What was “Pope” Francis thinking when he awarded noted Dutch pro-abortion advocate Lilianne Ploumen “Commander in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great”?

                                                                     

Lilianne and Francis

                            

A newsletter I received from Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute two days ago was entitled, “Your Catholic Week in Review (Scandal Edition!)”

It reads partly:

When I cautioned that 2018 was going to be a wild ride, we were hoping that perhaps we would get a chance to get settled in to the roller coaster first.

Instead, we weren't even given the chance to buckle the seat belt.

Today, the Lepanto Institute broke the news in a worldwide exclusive after a Twitter follower alerted us to a major and serious scandal.  In December 2017, noted Dutch pro-abortion advocate Lilianne Ploumen was awarded the title of Commander in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great. 

Lepanto was able to uncover a video of Ploumen showing off her medal to the host of a Dutch radio program.  Here is a rough translation of the exchange:

BNR – And this is the umpteenth prize that Lilianne Ploumen observes, won in 2017 and from whom they came.
Ploumen – Yes, it is a high distinction from the Vatican; from the pope.
BNR – From the pope.
Ploumen – Beautiful.
BNR – Yes.
Ploumen – It is Commander in the order of St. Gregory.
BNR – And that despite that you are pro-abortion.
Ploumen – Yes you can check.

Ploumen is the head of a recently launched NGO called She Decides, a pro-abortion organization designed with the single purpose of working around the Mexico City Policy -- a U.S. budget restriction that prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion.  In just six short months, She Decides raised $300 million.  To kill babies.

Ploumen's attachment to the Catholic Church is less clear, though it is noted that from 2004 thru 2007, Ploumen was the head of CORDAID -- a Dutch-led Catholic charitable group caught red-handed dispensing contraceptives and working hand-in-hand with Planned Parenthood while providing them with large amounts of funding..

It is unclear precisely what Ploumen has done to receive such an honor from the Vatican.  For this honor to have been granted not only to an enemy of the Catholic Faith, but to a person who has worked a lifetime to destroy human life, promote homosexuality, and advance a culture of contraception in direct violation of Humanae Vitae, is shocking to even hardened observers.

Yet this isn't even the worst of it.  The Order of St. Gregory is a pontifical honor, meaning that Pope Francis himself had to be aware of the appointment.  What's more is that such an award is typically given to those who have committed their lives to the promotion of the Holy See -- it's charitable works as well as providing excellent examples of Catholic citizenship in their respective countries.

What was Pope Francis thinking?  Was he oblivious to Ploumen's past and her most recent work?  Maybe.  Whatever the reasoning, that such a virulent and prominent pro-abortion advocate to be so honored is sending shockwaves throughout the Catholic faithful -- and on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae!

More after the jump. . .

Related:Francis not yet a manifest heretic? This is serious!