Sarah Mitchell
In 2016, Father Frank Pavone, a Catholic priest and head of the pro-life group Priests for Life, sparked controversy by posting a video of himself standing behind an altar with an aborted baby. Pavone, who was also a member of Donald Trump's pro-life and Catholic advisory committees, used the video to urge parishioners to vote against the Democratic Party in the upcoming presidential election, claiming that they supported abortion. While Pavone defended his actions as necessary to expose the evil of abortion, he faced strong backlash from many Catholics and an investigation from his bishop for potential violations of canon law. The incident highlighted the Catholic Church's longstanding condemnation of abortion as a moral evil and mortal sin, with some supporters agreeing that the reality of abortion needed to be seen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Priest | Father Frank Pavone |
| Date of Incident | November 2016 |
| Reason | To urge parishioners to vote against the Democratic Party in the 2016 presidential election |
| Political Endorsement | Donald Trump and the Republican Party |
| Priest's Organization | Priests for Life |
| Priest's Statement | "My followers agree that the truth about abortion has to be seen, because the word has lost all its meaning. We sanitize it." |
| Diocese Statement | "The Diocese of Amarillo deeply regrets the offense and outrage caused by the video for the faithful and the community at large." |
| Investigation | Diocesan investigation was opened into Pavone's actions |
| Previous Incident | Archbishop Fulton Sheen mentioned how his mother laid him on a side altar after his baptism |
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What You'll Learn
Father Frank Pavone defends his actions
Father Frank Pavone, an American anti-abortion activist and a laicised Roman Catholic priest, has defended his actions of placing an aborted baby on an altar. He stated that his actions were intended to urge parishioners to vote against Democratic candidates in the 2016 presidential election, specifically Hillary Clinton, who he accused of supporting "child-killing." Pavone argued that the reality of abortion needed to be seen and that his efforts were part of a 9-day campaign to encourage voters to support pro-life Republicans.
Pavone, the head of the controversial pro-life group Priests for Life, has had a rocky relationship with Catholic leadership. He has faced financial scrutiny, allegations of mismanagement, and suspension of his ministry. In 2014, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York cut ties with Priests for Life due to Pavone's failure to cooperate with financial reforms. In addition, Pavone's political activism, particularly his support for Donald Trump, has caused controversy within the Catholic Church.
Pavone's actions with the aborted baby on the altar sparked outrage, with critics calling it a desecration and a violation of Catholic Church canon law. The Diocese of Amarillo opened an investigation, stating that Pavone's actions were "against the dignity of human life" and inconsistent with the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Despite the backlash, Pavone stood by his decision, stating that the baby had been laid to rest and that his efforts were necessary to reveal the truth about abortion.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò defended Pavone, arguing that his actions were consistent with his commitment to fighting the "horrible crime" of abortion. Viganò suggested that the sanctions imposed on Pavone revealed a persecutory mind and a disregard for Catholic Truth and the honor of the Holy Mother Church. He further stated that Pavone's dismissal should be a source of pride, recalling the words of Jesus in the Bible.
In December 2022, the Vatican defrocked Pavone for "blasphemous" social media posts and disobedience of his bishop, emphasizing that he should no longer present himself as a priest. However, Pavone has continued to do so. While his anti-abortion activism was not the primary reason for his dismissal, it had undoubtedly sparked controversy and divided Catholics, especially during the 2016 election season.
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Catholics divided over the incident
Catholics are divided over Father Frank Pavone's actions, with some supporting him and others criticising him. Pavone, a Catholic priest and head of the controversial pro-life group Priests for Life, came under fire in 2016 for standing behind an altar with an aborted baby in a video posted to Facebook. The incident occurred during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, and Pavone used the video to urge parishioners to vote against the Democratic Party, which he claimed supported abortion.
Some Catholics criticised Pavone's actions as sacrilegious and a desecration of the altar. The Diocese of Amarillo, for example, released a statement expressing regret for the offence and outrage caused by the video and stating that Pavone's actions were "against the dignity of human life and [a] desecration of the altar." The statement also clarified that Priests for Life is a civil institution, not a Catholic one, and is not under the diocese's supervision. Scott Eric Alt, writing for Patheos, argued that Pavone's actions were a violation of Catholic Church canon law, which states that the altar is "reserved for divine worship alone, to the exclusion of any secular usage."
On the other hand, some Catholics defended Pavone's actions, arguing that it was necessary to expose the evil of abortion. Pavone himself defended his actions, saying that his efforts were part of a 9-day effort to get voters to vote for pro-life Republicans. He also stated that the baby's funeral had already been held and that the child had been laid to rest in a Memorial Chapel. Some of Pavone's followers made positive comments in support of his actions, agreeing that the truth about abortion needed to be seen.
The incident occurred during a time when Catholics were already divided, especially along racial lines, with some polling for Hillary Clinton and others favoring Donald Trump. The controversy surrounding Pavone's actions only served to further highlight the divisions within the Catholic community. While some Catholics agreed with Pavone's pro-life message, others criticised him for politicising the altar and using a dead baby as a prop to push a political agenda.
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Investigation launched into Father Pavone
In 2016, Father Frank Pavone, a well-known pro-life activist and national director of the organization Priests for Life, came under fire for posting a video of himself standing behind an altar with an aborted baby. The video, which was posted on Facebook and livestreamed, showed Pavone urging viewers to vote for Donald Trump and the Republicans for Congress to stop abortion. The video caused outrage and the Diocese of Amarillo announced that it was opening an investigation into Pavone's actions.
Pavone, who is no stranger to controversy, has had a rocky history with Catholic leadership. In 2008, Bishop Patrick Zurek of the Amarillo diocese wanted a full accounting of Pavone's $10 million annual budget. In 2011, Zurek suspended his ministry due to financial mismanagement. Pavone has also been criticized for his extreme anti-abortion views and for using graphic images to promote his agenda.
In the video, Pavone said he placed the fetus on the altar to urge parishioners to vote against Democrats, who he claimed supported "child-killing". He also said that he had already held a funeral for the baby and that he had obtained the body through a pathologist. Pavone defended his actions, saying that he was revealing the truth about abortion and that the table used in the video was an ordinary table in his office, not a consecrated altar.
The investigation into Pavone's actions was launched by the Diocese of Amarillo, which issued a statement saying that Pavone's actions were "against the dignity of human life and a desecration of the altar". The statement also said that Priests for Life is a civil institution, not a Catholic one, and therefore not under the diocese's supervision. The diocese received many messages from Catholics who were outraged by Pavone's video.
As a result of the investigation and subsequent proceedings, Pavone was dismissed from the priesthood in December 2022 for "blasphemous communications on social media" and "persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop".
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Catholics and abortion
The Catholic Church has a long and complex history when it comes to abortion, with a clear and unwavering stance against the procedure. According to the Catechism of the Church, "since the first century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable." Early Christian writings, such as the Didache and the Epistle of Barnabas, also reflect this sentiment, condemning both abortion and infanticide.
However, the specific issue of Catholics and abortion has recently come to the fore in a particularly contentious manner. In 2016, Father Frank Pavone, a Catholic priest and head of the controversial pro-life group Priests for Life, sparked outrage by posting a video of himself standing behind an altar with an aborted baby. The video, which was posted ahead of the 2016 presidential election, was intended to urge parishioners to vote against the Democratic Party, whom Father Pavone accused of supporting abortion.
The video caused widespread controversy, with many Catholics expressing disgust and outrage at the desecration of the altar. The Diocese of Amarillo released a statement saying that they were opening an investigation into Father Pavone's actions, which were "against the dignity of human life and a desecration of the altar." The statement also clarified that Priests for Life is a civil institution and not under the diocese's supervision.
While some supported Father Pavone's actions as a necessary exposure of the evil of abortion, others criticized it as a violation of Catholic Church canon law, which states that the altar is "reserved for divine worship alone, to the exclusion of any secular usage." The incident highlighted the deep divisions within the Catholic community, especially during a polarized election season.
The Catholic Church's unwavering stance on abortion as a mortal sin and a crime against human life, dignity, and freedom is well-established. However, the methods employed by some Catholics, such as Father Pavone, to promote an anti-abortion agenda have been highly controversial and divisive, even within the Catholic community itself. The incident of the aborted baby being placed on the altar underscores the complex and often contentious nature of the abortion debate within Catholicism.
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The Catholic Church's stance on abortion
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992, states that all forms of abortion whose direct purpose is to destroy a zygote, blastocyst, embryo, or fetus are opposed. It further affirms that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception" and that a human being, from the first moment of existence, has the inviolable right to life. Canon 1397 §2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law imposes automatic excommunication on Latin Catholics who procure an abortion, if they fulfill the conditions for being subject to such sanctions. Eastern Catholics are not subject to automatic excommunication but can be excommunicated by decree and only absolved of the sin by the eparchial bishop.
The Church's stance on abortion is influenced by early Christian teachings such as the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Apocalypse of Peter. The Didache, dating back to 70 AD, states, "You shall not procure [an] abortion, nor destroy a newborn child." Tertullian, an early Christian author, wrote, "We may not destroy even the fetus in the womb... To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to birth."
In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine affirmed the rejection of abortion at every stage, even in light of theories about the human soul not being present until several weeks into pregnancy. In the 13th to 19th centuries, theologians discussed the possibility of abortion being morally justified before "formation" or "ensoulment", but these theories were always rejected. The discovery of the human ovum in 1827 discredited Aristotle's mistaken biology, and scientists increasingly recognized the distinctness of the new living being formed at conception.
The Church's social doctrine, encompassing issues such as war, capital punishment, euthanasia, health care, poverty, and immigration, is founded on the inherent dignity of human life. The Church teaches that abortion is always wrong, even in cases of rape. It maintains that victims of rape deserve immediate medical, emotional, and spiritual care, and that a non-violent solution for both mother and child is superior to abortion.
While the Church's official stance is clear, many Catholics hold differing views, ranging from anti-abortion positions with exceptions to acceptance of abortion's legality and morality. Some critics have argued that the Church's anti-abortion stance is a recent development, but a review of historical writings reveals a consistent opposition to abortion.
In summary, the Catholic Church's stance on abortion is firmly against it, based on the belief that human life is sacred from conception and that abortion is the immoral killing of innocent human life. The Church's position has been consistent throughout history, and it continues to publicly oppose abortion and influence legislation related to it.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Father Frank Pavone, a pro-life priest, put an aborted baby on an altar in 2016.
Father Frank Pavone put an aborted baby on an altar to urge parishioners to vote against the Democratic Party in the 2016 election.
Father Frank Pavone's actions caused controversy and were criticised by many Catholics. The Diocese of Amarillo released a statement saying that it was opening an investigation into Father Pavone's actions, which were "against the dignity of human life and a desecration of the altar".
Father Frank Pavone stated that if he could do it over, he would not have displayed the body on the altar, but on a table.
