Basically, Father Frank Pavone takes a very political approach to things and focuses on money donations - he attends events such as Legatus banquets to raise money.
In the 1970s, I worked at the Playboy Mansion West in Beverly Hills. I found more in common with working with Father Frank Pavone and Hugh Hefner (both famous people) than I did with Father Frank Pavone and other priests.
If one would ask me if Father Frank Pavone was a good or bad priest, I would have a tough time answering that question.
I hope this is just me and my perspective.
But all priests need our prayers.
Msgr. Reilly is amazing. It's amazing to watch him work. He understands the psychology of every single person who comes to the clinic, and he knows how to reach them. And he always puts prayer first. And he'll tell you everything about what the Yankees are going to do later.
What a shameful little piece of innuendo.
It's easy to see which priest is considered the greater threat by "the accuser."
I wonder why you post this? Under 'speaking the Truth in love?' I don't believe it is that. Is it to get back at a man you worked under who wouldn't honor you? Is it Christ's calling to write this slander? Just a challenge -- I find it NOT uplifting nor edifying.
I was just speaking to my friend on the phone re: Msgr. Riley. He is also a Latin scholar and I thought of asking for his help on something... but you and I know, he's very busy.
Fr. Frank I miss, I guess since they set up in Texas, I will not get to see him as much here in NYC, saying Mass for us at Holy Innocents or other parishes and talks. But I met the new layman at a function here two months ago... outstanding.
They both are great for the pro life cause, and help in the persecution the CPCs are going through in this country.
interesting take on two priests fighting in the war for life.
Fr. Pavone is a visible, widely known political leader. Although I've met him, I don't know him well - although he's certainly a faithful correspondent. He seems to write my wife or me nearly every day LOL. But the truth is that part of his job is to raise funds. As part of that job, he needs 24 hour a day access to cell phones, fax machines, and the internet. His job is raising awareness among men, and as such he must live in the world. He is known by virtually all practicing Catholics. He puts a face to a pro-life priest. And sadly, we all know priests who are not pro-life. Mercifully, those priests are not as well known as Fr. Pavone.
I know Msgr. Riley, but really, how many active Catholics know of him? Of course, it doesn't really matter who knows Msgr. Riley - his work is in the trenches.
Each man, in his own way, has saved countless babies. And isn't that really the goal?
topher, not directed to you. This is for the person who wrote this article
I just wanted to make a general defense against this Fr. Frank bashing. The man does not stop working. Day and night. This is the reason why he likes hotels because they are far more set up to be offices and produce work from rather than a rectory. In rectories, there are constant interuptions from people who want to hear his stories or views. In hotels, this is not so much the case.
As for the car he drives, it’s a 10 year old Honda Accord.
Comparing the two as opposites is not fair. If it was only done Msgr Riley’s way, he will be in front of the abortion clinic saving babies until the day he passes. His successor will also be standing in front of the abortion clinic until he or she passes. I’m not knocking on this approach. I’m just saying that this movement has many niches that need to be filled and active. Msgr Riley can work on saving the people entering a building, Fr. Frank can help shut the buildings down.
Fortunately, prayer doesn’t cost a thing so Msgr Riley does not have to focus on bringing in donations. Changing laws and traveling the country to rally and invigorate pro-life leaders and parish pastors, speaking at conferences and all the parishes that I know he does, as well as paying the staff of Priests For Life, like the person who wrote this article, costs money. It costs a lot of money. Pay for the jet that brought Baby Joseph to America costs a lot of money. The technology that drives the email blasts as well as the staff involved in sending out a blast costs money. The highly skilled staff members who delegated with the Canadian hospital as well as searched for a suitable hospital in the states, guess what, they don’t work for free. They aren’t priests.
I wouldn’t bring a laptop with me to sidewalk counsel and I wouldn’t bring rosary beads with me to visit Hilary Clinton.
Fr. Frank Pavone, from what I know, encourages his staff to go to mass as often as possible because that is where they will find the strength to keep chugging along. From what I hear, he even holds mandatory all-staff masses. I heard he takes a head count, not publicly.
To make a further comparison as members on the same side, Fr. Frank is the Paul Revere and Msgr. Riley is like a sergeant. Msgr. Riley is the guy on the ground with a rifle who kills 15 to 20 (continuing with the army analogy), Fr. Frank is the guy in the lab designing bombs that destroys enemy cities.
The biggest difference between the two? Fr. Frank is mean and harsh and an introvert. Being the introvert that he is, he’s socially awkward and incapable of relaying gratitude of good work without instant awkwardness. He is NOT a ‘pat on the back’ kind of guy. Most people look for that, don’t get it, and cry about it. Msgr. Riley is far more easy to get along with. Plain and simple. It’s likability. Fr. Frank might be great behind a podium or lectern and even good with strangers, but overreacts with mistakes and rarely dishes compliments. This is not to say that he isn’t capable of gratitude. Just, he isn’t great at showing it or even expressing himself and how he feels. Point A to point B and that’s it. Msgr. Riley on the otherhand, is great at showing it.
Raise your hand if you have never met a mean priest. Trust me, there are plenty of them around. But don’t confuse that with lack of spirituality.
I also thought that I was not treated very well. Five years ago when I worked for PFL, I just could not cope with living in NYC [substandard living in my opinion], and how PFL was run.
Even after 5 years I have serious issues about this.
I tried about two years ago to talk to a priest about this, but it started to come out as clergy abuse, so I dropped any pursuit of my healing for the sake of the church.
I just hope that PFL changes for the better -- in terms of treatment of employees, and the attention to the spiritual life of the employees.
bttt
Msgr. Philip Reilly is still active in the pro-life ministry at the abortion clinics in Brooklyn and has chapters for Helpers of God’s Precious Infants in almost all states and overseas. God Bless him!