The Rev. Paul Chaim Benedicta Schenck

Father Paul Chaim Benedicta Schenck is a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg and Founding Director of the National Pro-Life Action Center on Capitol Hill, located directly across from the United States Supreme Court.

Fr. Schenck was raised Jewish and attended Hebrew school in Niagara Falls, New York. He became a Christian and was baptized at age sixteen. He attended a Jewish Theological Institute, a mission

ary Bible College, an Evangelical Seminary, and a Catholic University. He was an ordained Anglican minister, chaplain to the Law Faculty at Regent University, Executive Vice-President of the American Center for Law and Justice, and founder of two parochial schools, a ministry to the homeless and a missionary relief organization. He and his family came to the Catholic Church in 2004.

Fr. Schenck holds degrees in the bible, theology and humanities, and possesses the Graduate Catechetical Diploma granted by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy.  He was given the Life Achievement Award by Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and was awarded the Doctor of Humanities, (honoris causae), by the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts where he is a trustee. In 2009 he completed the certification program for the Pastoral Provision, which allows former Protestant clergy to be ordained Catholic priests. He was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Martin Holley of Washington, DC on February 20, 2010, and a priest by Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine on June 12, 2010.

Father Schenck has been interviewed on all major news networks, CBN and EWTN. He has appeared on Nightline with Ted Koppel, Larry King Live, the Leher News Hour, and ABC 20/20. He has also appeared on Court TV. He was featured in LIFE magazine, USA Today, Washington Times Magazine and World Magazine among many others. With attorney Stephen Peroutka, he is founder of National Pro-Life Radio.Net. In 2008 Bishop Kevin Rhoades appointed Director of the Respect Life Office for the Diocese of Harrisburg (PA).

When he was a Protestant pastor, Fr. Schenck challenged a federal district court injunction that restricted pro-life “sidewalk counselors” from approaching men and women with bibles, tracts and a peaceful, pro-life message. The case, Schenck V. Pro-Choice, reached the United States Supreme Court which held 8-1 in his favor striking down the portion of the Order that violated his First Amendment right of freedom of speech.

Fr. Paul married his High School sweetheart, Rebecca, at age eighteen, and they have nine children, one in heaven and eight on earth, ages 31 to 9 years. They also have a daughter and son in law.