EPISTLES

The laicization of Father Frank Pavone in 2022, a prominent leader in the global pro-life movement, has sparked significant concern and debate within the Catholic Church.

Known for his leadership of Priests for Life and his advocacy for the “culture of life” championed by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, Father Pavone’s removal from the priesthood is seen by many as a troubling development.

In an interview in 2023, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, offered a staunch defense of the priest. Cardinal Müller maintains that Pavone is not guilty, emphasizing secularization was politically motivated and laicization unjustified.

He argues the decision lacks sufficient theological or canonical foundation, appearing instead driven by external influences. Müller insists laicization should only follow grave errors and so he finds the reasons presented against Pavone’s case are unacceptable.

He contrasts this severe penalty with the absence of discipline for prominent Catholics who openly deny core teachings, raising serious concerns about justice, consistency, and credibility within ecclesiastical authority.

Frank Pavone’s Removal from the Priesthood

John Henry Westen: In the United States now we have the laicization of a priest known throughout America, throughout North America in fact, throughout most the world, as the pro-life priest Father Frank Pavone, who has been the head of Priests for Life and also runs a ministry for women who have experienced abortion. He has been removed from the priesthood.

It’s stunning for America because we see from America who gets removed from the priesthood—Cardinal McCarrick, but only after like years, even decades, of people already knowing there was a huge sexual problem. But with Father Pavone, we’re not talking about any sexual problem.

We’re talking about the best-known priest fighting for John Paul II’s ministry of the culture of life, that fight which the Pope John Paul supported by Cardinal Ratzinger at the time and then later pushed also by Pope Benedict supported Father Frank Pavone in this great work.

A Legacy of Pro-Life Work

John Henry Westen: In fact, John Paul II called Father Marx, when he was doing the same work, as doing the most important work on Earth, and yet Father Frank Pavone is laicized. We have brought with us to Rome a petition of over 45,000 Catholics begging the Holy Father to revoke this decision that was made by the Congregation for Clergy on November the 9th.

Scandalously, Father Pavone didn’t even know of the position—the banning him from the priesthood or laicization—until the media got to him just in December. If you can comment at all for us on this, that would be most appreciated.

The Question of Political Influence and Justice

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: I also read this letter which informed the public of the secularization of a priest, but not the priest himself.

I think he is unguilty and it is only a political action.

A priest is instituted by Jesus Christ himself and not by the Pope or the bishop. Secularization can only be a penalty in the ultimate case: in the case of apostasy, strong heresy, or absolutely contradictorial behavior against the priesthood. But the reasons here presented are not justifying the secularization.

I think it is only a political action. I think there was surely a lot of pressure from the Democratic Party and abortion activists… And nobody with a certain theological understanding and a human feeling of justice and human rights can understand it or accept it.

There are other prominent persons in the United States and other countries who are openly denying the basics of Catholic faith and morals, and there are no reactions on the side of the ecclesiastical authorities.

Interview Source: The John-Henry Westen Channel. (2023, January 11). Cardinal Muller exclusive: Will progressive leadership destroy the Church? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MIwpHEM9q3Q