Paul Benno Marx, OSB (May 8, 1920 – March 20, 2010) was an American Roman Catholic priest and Benedictine monk, family sociologist, writer, and one of the leaders of the anti-abortion movements.
Né Benno William Marx, he was born in St. Michael, Minnesota as the fifteenth child of devoutly religious parents, George and Elizabeth, from the dairy farm where he was raised. There were thirteen girls and four boys (three children died in infancy) in the family.[1] Among his siblings were fellow Benedictine Father Michael and Sister Virgene Marx, OSB.[1][2]
Activism
One of Marx's books, The Death Peddlers: War on the Unborn, belongs to the basic literature of the anti-abortion movement.[3] The Benedictine Father became a spiritual mentor for his successor at PRI, Steven W. Mosher.[4]
Marx regularly edited material about natural family planning and led HLI until 1999.[1][2] In 2007, he received HLI's Cardinal von Galen Award.[5] Other recognitions gained by the monk of Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville include the Cardinal John J. O'Connor Pro-Life Award from Legatus (2003), Family Life International's "Faithful for Life Award" (2004) as well as PRI's Founder's Award.[1] Former President Ronald Reagan once stated in a letter to Marx:
“You can be proud of all you’ve done to summon this nation and others to reflection and positive action on issues affecting the sanctity of human life. God bless you.”[2]
Virgil Michel And The Liturgical Movement. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1957.
The Death Peddlers: War on the Unborn. Front Royal, Virginia: HLI, reprint, 1998, ISBN978-0814604014.
Death without dignity: Killing for mercy. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2nd edition, 1978, ISBN978-0814608692; later in the modified version And Now Euthanasia: HLI, 2nd edition, 1985.
Confessions of a Profile Missionary: The Journeys of Fr. Paul Marx. Gaithersburg, Maryland: HLI, 1988, ISBN1559220201.
Fighting for Life: The Further Journeys of Fr Paul Marx. HLI, 1989, ISBN978-1559220279.