Father Pavone Asked to Leave Priests for Life

Priests For Life Press Release ^ | September 10,2001 | Priests For Life

[electron1]

Father Pavone Asked to Leave Priests for Life

New York -- Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life for the past eight years, has been asked by Cardinal Edward Egan to resume full-time work within the Archdiocese of New York and leave his present position with Priests for Life. The reason for the decision is the need for parish priests in New York, and is consistent with similar decisions of the Cardinal to call back many other New York priests who are on special assignment.

Anthony DeStefano, Executive Director of Priests for Life, made the following statement:

"We are shocked at what has happened and frankly can't make heads or tails of it. Neither can other pro-life leaders worldwide. I know that Fr. Frank has committed his entire life to ending the tragedy of abortion. He has told me that he is preparing an important public statement to be made in the near future. He is continuing to negotiate with the Cardinal through all the proper channels and in accordance with the demands of Canon Law.

"In the meantime, in order to avoid any wrong impression that Priests for Life would operate without the blessing of the Church, Fr. Pavone has officially transferred the leadership of the organization to me and his other close associates, until such time that a new priests director is chosen. He and the organization have a long track record of fidelity to the Church and the bishops, and Fr. Frank does not want the organization which he built and which he loves so much to suffer because of a decision to transfer him."

DeStefano also said that Priests for Life would continue on the course Fr. Pavone has set for the organization.

"We have detailed plans that were formulated by Fr. Pavone which we will follow to the letter. Nothing is going to stop this organization from doing the things that have made us so effective in the past eight years. I am confident that all our friends and benefactors in the pro-life movement will continue to work harder than ever with us to make this happen."

Fr. Pavone is one of the leading voices in the pro-life movement. Cardinal John O'Connor appointed him to Priests for Life in 1993. Since that time, Fr. Pavone has transformed the fledgling group into an international organization with a multi-million dollar budget, a staff of almost 40 full-time employees, four full-time priests, and a global media outreach.

[electron1]

This came from the NRLC daily email message. I have yet to see it on the priests for life webpage. But it should be up soon.

[kassie]

We met Father Pavone in San Antonio back in 92. What a servant for God.

[electron1]

ttt

[Artist]

A very confused bump.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

A very confused repeat bump... Can anyone read between the lines here?

[AKA Elena]

I think that at this very moment -- as the shock of this sets in -- we are required to PRAY and not to make waves that will upset the perception of the organization as rebellious against the Church herself.

While his removal and return to clerical "duty" work seems to subvert the organization through Cardinal Egan -- we are to pray and continue to Support National Priests For Life as it is with Father Frank privately fighting his battle with his archdiocese.

[AKA Elena]

quoting and correcting the poor structure and lost meaning in my own words the organization as rebellious -- to be the Priests for Life Organization as supportive of and not rebellious against the Church herself.

[ex-snook]

I thought Fr Pavone was from New Jersey????

[electron1]

He probably is. But Priests for Life is under the authority of New York. Since that is where it runs out of...

[Diago]

bump - Let's keep this guys in our prayers.

[fatima]

Father Pavone you have our support and prayers

[Askel5]

Thank you very much for the bump.

So ... National Right to Life Committee is breaking the news, eh? Very interesting.

These being the same folks who headline their story on ESCR: BUSH BLOCKS STEM CELL FUNDING THAT WOULD DESTROY EMBRYOS.

They cut it very fine at the NRLC.

[Lady GOP]

Thank you for posting this. Hoping something can be worked out. This man is doing a fantastic job spreading the prolife message.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

AKA Elena: Thanks for your posts. I do understand that Father Pavone ruffled feathers outside the Church (the Pro-Life haters), but you are implying that he also ruffled feathers inside the Church as well. This is new to me. Since Priests for Life is in line with the Papacy, my question really is "Is Eagan himself in line with the papacy?" Or is Eagan moving Father Pavone to soften the ruffled feathers of groups and the "powers that be" that Eagan himself must deal with? The latter is a cop out if true.

[sockmonkey]

Gosh, that is strange, isn't it? Anyone guessing who might take his place? Fr Peter West is high profile..I just can't imagine Priests for Life without Fr. Pavone at the helm..

[AKA Elena]

My reference was totally in regard to this line from the e-mail: He is continuing to negotiate with the Cardinal through all the proper channels and in accordance with the demands of Canon Law.

I was asking for prayer that this not be turned into some faction type of action wherein Priests For Life might seem, in any way, to be outside or at odds with the Church.

There is a drastic shortage of priests for parish assignment -- but to have pulled such a wonderful soldier from this particular front line, is bound to raise questions.

This could be a simple exercise in obedience and in humility, to which Father Frank is being subjected ... and NONE of us know what the intent behind his removal is.

The misuse of NRTL, mentioned by Askel5, is a cause of deep concern for us as well -- as they are bragging about bastardization of one of their most basic goals and agree in essence with using the murdered embryos as fodder for future destruction, with some quixotic rationalization -- in this we have had a major sell out of truth and the entire movement for life.

AT LEAST, we needn't fear collapse of the Priests for Life and betrayal of our principles by them, no matter the "leader"-- not so, National Right to Life!

[Askel5]

Bears close watching, of course.

There is no question that there are many in the Catholic Church (Monsignor McHugh and Archbishop Spellman come to mind) who've been totally co-opted by the Culture of Death and politicians bent on pop-control and eugencics.
(If you've ever read any of my posts on from "The McHugh Chronicles" you know of what I speak.)

So ... for that reason I'm certainly wary when it comes to the Church (and the diocese of New York) but you're right that I have no qualms pointing out that the NRLC is utterly co-opted and basically just a means for consolidating pro-lifers so they can spin their wheels en masse on meaningless legislation between rationalizing support for "pro-lifers" like Bush and their Clever Compromises.

[Askel5]

Good question ... this is the first headliner to my knowledge. Interesting pick on his part.

(Assuming of course, that he -- like many AmChurch bishops -- exercises a certain independence from Rome. I see no reason yet to ascribe this decision to anyone but Egan himself.)

If a shortage of priests is the reason for this move, perhaps a death of traditional and faithful parishes is the real problem that needs addressing. In any case, I fail to see how recalling Pavone is the Only or the Best Option he has for filling a slot.

Perhaps he could check the rolls of "ministries" funded by the Campaign for Human Development and find a still-frocked priest able to fulfill his sacerdotal -- instead of Peace and Justice -- obligations for a change.