Frank Pavone, the defrocked Roman Catholic priest most known for being the founder and national director of the civil organization Priests for Life, recently posted the following on his social media regarding President Trump’s executive order seeking to expand the availability of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
“On IVF: don’t overthink what Pres Trump is doing or why he does not share our moral position. He wants to help families have babies, because he believes life is a beautiful blessing. That’s it. I much prefer that to the Democrat enemies of babies and the family.”
The man who has found tremendous support for decades from millions of Catholics due to his staunch defense of those lives in the womb who have no voice, suddenly finds excuses for the president’s decision which will lead to the discarding of millions of unborn babies, byproducts of IVF.
The Facebook post contains almost 300 comments. Most from supporters who are unable to understand the inconsistency of Pavone’s thought. Others blindly praise him, joining in the incongruity of being pro-life and not categorically condemning IVF.
“He wants to help families have babies, because he believes life is a beautiful blessing” – at the expense of millions of babies killed? One of the most basic moral principles is “the end does not justify the means.” Pavone should know this. With this statement, he is compromising his pro-life stance.
Why would Frank Pavone make such a statement? Why the mental acrobatics to defend the indefensible?
A quick review of his social media reveals a close relationship with President Trump. There is a picture of him at the inauguration, and one of him at Mar a Lago with Matt Gaetz. I dare to speculate that his statement departs from his pro-life views in order to maintain his political support of President Trump. He places politics over Church teaching.
I pray that Frank Pavone will repent from the scandal he causes. He is followed by over 800,000 people. For now, I will continue to return the mailings from Priests for Life that I receive at the parish, always marking them as “SPAM, return to sender.
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