THE CATHOLIC WEEK

September 15, 2000

by Captain John D. Smith, Knights of Columbus, Director of Pro-life Activities

Alabama Citizens for Life, Baldwin County Director

On Tuesday, September 26th, Father Frank A. Pavone, International Director Priests for Life, will address Life Symposium 2000, to be held at St. Pius X Church at 7:00 PM at Mobile. Life Symposium 2000, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Mobile, will address a full spectrum of Life Issues from conception to natural death, for Priests, Pastors and people of all faiths. Participants at this seminar will hear the Biblical truth of God human life, a central issue for the future of the Nation this election year.

Fr. Frank Pavone was born in Port Chester, New York and has been active in the pro-life movement since 1976. He studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York and received several advanced degrees in theology, specializing in Sacred Scripture. He was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal O'Connor in 1988. He served five years as a parish priest at St. Charles Church in Staten Island. During this time he also taught theology at St. Joseph's Seminary and other institutions.

In September of 1993, with the permission of Cardinal O'Connor, he became National Director of Priests for Life. In this full time position, he has traveled to all of the 50 states and to five continents, preaching and teaching against abortion and helping other priests to do the same.

He conducts seminars on pro-life strategy for clergy and for many organizations. He is regularly invited to speak at national and international pro-life gatherings, and is often quoted in national and local media. He has produced many television and radio programs on abortion, such as his ongoing series on the worldwide Eternal Word Television Network. His articles on pro-life issues are regularly published around the world.

At the symposium, Father Frank A. Pavone, the internationally recognized leader and pro-life evangelist, will highlight the critical Abortion issue, from the perspective of "Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics " developed by U. S. Catholic Bishops. Ms. Lucia Penland, Executive Director for the Alabama Prison Project in Montgomery will address the issue of capital punishment in Alabama, while Dr. Michael Meshad, who specializes in Oncology in Mobile, will address end of life issues including the scourge of physician assisted suicide and euthanasia.

While at Mobile, Father Frank A. Pavone will also address the issue of the Political Responsibility of all Christians at the Stand-Up For Life Banquet, to be held at 12:00 on September 26th at St. Dominic's, in Mobile. This event is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus of Mobile/Baldwin counties, and Alabama Citizens for Life.

Father Frank A. Pavone's visit to Mobile on September 26th, is part of Priests for Life's unprecedented national campaign to highlight the abortion issue during the 2000 elections. The PFL National Campaign in Defense of Life, was launched on July 18th of this year, with a full page ad in the New York Times, news conference at the National Press Club at Washington DC, and with TV commercials coming this fall.

Other public events associated with Father Pavone's visit to Mobile on September 26 include a sidewalk gathering to protest the killing of innocent unborn children at the Abortion Facility at 717 Downtowner Loop at 7:15 AM, a News Conference at Mobile Government Plaza at 10:00 AM, address to student body at McGill-Toolen High School at 1:30 PM and guest appearance on the Shane McBride Show, Radio AM 710 at 5 PM. From Mobile, Father Pavone will next travel to Montgomery on Sept. 27th and on to Birmingham for other scheduled pro-life events in Alabama.