The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Today is also the old calendar feast of the Expectation of the Parturition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It strikes me as ironic that the champion of the unborn, Fr. Frank Pavone has been dismissed from the priesthood, apparently for his blasphemous display of an aborted fetus upon an altar used for Mass, in the manner of a Eucharistic consecration, along with disobedience to his bishop, would become public knowledge on this day. Indeed, Pavone went to extremes, especially in his zeal for MAGA and campaigning for Trump. To be laicized as a result comes as a total shock.
It's sobering, actually. To think when there is a shortage of vocations and in a time when not a few priests fall away, an apparently zealous, faithful, observant Catholic priest is dismissed from the priesthood. People on Twitter are protesting, 'what about Fr. Martin? What about the German Synod participants?' What they are saying is what about liberal bishops and priests who endorse same sex marriage, homosexuality, divorced and remarried couple access to the sacraments. What about Biden and Pelosi - why aren't they excommunicated as well?
I don't know. To be honest, it's not up to me. No one asked me - ever. I never voted for abortion or gay marriage. I have no control over the decisions made by the Vatican. Perhaps I'm affected by them, but I have no say.
It seems to me when Pope Francis became Pope, and he began to teach and promulgate the merciful love of God and the meaning and practice of mercy, many rebelled against his teaching. Not a few good priests insisted it was wrong to not include the demands of God's justice - that mercy was inauthentic without certain conditions. They condemned 'the church of nice'. Many priests online opposed the Pope on this point - although the Holy Father never denied any doctrine nor the aspect of God's justice. Indeed, only recently he spoke about how repentance and conversion is necessary for all of us. I'm not sure how Pavone responded to the Pope, but he certainly desired to impose sanctions and even excommunication upon pro-choice politicians and Catholics, beginning with withholding absolution and communion from them.
I'm sorry for Pavone. The priesthood is a gift from God - an amazing mystical gift. To lose that is very disturbing. We have seen it happen to offenders against the 6th commandment - rarely do we see it happen to one who has abused his priesthood in this manner. No matter the case, laicization is a cause for repentance, not joy. It is more than sad, it strikes at the heart of deepest sorrow. I can't express in words what it means.
Instead, I repent of my sins, my pride, my rash judgement and condemnation of others, and all the sins of my life. I pray for Frank Pavone.
Addendum:
I met Fr. Pavone at a Divine Mercy conference in New York in March of 2009. He spoke in a very fair and balanced way in his presentation about women who have repeat abortions. I met him afterwards and he signed one of his books for me and he was very pleasant. I thought he was great until the aborted fetus on the altar situation. Then I was very sad because I could see Fr. Pavone going down the same road as Fr. Corapi, Fr. Euteneur, and Fr. Stone. Priests who become famous need to be SO careful and SO covered in prayer! The devil is laughing in his lair that these influential priests fell so hard. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteI certainly do not celebrate this at all. It is really disturbing and I've been praying for him. Sadly the supporters are making this into another attack against Pope Francis. I thought of the same line up of priests who fell that you mentioned.
DeleteAnother “media cleric/preacher” falls.I would add Jonathan Morris, the Fox TV priest who left his priesthood to the list above, but he did it through the proper channels. I doubt very much that this is based on Pavone’s pro life work. Apparently he pushed many things to an intolerable point, defied his bishops (he moved Dioceses several times). This is about sacrilegious behavior, arrogance, disobedience & thinking he is unaccountable. What I don’t get is how quickly and permanent this edict is. Was he warned, suspended, given more than one chance? The punishment is severe so there is more then we know now.
ReplyDeleteI remember him from EWTN and remember thinking he seemed a bit harsh. I would not be surprised if the Bannon wing of the MAGA Catholics & Opus Dei step forward to defend him. The Great Schism is unfolding before our eyes.
I think he's fairly indefensible, but maybe Bannon would step in, since Pavone is MAGA - and I'm wondering about Vigano?
DeleteIf you want to do the digging you can see that his troubling issues (including a religious seminary or institute he raised alot of cash for but folded) started before 2010 and first came to a head around 2011 and the disobedience has been fairly consistent and persistent since then.
DeleteYes, it really is a civil war inside the Church. Bishop Strickland, who took in Mother Miriam when things fell apart for her in Kansas, just released a statement supporting Pavone. I bet Mother’s radio program tomorrow will be all about this if it is not an Encore which most are now. I read last week about the Napa Institute winning and dinning the new leaders of US Bishops Conference. Apparently this well funded group of conservative Catholics is setting up shop in DC and has registered as a lobbyist. Priests for Life is a private organization so, if he chooses, he can still work out of there. Anyway, like I said, I have long felt our Church is unraveling, splitting in two. I now believe I am seeing it everyday.
ReplyDeleteI agree. All the things you mention - I think they call it 'uniting the clans'. It looks like a major split.
DeleteThe whole affair with regards to Mr. Pavone is sad. The scandal of his lack of humility by being interviewed on CBN News and by Ms.Ingraham on Fox News. He is quoted as saying,"the next pope can reinstate me." Really? I agree with Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC.
ReplyDelete