Well, sounds like the devil is in the details.  Time and time again we have seen bishops that seek their own try to use those that are doing good work.  If the Bishops’s accusations are true, then why wait until now.  So sad.  And, the Bishops wonder why Cathoics have left because of the sexual abuse.  This whole sad issue of Bishops who seek their own.  Well, here we are again.

It seems to me that the Church has more than enough scandal circulating in the press without airing more laundry in public.  From everything I’ve read about this issue, it looks like both sides passed up many opportunities to be much more discreet about it.

maybe this is gods way of saying the world is overpopulated. Maybe priests for life would do more good if it changed to priests for abuse victims.

Sounds like the lawyers are counseling their clients to say as little as possible: (1) the bishop doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know; (2) he’s toned down on a few of his more alarming statements, so we’re arguably even more confused than before; and (3) we’re learning more about potential issues from the local press than from the statements put out by the bishop and his priest.

This bishop sounds like Obama: We’ve got a serious problem with our economy that needs immediate attention; I will have a plan to deal with it as soon as I get back from vacation in a month.

My question to this bishop and all bishops is: Why do we need to have a “Priest For Life” organization in the first place?  Why aren’t ALL priest Priest For Life?  Why do the bishops leave it up to this one priest?

I encourage some people to be prudent and take a wait-and-see approach on this one before saying so much. We all love Fr. Pavone but there’s absolutely no reason to speak ill of the bishop in this case. I’ve seen a lot of comments on Facebook.

http://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=site:canonlawblog.blogspot.com+“Fr.+Pavone”

http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=841

@stillbelieve, There is a reason for Priests for Life. It is because some Bishops,Priests & even the Lay “faithful” are involved in the culture of Death. Whether its is Abortion, Murdering the sick or infirmed, or the Gay Culture/Lifestyle, there are Catholics in “good standing” who support one or all of these apostasies. I am quite sure you know some of them. Some Bishops support their “Gay” priests, because they mistakenly believe they are really great, and what they do when not “working as a Priest”, in just another matter. Excuse me, but they are supposed to be celibate, & what they do with young men does matter. Maybe this is what the Bishop wants to silence. Maybe he is a bit wishy washy on Catholic Catechism or wants to pick & choose like some “Catholics in good standing”.

I like Father Pavone :-)

He is my role model

I know Zurek and politically he is Obama’s man.

There MUST be a Priests for Life organization because Fr. Pavone is THAT exactly and few others are. He is saving thousands of babies from horrific suffering every day. Who else can say they are doing this? Now we must free Fr. Pavone as he must be allowed to do this asap. Nothing is more important than fetus ministry. The greatest priority we have is saving babies this second from such intense and a terrible fate.

“...where he (Pavone) will be permitted more freedom to pursue his ministry:”  is another example of what appears to be Fr. Pavone putting his will ahead of the Will of the Holy Spirit, expressed through Fr. Pavone’s legitimate superior, to whom he promised obedience. 

Give it up, Father!  You are harming the Pro-Life ministry and the work of all of us who are not members of and/or will not associate with Priests for Life.  A great many of us minister in the cause of Life and you’re challenge to your bishop is creating confusion and doubt.

Thank God for Fr. Frank Provone.  He has done more for the Pro Life movement than anyone else I could think of.  This Bishop should be encouraging Fr Frank and also joining forces with him to get rid of this scourge on society. Why would anyone in the Catholic church or the Priesthood, put up barriers for this Priest who is really following the churchs teaching on the santicity of life.  Shameful

I don’t think the “unborn have been forgotten in all of this”.

40 Days for Life has just had their most successful start ever with the most babies saved from death.

If anything, the Most High is sending a clear message to His Flock that the masses are what is important in the fight against abortion, not just one lone priest.

Prayer for all involved is needed here for all involved.  The organization is called Priest(S) for Life. Not Priest for Life.  The fight is going on strong.

Where is the humility in all of this?  Do we need to know all these details?  Where is the “prayer and reflection”?

We are a people of hope!

I cannot believe on this Pro-Life Month, the day we celebrate the miracle of Fatima that Our Lady would leave Fr. Pavone.  Let us lift him unitedly in prayer.

There has never been a time that I know of that the forces against life have been so blatant in their attacks!

Let us unite in prayer….Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us! 

In Christ!

Michelle

First, the very fact that the Bishop chose to make this public to begin is troubling. Had the Bishop been concerned solely about the Pastoral care of Fr. Pavone, I believe a private meeting would have been in order. Second, his excellency’s letter requesting that people quit contributing to PFL, without any documentation of financial improprieties on the part of PFL, is unconscionable. Third, the continued use of the term “suspended” (which is a canonical penalty) may actually work against the Bishop. By hitting Fr. Pavone with a canonical penalty without the due canonical process opens the door to an appeal. This whole ordeal has again thrust our beloved church into scandal, and let’s pray this gets resolved justly, and without too much egg on the face of either PFL or the Bishop.

John

Please! Let’s get this issue resolved one way or the other! It’s between a priest and his bishop and we needn’t make it world-wide! It has become an embarrassment for the Church! I said. She said. He said. They said. So what? The bottom line is the priest belongs to a diocese and promises obedience to his bishop. Right? So let him be accountable to his bishop and let everyone else keep their ‘nose’ out of it! Please!

I have been receiving numerous e-mails from Fr. Pavone during this period of time, each one more strident in demanding that I send money to him, send the largest amount of money I can.  One e-mail was about 6 pagse long with many links to send money to - the largest amount of money I can afford. Sorry, Fr. Pavone was simply asked to go back to his home base in Amarillo and just give himself to prayer and reflection before his meeting with his Bishop. Instead, Fr. Pavone continues to aggressively ask for money - lots of money, while his fans send inflammatory e-mails telling us to ‘free’ Fr. Pavone who has been ‘forced’ to go back to his diocese and that if Fr. Pavone is not freed, then unborn babies will die. They have it wrong…humble obedience to one’s lawful Superior will not cause babies to die - deliberate disobedience will! No one is indispensable - no one!!! And if there is no one in the Priests for Life group capable of stepping up while Fr. Pavone is away, then that is a big problem.  Mother Teresa died - another took her place. Pope John Paul died - another took his place.  God provides. Fr. Pavone’s vocation is to the Priesthood - his work is pro life work. But if he is called away from that cause, the work will go on. Father Pavone can call off his rabid fans if he wants to or he can allow them to bring more shame and dishonor to the Catholic Church.  Remember when Jesus was before Pilate: “He opened not His mouth.” - He never tried to defend Himself - He trusted completely in the Father…still He was crucified and He told us that we, if we would follow Him, would also be crucified…so let us pray for all our Bishops and Priests and let God work this situation out in a way that is beneficial and a blessing for all.

I am afraid the Bishop wants to raid PFL for its funds, and most likely he is jealous.

How many babies were slaughtered today while holy Fr. Pavone is detained from saving them? This is a horror in the highest degree and rivals a crusade. Nothing and nobody matters more than unborns. Abortion is so close to becoming illegal nationally, this is the only thing in our way now, so call Bp. Zurek and tell him we’re not going to let babies be spliced over this ego shananigans.

What has been suspended, entirely within the bishop’s prerogative, is Fr Pavone’s permission to minister outside the Diocese of Amarillo. Who made this public is anyone’s guess. If you ask Cui bono?—who benefits most from the bishop’s letter having been leaked, it’s clearly Fr Pavone and Priests for Life, who have managed to distract attention from the longstanding concerns about PFL’s use of tax-deductible donations and competent episcopal authority over Fr Pavone and his ministry (concerns Fr Pavone consistently refused to address in private meetings with his bishop, just as he did with his previous bishop in New York) and turn this into another hysterical Obama-Freemason-secret-homosexual-cabal conspiracy. Whose reputation is being trashed, scandalously? Not Fr Pavone’s, not the abortion industry’s—-Bishop Zurek’s. Meanwhile we get lurid Victorian anti-Catholic accusations (shades of Maria Monk!) of poor Fr Pavone’s being walled up incommunicado in a prison surrounded by poisonous rattlesnakes, with sinister albino nuns tossing scraps of moldy bread over the transom twice a day. Good grief! He is tweeting, updating his Facebook status, updating his newspaper blogs, holding meetings, and providing video chats streamed online from his “prison” cell around the clock, looking none the worse for the retreat he has been ordered by his bishop to take in a Benedictine monastery designed for quiet prayer and reflection. If there is egg on anyone’s face, it’s on the (fortunately small) segment of the prolife movement who believe nothing can be done without Fr Pavone. Look around, folks—40 Days of Life are underway and saving lives quietly, determinedly, and without drama or scandal in every part of the country, thanks be to God.

I once heard John Cardinal O’Connor, of blessed memory, who said that the bishop must resist the temptation to prevent others from doing good.  I think that this dictum might apply in this case.

Is this political- or
FAITH based???

I have a feeling that there are political overtones…..to the good Bishop’s orders….

We all know that Father Pavone has done- and IS doing wonderful work for the RIGHT TO LIFE - for all….

It’s Fr Pavone, not Bishop Zurek, who engages in partisan politics, risking his organization’s tax exempt status.

Fr. Pavone is doubtless growing spiritually from all this. The good bishop is certainly not. There should be no room in the Church for bishops with such egos and nil concern for Life. As for the IRS, .....does anyone have respect for it??

Fr. Pavone would freely die for the life of one child.  Do not question his integrity.  I have known Fr. Pavone and his parents for several years.

My take on this is that Bp. Zurek is upset at the anti Obama administration tone and will counsel Fr. Frank to stop it out of fear of loss of tax free status.  As a prior commentor said, and I believe, Bp. Zurek is an Obama supporter.  The tax free issue is bogus.  No Catholic or mainline church or synagogue has ever lost it. The financial issue of PFL is also bogus.  Fully audited financial statements for PFL are right on their website.  The other issue of the Gospel of Life Ministries is across the hall from PFL offices in Staten Island, NY as an outreach to non catholics.  It would be a subsidiary of PFL; an otherwise internal department. If there is some bureaucratic form they failed to file, I’m sure that can and certainly will be straightened out if it hasn’t already.

If you are looking for fiscal questions, look at the CPA’s reservation notes on the Amarillo diocese’s last audited financial statement showing that they themselves are not fully complying with standard financial practices.

Next week will certainly be entertaining.  Perhaps Bp. Zurek can give Fr. Frank some tips on getting an even tan.

Fr. Pavone would freely die for the life of one child.  Do not question his integrity.  I have known Fr. Pavone and his parents for several years. My take on this is that Bp. Zurek is upset at the anti Obama administration tone and will counsel Fr. Frank to stop it out of fear of loss of tax free status.  As a prior commentor said, and I believe, Bp. Zurek is an Obama supporter.  The tax free issue is bogus.  No Catholic or mainline church or synagogue has ever lost it. The financial issue of PFL is also bogus.  Fully audited financial statements for PFL are right on their website.  The other issue of the Gospel of Life Ministries is across the hall from PFL offices in Staten Island, NY as an outreach to non catholics.  It would be a subsidiary of PFL; an otherwise internal department. If there is some bureaucratic form they failed to file, I’m sure that can and certainly will be straightened out if it hasn’t already. If you are looking for fiscal questions, look at the CPA’s reservation notes on the Amarillo diocese’s last audited financial statement showing that they themselves are not fully complying with standard financial practices.Next week will certainly be entertaining.

Response to jkm

Suspension is a canonical penalty. Essentially, Fr. Pavone has been subjected to a canonical penalty without due canonical process. It is not the simple prerogative of the Bishop to suspend. Fr. Pavone has not been charged with a crime! That is why Fr. Pavone’s appeal to the Vatican has merit. The Bishop certainly has the authority to recall a priest, and restrict him to his diocese, but he does not have the authority to arbitrarily “suspend” a priest. Suspension is a form of censure, such as excommunication. Suspension is a sentence handed down after conviction of a crime.The Bishop knows this and his repeated use of the word, I’m afraid, belies his motive.

It’s an election year.  Time to shut up the leading pro-life Catholic voice.  Obama is looking very weak.  The Catholic vote is very important for the election.  So shutdown any embarrassing reminders that Obama is a baby killer.  Shutdown any mention that voting for a pro-abortion murderer is a mortal sin.  Note that in all of the Bishop’s remarks, he says nothing about abortion.  Just “Gospel of Life” gobbledy-gook that could mean anything.

John made a good post.  If the Bishop is only concerned about Fr. Pavone, why tell everyone to quit giving to PFL?  Checkmate.  That is an attack on PFL.

Like a posted earlier, the Bishop is supporting Obama and getting rid of an annoying priest who has the audacity to tell Catholics that they can not vote for Obama under pain of mortal sin.

I have listened to Father Pavone speak several times and was very much impressed with his enthusiasm, vigor, dedication to the Church and his total involvement in life issues. Putting him on the sidelines seriously handicaps the Church’s program to end abortion. It appears to me there was a major misunderstanding between Bishop Zurek and and Father Pavone about execution and financial responsibilities of the Priests for Life Program. I think it was poor judgment for the Bishop to publically recall Father Pavone and arrange to discuss it with him two weeks later. This time line stretches out the period that Father Pavone was under suspicion for actions unbecoming a priest. An effort should have been made to resolve unsettled issues in a shorter period of time. If the recall were needed to be immediate for business or other reasons, a temporary management appointment could have been made for another leader of the PFL with an appropriate appointment outlining details. If Bishop Zurek does not want to supervise a ministry that functions all over the USA, perhaps the US Bishops can suggest another Bishop who might want to asume this responsibility. I hope all parties will quickly settle this dispute and get Father Pavone back on the job of saving the lives of the unborn and his reputation.

This sounds like the classic case of putting money above more important isues, like life. It sounds like the rhetoric we’re hearing from both political parties that “the most important issue is the economy. We have to fix the economy. We have to create jobs.” LIFE is the most important issue, not the economy. It’s one’s understanding of the life issues that gives the appropriate perspective on the economy - not the other way around. Fixing the economy and creating jobs is not going to end abortion. However, one’s understanding of the sacredness of life will help guide one in matters of economics.

I understand from several sources that Fr. Pavone continues to ask/beg for money. Since when? Why? I thought he was locked-up in a ‘convent’ for prayer and reflection! This entire matter continues to be a scandal for all Catholics! And are we not surprised?? The bottom line is we do not know who to believe or trust. Games, games, games! I ‘dare’ the Church to make Fr. Pavone a bishop! I double dare you! And then we’ll see what really happens!

Slaughter & maiming and unfathomable infinite suffering of MILLIONS of babies so far just so Bp. Zurek’s ego and love of Obama is protected. Fr. Pavone must be freed ASAP to save babies doomed to the most horrific fate imaginable. Faithful I work with are beyond outraged and incensed. His detainment must cease NOW or our society is eternally doomed.

Randy, it looks as though you have been seriously mislead: the world is overpopulated? What nonsense! Besides, if this is true, then why oh why are you still here being part of the problem? As for what this article is ABOUT, we need to pray very much for our Bishops to be right with God. We don’t know what is going on (I doubt if the bishop is clear on this), but we do know that this is the devil’s work to destroy another holy priest. Oh by the way, what does this good bishop do to help to save our babies? Does he preach about the evils of birth control, shacking up and/or abortion? I doubt it.  +JMJ+

Behind-the-scenes two things are happening. First, the House of Representatives will vote next week on H.R. 358, the Protest Life Act, which would close the loopholes allowing public funding of abortions, according to Obamacare, directly or indirectly, as well as ensuring the right of conscience of health care workers who are unwilling to participate in abortions is protected under the law, in writing. Now that a primary pro-life spokesman sees his reputation muddied in the media, clearly Fr. Pavone’s activism at this critical, historic moment, is not going to be as effective as it might otherwise have been. Again and again, I have tried to explain to people that there are political considerations behind this whole mess in Amarillo, and it goes beyond antagonizing the IRS, folks. The second behind-the-scenes factor is that Fr. Pavone announced a few days ago that he would be going, in person, to the general conference next month of the USCCB. Subsequently, Bishop Zurek issues yet another statement, rather toned-down. Read between the lines. Anyone can do this.

Video link:  Visitor finds Fr. Pavone exiled an hour’s drive from Amarillo down a dirt road, without telephone or television, in a small room, virtually being treated worse than a prisoner in a Federal prison. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aFlVhD5Npc

Whereas I can understand the need for maintaining discipline in the Church, I am disturbed that the Bishop of Amarillo’s position leaves me with the uncomfortable feeling that there is an Ego motivated Vendetta against Fr. Pavone. The success of his ministry,in his pursuit of justice for the unborn , far outweighs the personal considerations of the bishop for maintaining discipline.

The ministry of Fr. Pavone , in my opinion, has met with all the requests from the bishop to account for the financial safeguards imposed for running a business enterprise. He should bear in mind that the ministry is global in nature - using the modern tools afforded by modern technology which is available through ‘Tele-Evangelism’. From a canonical point of view , the cause is Just and the effect Far-reaching and within the prescribed guidelines of the Church. Such being the case, the method used goes far beyond the meditative stage of Praying for a solution to the phase of Implementing its response. If through this effort - it reaches one family to save one unborn ....it is worth maintaining it alive and functioning.

The bishop, by preventing him from practicing it in Amarillo , but not restricting it to other communities, underlines the narrow-mindedness of his approach. He would do well to reflect that the Catholic Faith is by definition Universal. If it is no good for Amarillo then it should not be good Universally.

With you in Christ.

It would be prudent to await the information that Father Pavone’s bishop will publish after a full investigation. To do otherwise would to risk the same mistake of those who blindly defended Father Corapi against legitimate ecclesiastical authorities.  Suffice it to say that Priests for Life has the lowest rating of any major Pro-Life group, according to an independent study of not-for-profit foundations. One “former director” receives nearly $200,000 annually although he is employed elsewhere. For the national rating:  http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6438

This matter ought to have been dealt with in private. As it is, scandal is caused though presumably not intended to be. We pray for a quick and full resolution, and that no wrongdoing shall be found to have occurred on the part of anyone involved. May the Holy Spirit guide both parties. And may the prolife cause not be harmed in any way, but rather, strengthened. Lynda

Thank you, John.  You are absolutely correct that the term ‘suspension’ is a canonical penalty.  Virtually everyone who is in clergy is aware of that.  None of us know the details of this mess.  I respect Father Pavone’s pro-life work; he walks the walk!  I know nothing about the bishop.  However, rather than indicting father Pavone based on hearsay, I prefer to await Rome response to Pavone’s appeal.

Fr pavone is not a political prisoner, he is not in exile for his personal or religious beliefs. He is at a convent supposedly making a silent retreat. As a lay person I have made several silent retreats and found spiritual renewal each time. The lack of phone, tv, etc is to facilitate silence, reflection and prayer. (How pavone is able to pray and reflect without disturbance while posting every 2 hours on Facebook is beyond me!) PFL financial issues need to be addressed, but esp pavones ministry and personal commitment to diocesan priesthood need attention. That PFL can’t go on without him is absurd, unless the organization truly has no leadership structure. As a diocesan priest, pavone promised obedience to the bishop and committed to the pastoral care of those in his diocese. Period. These are his priorities, not PFL. If he can’t keep these promises how can he be trusted with any other promises. Pavone is not under house arrest. He is free to walk away from amarillo -and even from the priesthood if he chooses. Perhaps he’d prefer running his own mega church with his own following. Abortion is an atrocity, but pavone is not the sole crusader opposing it. Bsp Zurek stepped in where others feared to tread. The Bsp deserves respect from pavone and his followers. Fleeing to another diocese will not solve pavones arrogance. Perhaps some reflection on humility as well as obedience would be helpful here.

Obedience to one’s superiors in matters of faith is a sign of one committed to God and greater graces are earned for oneself and the world by yielding.  It is seen repeatedly by saints who were unjustly accusedand sometimes punished, then eventually cleared when God forced the Truth into the light.  God will set things aright at the time He knows is right.  Fr. Pavone’s obedience will shower greater benefits to the cause he loves, while disobedience will only bring harm.  Our prayers to God asking that He strengthen Fr. Pavone, enlighten the bishop and us all, and show the Truth are the greatest influence we can have on the situation.  “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”  Padre Pio

I have just come back online - after a few weeks of absence - and I am amazed most of us are forgetting the Cardinal Rule of the Catholic Church Magisterium. Bishops are the Ordinary of their Dioceses and Archbishops of their Archdioceses.  Every Year, on Holy Thursday - during the Holy Mass of the Chrism - ALL Priests in the Diocese/Archdiocese renew their Vow of Obedience to their Ordinary.  The same way we Catholic Faithful do during the Easter Vigil Holy Mass and on Eater Sunday Holy Mass - renewing our Baptismal Vows.  The first thing every Priest is required to do, is to obey his Ordinary and then embark on the laid-down procedure of clearing whatever misunderstanding has cropped up between him, his work as a Priest, and his Ordinary.  I may be dense but I am baffled that some Respondents here are encouraging Fr. Pavone to enter into a slanging match with his Bishop.  Humility, and again Humility and Obedience are the Key Words in our Catholic Church.

Thank you, Bill Russell for reminding us that we do not want another ex-Father Corapi’s “I am The Shepherd” embarrassment .  Our Priests must at all times set a good example to the Laity by observing the Vow of Obedience to their Ordinaries and the Rule of their Congregations.  We must never encourage any Priest who feels he is superior to his Bishop and the Bishop has no right to try to regulate how he performs as a Priest in whatever “Charitable” and “Corporal Works of Mercy” he performs while under the Authority of that Ordinary/Diocese

How many millions of babies slaughtered, maimed, sucked up today while holy Fr. Pavone is imprisoned.

The mission IS NOT ABOUT THE MAN ~ IT’S ABOUT SAVING BABIES & WOMEN.  The bishop would not have taken this action unless he had solid evidence that an investigation is needed.  The Church goes on everytime a pope dies and is replaced with another pope.  The same goes for organizations whose missions are good, but leadership sometimes fails.

For crying in a bucket…please, Bishop, will you simply have your long delayed but overly advertised “dialogue” with one of your priests rather than constantly calling attention to yourself and your position of authority.  Just speak to Father in private for a change before adding more error to your public statements about him and attempting to get opinion pre-divined by your brother Bishops and the public at large both of whom have no idea of the real facts.  Be responsible/accountable and at least play your side of your role as Bishop/father.  He obeyed you. He returned to be left hanging in the wind until you finally get the facts that you seem to still be wondering about while publicly announcing only your “feelings” which have gone to insinuate what you have no foundation in truth.  Sheesh….if you can’t handle one priest who appears ready for discussion, how do you govern a whole diocese??

And….what he said in a brave teaching of the Truth of the matter, hitting the nail on its head, which apparently has failed to be recognized by so many “excellent” lecturers: 

http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/2011-0930-ferrara-pavone.htm

IOW, what the true dictates of the Faith order or….“I was naked and the most vulnerable of human life and you saved me after I survived an attempt on my life, following the example of the Good Samaritan in My Word rather than those who ‘claimed’ to be one of My own but who preferred to consciously prevent those who would come to My aid from doing so.”

So many people appear to have their Faith priorities skewed, weakened by the history of the last 5 or so decades.

Bishop Z is in the pocket of politicians. He made his move at a time when Fr. Pavone’s voice needs to be heard.

Many of the comments here illustrate my point about the Rise of the Conservative Anti-Catholic Catholic.

I am having surgery that day so I will offer it up for God’s truth to rule the day and their conversation.

Interesting and informative personal knowledge connection with Bishop Z from # 23 commentor named Famijoly posted on September 14, 2011 at 1:31 am

on the great pro-life nurse, Jill Stanek’s, blog:

http://www.jillstanek.com/2011/09/breaking-bishop-suspends-fr-frank-pavone-from-priests-for-life/

Mark: Exactly. You saved me the trouble of posting the link.

Interesting and informative personal knowledge connection with Bishop Z from # 23 commentor named Famijoly posted on September 14, 2011 at 1:31 am
on the great pro-life nurse, Jill Stanek’s, blog:

http://www.jillstanek.com/2011/09/breaking-bishop-suspends-fr-frank-pavone-from-priests-for-life/

I am stunned at how many folks have become so enamored of Fr Frank that they really believe that one man is capable for saving all the babies.  The pro-life movement has never been about one magic solution to this terrible tragedy!  It has always been about each of us doing what we can, each in our place to change our culture. 

At this moment when there is a major vote about to take place in Congress on the funding of abortion under the new Obama Health Care law why aren’t the people writing so franticly about “freeing Fr Frank” busy writing to their Congressmen instead!  I would have hoped that all of Father’s preaching had taught folks how to get the job done themselves!

There have been some amazing speakers that I have heard in my 25 yrs in the prolife cause.  It feels great to get your spirits charged up by a good sermon or speech, but just listening w/out action is useless. Fr Frank gets lots of chances to preach to the choir, but ask folks randomly on the street if they know who he is and they won’t have any idea. 

I would much rather get back to work supporting the annonymous groups like NRLC and SFLA and all the local Pregnancy centers. These groups don’t have “Stars” but just keep getting the job done, on Capital Hill, on college campuses, and one on one with each troubled mother. PPL it appears to me promotes Fr Frank.

I found his refusal to silence or calm his fans very troubling.  especially that there has been no comment about Mark Crutchers rudeness to Bishop Zurek!  Very sad indeed.  I fear Father like the attention!  I Pray for Bishop Z. to be able to help him find humility.

I know I will have angered some here but somebody has to say it!

Pray for the good sisters that are stuck out in the desert with Fr Frank!

And how many more millions of babies will be hacked up today while Fr. Frank is imprisoned??

Lili, thank you for your sensible comment.  Fr. Pavone is but one fish in the sea.  The Pro-Life Movement did great work prior to Fr. Pavone’s arrival on the scene and will continue to do great work long after all of us are gone to heaven.  (I’ve been involved in Pro-Life since Cardinal McIntyre proposed the first Pro-Life organization in America, the Right To Life League of So. California - 1967.)

“I Pray for Bishop Z. to be able to help him find humility.”

Since I’ve never seen anyone without humility himself teach humility to another I would suggest that first you pray for the one in authority here who has yet to prove the insinuations that he has made publicly and who has therefore the greater responsibility to begin to “live” himself what he has so far failed in his own actions and words!

I too have heard some good talks re: the pro-life cause but most have not been while they were actually fighting the good fight themselves.  It isn’t the man….it’s the work….and to have that work possibly injured because some ego decides to tell people to stop donating to the work, thus involving a larger movement which DOES NOT come under his authority to speak for or against is truly dispicable and DOES NOT follow any type of “Canon Law”.

This “smells” like the issue between Cardinal Spellman, of New York, and at the time, Fr. Fulton J. Sheehan, over the Proporgation of Faith funds.
Sheenhan was later elevated to Archbishop and is currently undergoing the process to Sainthood.
Shame on Speelman.

Have most people forgotten (if they ever knew) that Fr. Pavone is a priest of Amarillo because he did not want to be a parish priest in NY and so was given permission to set up a religious order in Amarillo?  Are they aware that five years ago there was a groundbreaking ceremony in Amarillo with Vatican officials, Alveda King, Janet Morano and others to build a seminary and recognized the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life as a Society of Apostolic Life?  That nothing ever became of the seminary after it was discovered that Priests for Life (a secular corporation) rather than the religious order itself had title to the land and control of the millions of dollars raised?  That Bishop Yanta wound up suppressing the religious order with permission of the Vatican, and that Fr. Pavone lost an appeal to the Vatican?  That the millions of dollars raised for the seminary were spent elsewhere by Priests for Life?  Can anyone look at the audited financial statements and say how much was spent on Fr. Pavone’s sake for an apartment, automobile and expense account (you can certainly see there was nearly $1M in travel expenses)?  Can anyone tell from the audited financial statements how much was spent to purchase books by (former?) director Anthony DeStefano, who’s books seem to have been both sold and given away by PFL?  Is that part of the $1.7M in printing and publications?  After spending that much for p&p, do they have an inventory left over or was out sent out, solicited or unsolicited?

None of the $$$ matter. The end result is millions of blessed babies being saved every day and that’s EVERYTHING. So another day and again millions of innocent babies slaughtered and slain while holy Fr. Pavone is imprisoned.

Catherine Panzica:

Nonsense Father Pavone is not “imprisoned.”  He is in a comfortable retreat house with living arrangements most people would envy, free to communicate and with use of a car.  Two issues: (1)  violation of his vow of obedience to his bishop. by not meeting with him - an act of insubordination. (2) the question of use of funds for salaries and expenses which could have been used for preventing abortions more effectively. Contrary to what you say, $$$ matter.  It is called stewardship.  Priests for Life has a poor rating among similar pro-life foundations by independent not-for-profit survey organizations.  -  Spare us the drama queen histrionics of “imprisonment” and lives lost.  There are plenty of other organizations doing better work without executive salaries.  -  Prediction: the Holy See will reject Pavone’s appeal just as it did his sham seminary and religious order.  -  There will be cries of disappointment, just as there were among those who instinctively defended Father Corapi against his legitimate superiors.  And how many of those who “knew” Corapi was a hero and that his superiors were “villains” have apologized?

Dear Rev. Bishop, we should all get on our knees and pray many
rosaries for an outstanding priest like Fr. Frank Pavone.  How
many abortion walks have members of your diocese been engaged in?
Prayerfully, Rose Vengilio

Maybe a lay person or a committee of lay persons should organize and manage Father Pavone’s pro-life activities for a while. But what about the other Priests, (it is called Priests For Life) will they all be ordered to be silent on the abortion issue? Maybe this comes all the way from the vatican which has been luke warm about pro-liofe issues since Pope John Paul II passed on.

In these extraordinary times of one wolrdness and a secular wolrd without a conscience maybe it is not a priests job to openly be prolife.

Which leads me to predict a new need for another chuirch to be just that, prolife.

I don’t know what is going on but seems to me ” we all need to pray for the whole world to get rid of anybody who supports Obama and his baby killing.