Pope Francis has come under criticism for his decision to confer the title of Commander of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great” on a Dutch politician, noted internationally for her advocacy of abortion rights.
Lilianne Ploumen, who received the papal honour, has stated that she views this honour as an acknowledgment from the Pope, whom she describes as “progressive”, of her efforts to achieve greater access to and less restrictions on abortion services.
Ploumen claims to have contacts inside the Vatican, whom she has lobbied on the abortion issue. While past Popes have been steadfast in the Church’s pro-life message, Ploumen claims that Pope Francis is far less rigid.
While Vatican’s Press Office however, has denied the award was an acknowledgement of Ploumen’s abortion activism, many Catholics have questioned the wisdom of conferring such a title on a person whose primary achievements have been in relation to push for practically unlimited abortion access.