope’s representative in America Fr. Christophe Pierre said that Fr. Pavone was laicized for “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience” to his bishop.

In a separate statement, the papal nuncio wrote that the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy said there was “no possibility of appeal” of the decision.

The allegations of “blasphemous communications on social media” supposedly refer to inappropriate statements Pavone made on Twitter in 2020—an excuse—but Francis’ real gripe is Fr. Pavone’s public criticism of Rome’s collusion with antilife. Francis has a pernicious nest of notorious pro-abortion advocates undermining his Vatican and Pavone pulls no punches in calling out ecclesiastical figures who collude with antilife. On his website is posted a document in which he accuses the Catholic hierarchy of its deplorable negligence in defending the unborn and how they even abuse their authority to try to intimidate prolife work.

“Instead of supporting and encouraging the pro-life work of the Church, some of these men [bishops] try to obstruct and hinder it, and abuse their authority to try to intimidate priests and laity who make ending abortion the top priority of our lives.”

Is it any wonder that this exemplary prolife priest has now been ‘aborted?’ by Rome?

Fr. Pavone took to Twitter on Sunday to lament Rome's action. "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.”

Laicization Not Valid

The bishops of America have a solemn duty to condemn Francis’ action and to continue their support of Fr. Pavone. Bishop Strickland of Texas has described the laicization of Fr. Pavone as “blasphemy.” For obvious reasons the laicization is not valid.

Regardless of what excuse Francis and his Vatican have for taking this action it is indisputably rooted in envy of Fr. Pavone's virtue. Our Lord's words apply: “Blessed are you when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 11)

On the Path to Martyrdom

We pray that Fr. Pavone will remain steadfast in his faith and his love of life and that he not back down or apologize in any way for his prolife position that has brought this action upon him. For God is pleased with Fr. Pavone while He is disgusted with Francis’ ongoing efforts to bully the Church under the pretext of mercy. Far from being a demotion, this latest is a glorious promotion in the Faith for Fr. Pavone as he has been raised now to the ranks of “white martyrdom.” May he persevere in the cause even unto red martyrdom.