Posted on 09/10/2001 1:34:08 PM PDT by 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.
I'd be very surprised if someone as diplomatic as Pavone would endorse a particular candidate, by name.
This can affect non-profit status, you know.
But, if you follow the example Cardinal O'Connor set, there was no question about the "Monment of Conception to Moment of Natural Death" question. There is only one choice in our (NJ's) Gubernatorial race that can be supported by Catholics. That would be Bret Schundler.
He was clear and concise on that matter in all of his preaching . . . IMO I don't think he would have ever removed such a staunch Pro-Life advocate from this cause.
I hate to say it, but perhaps Egan isn't the best successor to O'Connor? He has been noticably silent since becoming Archbishop - and in NYC silence isn't golden.
Perhaps that is why JPII is sending Myers to Newark?
Egan's an administrator. That was his reputation in his previous diocese. To expect him to be more "out front" now would be expecting too much.
O'Connor apparently let the NY archdiocese get deeply in debt; Egan's been closing parishes.
I've seen both kinds of bishops. It's often the administrator who has to come in and clean up behind the charismatic exemplar.
You know better than this. No group of American Churchmen have been more pro-life than the American bishops.
"Promotion of homosexuality?" Preposterous.
But on another score, Egan has removed the priest at St. Agnes who conducting traditional services there and brought him to St. Patrick's. Meanwhile, the priest whose job this man took at St. Patrick's has gone to take over St. Agnes. (Something the management books tell you not to do!) He knew nothing of celebrating traditional mass and apparently was not informed about it by anyone, so I believe he removed the big crucifix from the front of the altar area and tried to distribute communion in front of the altar rail, which had people kneeling down on the floor---they didn't know what to do.
At first the bringing of the traditionalist priest to the cathedral seemed like a good sign, and I think I have noticed a tad more Latin at St. Patrick's, but put it together with the Pavone business and what does it mean? It seems that priests who stand out from the mainstream and have a strong following are being placed elsewhere. Just a thought.
Please don't equate becoming a pastor with some sort of punishment. Perhaps your diocese has a plethora of excellent pastors, but mine is starved for them. The parishes are the roots of the Church. Pavone will hardly be wasting his time by tending to them.
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