Vatican defrocks famous pro-life priest over ‘blasphemous communications’

Father Frank Pavone, a widely-known pro-life activist who has stirred controversy over the issue within the Church, was removed from the Roman Catholic priesthood this fall.

Pavone said he wasn’t originally made aware of his defrocking and only found out when the Catholic News Agency (CNA) asked him to comment on the matter.

CNA reported that Pavone was officially removed from the clergy on Nov. 9 by Pope Francis’ U.S. representative. The letter said that his removal had no possibility of appeal.

Archbishop Pierre noted that, because of Pavone’s pro-life activities, “his dismissal from the clerical state may, therefore, be a matter of interest among the faithful.”

“This action was taken after Father Pavone was found guilty in canonical proceedings of blasphemous communications on social media, and of persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop,” the letter reportedly reads, according to CNA.

Pavone told the CNA after they notified him of the letter: “I’ve been persecuted in the church for decades, decades. This is nothing new for me. They just don’t like the work I’m doing for these babies.”

The “blasphemous communication,” he said, was of him saying the world “godd*mn” in a 2020 tweet. “I used the word G-D in a response to somebody in a tweet and for that they want to throw me out of the priesthood,” Pavone said.