If you follow Catholic news, you might have already heard that Michael Voris, the founder of the Catholic tabloid Church Militant and of Saint Michael’s Media, has abruptly resigned from his position.
At the time I’m writing this, no one is entirely sure why he has resigned. This sudden resignation has come as shock to many. Church Militant has announced that he was asked to resign due to his violation of their “morality clause.” They posted the following statement to their website:
Fellow Catholics,
Church Militant/St. Michael’s Media was founded as a bastion of Catholic truth and a light to the faithful in hard times. This is why we are being fully transparent with you all.
Michael Voris has been asked to resign for breaching the Church Militant morality clause. The board has accepted his resignation.
We understand this is a shock to you all, but our founder and former CEO is stepping aside and focusing on his personal health.
The Board of Directors has chosen not to disclose Michael’s private matters to the public. The apostolate will be praying for him, and we kindly ask you to do the same.
Church Militant/St. Michael’s Media is just as positioned to save souls as it ever has been. There are more than 40 full-time employees on the cutting edge of Catholic truth moving forward with renewed fervor.
The apostolate will remain unwavering in its reporting and its commentary — defending Holy Mother Church from errors both inside and out.
We appreciate your continued support and prayers.
God love you,
Church Militant
Shortly after this announcement, Voris himself appeared on Twitter (now called X) in an unscripted, rambling video in which he begged for forgiveness from all he’s hurt, explained that he was going to take an extended time to receive help for issues “from the deep past,” and pleaded that any upcoming revelations about him not reflect badly on “the apostolate.” He did not say what he did to hurt so many people or what the sins from his past are. During the video he looked terrified, and at certain points he seemed ready to cry. He also insisted, as the statement did, that the mission of his “apostolate” remains “to save souls.”
For anyone not familiar with Church Militant, it’s important to make clear that they are not in any way an “apostolate.” They are a scandal rag. They have been making their money by committing the sin of detraction for years and years. On multiple occasions, I have had to watch my dear friends suffer because they were the subject of smear pieces by Church Militant, which triggered an onslaught of harassment and even threats by Church Militant’s paranoid fans. In addition to this, they are constantly calumniating LGBTQ Catholics and making us out to be the secret cabal causing every problem with our Church. The suffering they’ve caused is real, traumatic, and inexcusable. Those are sins. I hope Voris comes to his senses and repents.
I also hope Voris comes to realize that neither he nor Church Militant can “save souls.” Only the mercy of God can save souls. And Church Militant has never displayed one iota of mercy to its victims.
May God have mercy on Michael Voris, and on everyone he’s hurt.
Mary Pezzulo is the author of Meditations on the Way of the Cross, The Sorrows and Joys of Mary, and Stumbling into Grace: How We Meet God in Tiny Works of Mercy.
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