International Events

Click here for our international resources

November 4-6, 2009: Priests for Life was in Spain where the Abortion Debate is Making International Headlines .  Read updates and see photos: [Part 1]; [Part 2]; [Part 3]

August 2009: Rachel's Vineyard holds training conference in London

August 10-12, 2009

Priests for Life Co-Sponsored the World Congress of Families V, Amsterdam

The World Congress of Families V opened on August 10 in Amsterdam with a blockbuster list of internationally renowned speakers including our very own Janet Morana and participants from all around the world. Fr. Frank Pavone was pleased to have Priests for Life co-sponsor this important gathering and also to host a meeting for the leadership of the international pro-life movement.  (Click here to hear Janet's talk and scroll forward to 36:00)

Highlights of the first day included Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA concelebrating Mass for international guests and an interview by Radio Netherlands of Fr. Carlos Simon Vazquez, Deputy Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, at the Priests for Life exhibit booth and international outreach desk. While international and Dutch press reported on Priests for Life activities and materials, participants from Spain, France, Nigeria, Kenya, Thailand, Romania, Mexico and Canada among other countries expressed appreciation for Priests for Life's ministries including Rachel's Vineyard and the Silent No More Awareness campaign. Many picked up and wore our buttons "Women Do Regret Abortion" and "I Regret Lost Fatherhood."

Priests for Life was invited by the Vatican's Council of the Family to attend the conference and to continue to spread its much needed gospel of life to every corner of the world.

Day 2 of the World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam brought many blessings. Along with Janet Morana's arrival, Priests for Life has generated much international press. Given Priests for Life's reputation we have literally had back-to-back interviews with French, Dutch and Swedish radio and print journalists.

After stimulating talks on such topics as The Influence of Modern Media on the Family and The Social and Economic Effects of Declining Birthrates, the day ended with Priests for Life's reception for international pro-life leaders from every continent who discussed future collaborative efforts and are taking our materials back to their home countries.

The World Congress of Families wound up its 5th international conference with a final day of experts speaking on critical topics such as The Influence of the United Nations on Families Around the World, How Cloning and Stem Cell Research Affect Family Life and Euthanasia and Palliative Care.

Janet Morana, co-founder of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and Executive Director of Priests for Life, gave a motivating, inspirational talk (see link above) on How Life Issues Affect Women. She drew great interest and many questions about how to start campaigns in individual countries. Read the presentation version or the full version of her talk.

Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA concelebrated Mass with bishops from The Netherlands and Spain and led the liturgical music daily.

Our Priests for Life international outreach desk was completely depleted of all the materials we brought and we even ended up donating luggage for Fr John of Nigeria to carry away the last few books, CDs, and brochures.

PFL commends the organizers of the WCF for their defense of the family and the right to life. Fr Pavone was honored to support this global initiative and pleased by the growing international support for our various ministries.
 

June 2009

Priests for Life was in Spain for the Re-Consecration of the country to the Sacred Heart and the start of the 'Year for Priests'.  Click here for more information.

March 2009

Fr. Denis Wilde in Malta

Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA, Associate Director, travelled to Malta to have various meetings and preaching and teaching the Gospel of Life to students, priests and laity. After Malta he will travel to Rome.  Click here for photos.

March 6-8, 2009

Priests for Life Co-Sponsored 128 Students at 2nd International Student Pro-Life Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland

“My value is not based on how I was conceived.” -Rebecca Kiessling

In conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), Priests for Life co-sponsored 128 students attending the 2nd International Student Pro-Life Conference on March 6-8, 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland. This dynamic event featured personal stories behind the “hard cases” of abortion and focused on the theme “I Am Here.” Keynote international pro-life speaker Rebecca Kiessling, who was conceived after her mother was raped, was joined by professionals in Bioethics and Post Abortion Counseling. Margaret Cuthill, the Regional Coordinator for Priests for Life’s Silent No More Awareness Campaign, gave a testimonial “I chose abortion”. In addition to being a terrific educational opportunity, the conference networks pro-lifers ages 17 to 35 years from around the world. For more information, please visit the conference website. You can read Margaret Cuthill’s testimony online.

January 2009

In January 2009, Priests for Life participated in the Vatican's VI World Meeting of Families in Mexico City by meeting with pro-life leaders, bishops and cardinals from around the world; formally addressing approximately 12,000 congress participants; and distributing thousands of pro-life brochures, signs and prayer cards.  See our daily reports and gallery of photos by clicking here.  Read (in English or Spanish) of the values and objectives of the meeting, Pope Benedict XVI's address and the press releases at http://www.emf2009.com. 
 

Our International Resources

The mission of Priests for Life, like the Church itself, is international in scope. Below are links to several very important resources that assist pro-lifers in different countries to fight the scourge of abortion.

We have always enjoyed the active support of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which is the Holy Father's office at the Vatican entrusted with the coordination and encouragement of ministries for life and family throughout the world. Fr. Pavone was appointed as an Official at the Pontifical Council for the Family in 1997.

Leaders, bishops, and priests from many nations continue to approach us for assistance in establishing "Priests for Life" ministries as well as our other ministries in their own countries. Priests for Life Canada (Prêtres Pro-Vie Canada) was the first to formally establish such an entity. Our priests and leaders travel extensively to many countries and we send pro-life educational materials to every corner of the globe on a daily basis.

We have a Multilingual Outreach offering publications and materials in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Polish. Through Fr. Pavone’s Defending Life television series broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), we instruct millions in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Pacific Rim on the scriptural, medical, psychological and legal aspects of defeating abortion and building a Culture of Life. (See EWTN Television Schedules for program times.)

Additionally, our Rachel’s Vineyard and Silent No More ministries have spread to every populated continent by working hand-in-hand with local lay leaders and clergy. Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats offer healing after abortion for women and men. The Silent No More Awareness Campaign holds events at which women and publicly speak out about the devastating emotional, psychological and physical impact that abortion has on them and their families. The Campaign maintains a network of regional coordinators in North America, Europe, Africa and Oceania

Priests for Life is deeply committed to the unity of the pro-life movement and actively collaborates with national and local groups. We have developed an extensive list of organizations comprising the International Pro-Life Community as a service to those seeking information about pro-life activities and developments in their own country, state or city. Additionally, we have assembled daily abortion news sources providing a global perspective of our mission.

Finally, our work at the United Nations began in 2003 when Priests for Life became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. As an NGO, Priests for Life supports international policies protecting the dignity of human life at all stages.