The Vatican has laicised an internationally renowned pro-life activist priest for “blasphemous communications on social media”.

Fr Frank Pavone, national director of the Florida-based Priests for Life group, was also dismissed from the clerical state because of his “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop”.

The Dicastery of the Clergy reached a decision early last month and has also concluded that there is “no possibility of appeal”.

A letter to the U.S. bishop from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, said that Fr Pavone was given “ample opportunity to defend himself in the canonical proceedings, and he was also given multiple opportunities to submit himself to the authority of his diocesan bishop”.