Previous Priests for Life Posted News

Radio Shows: Fr. Frank Pavone is now in the process of taping weekly radio shows for the newly established Catholic Family Radio. The weekly program, "Life and Choice," airs in seven major cities on Sunday mornings from 11am to noon EST.

International travels: Bishops, priests, seminarians, and pro-life leaders throughout the UK as well as Poland were able to learn more about Priests for Life as they received Fr. Frank Pavone and Anthony DeStefano in a series of public presentations and private meetings from March 8-21. There was great interest in establishing working relationships with Priests for Life and equivalent ministries in these other nations to fully equip priests to proclaim the Gospel of Life.

Radio Programs: Priests for Life continues to reach out via radio as Fr. Frank Pavone taped 25 programs for Vatican Radio in late March, and will tape another series for EWTN radio in mid-April. The other full-time Priests for Life priests are also preparing radio spots for EWTN. Priests for Life is also providing programming for the newly-established Catholic Family Radio.

Fr. Frank back in the United States:

Priests for Life is happy to announce that Fr. Frank Pavone has returned to the United States, having completed two years of work at the Vatican, assisting the development of pro-life activities and strategies throughout the world. The time he spent at the Pontifical Council for the Family, which coordinates and promotes the Church's activities for the defense of human life worldwide, was a tremendous blessing for Priests for Life. The experience of this network of priests was used to assist bishops and pro-life leaders from around the world, and many nations expressed an interest in starting their own Priests for Life group.

Many nations are in the beginning stages of forming a pro-life movement. When laws which protect the unborn child are challenged, the arguments and slogans used in other countries are essentially the same as we have seen unfold in the United States. Priests for Life will continue to be of service to the Pontifical Council for the Family and to pro-lifers around the world in the months and years ahead.

Now in the United States, Fr. Frank will be able to more directly oversee the growth of the Priests for Life association, and the training of additional priests who wish to assume a full-time pro-life apostolate.

Rome, December 19: Earlier this week, Fr. Frank Pavone took part in three days of meetings in Rome regarding the 50^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, issued by the United Nations in December, 1948. The meetings sought ways to express the enduring principles contained in the Declaration and to give them practical application to the needs of our day. In particular, Fr. Frank worked in the area of analysis of how the Declaration's assertion of the right to life applies to the children in the womb.

Angela Baird: Fr. Frank Pavone announced that Priests for Life is celebrating a series of Masses in honor of this courageous, pro-life college student who died in a hiking accident a year ago. Fr. Peter West will celebrate a Mass at 12 noon on Saturday, January 2, 1999 at the National Memorial to the Unborn in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Click here for more information.

Priests for Life November 18: Priests for Life Applauds Statement of US Bishops on Abortion

Priests for Life November 8: Executive Director Anthony DeStefano concluded a series of meetings with Fr. Frank Pavone at the Pontifical Council for the Family at the Vatican this past week, and then flew to England where he will have meetings with prominent pro-life leaders there to discuss the expansion of Priests for Life in the UK.

Meanwhile, Fr. Frank in Rome announced the preparation of a series of very strong statements by Priests for Life dealing with the topic of the responsibility of elected officials to oppose abortion. He noted that Catholics in public office who nevertheless call themselves "pro-choice" have an obligation to resolve the contradiction between their profession of Catholicism and their failure to protect children in danger of being destroyed. Furthermore, any elected official, no matter what his or her religion, contradicts the very purpose of public office by ignoring an entire segment of the public which has been deprived of legal personhood.

Priests for Life October 25: Fr. Frank Pavone reported from Rome today that the Second Meeting of Politicians and Legislators of Europe, sponsored the last three days by the Pontifical Council for the Family, of which he serves as an Official, concluded successfully with a renewed call for legislators to respect human life and to act with a clear awareness that human law must never contradict the Natural Law. When the final declaration is complete, it will be posted on this website.

Priests for Life Oct. 14: The Holy Father's latest Encyclical will be released this week. Entitled Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), it will explore the relationship between these two realities, and point out the extremes that need to be avoided, namely, a faith without reason, running the risk of degenerating into superstition, and a reason without faith, running the risk of degenerating into arrogance.

Fr. Frank Pavone commented that this has important application to the abortion battle. "We do not oppose abortion simply on the basis of some private 'belief' that cannot be defended by reason. On the contrary, believers are called to persuasively enunciate, in the secular arena, the reasons for being pro-life, while at the same time drawing deeply on the convictions about human dignity that derive from faith."

Also in Rome this week, celebrations will be held in honor of the 20^th anniversary of the election of John Paul II to the papacy (October 16).

March for Life preparations continue to be made, for the 26^th Annual March to be held in Washington, DC on January 22, 1999. An essay, poem, and poster contest for students from grades 6-12 is being sponsored by the March for Life Education and Defense fund. The deadline is November

Priests for Life Oct. 4: As the United States observes Respect Life Sunday, and Life Chains are held across the land, Priests for Life reiterates its encouragement of the clergy to speak clearly, courageously, compassionately, and frequently about abortion. When asked by other priests how often they should speak about this issue, Fr. Frank responds, "Ask yourself how often you would speak about a situation in which 4400 five-year-old children were legally destroyed every day. Treat abortion the very same way, because morally speaking, it is no different."

Regarding Life Chains, Priests for Life has encouraged monthly life chains, which now take place in various locations. In New York, one community has a monthly Life Chain near a different parish each month. Another community consistently uses a location near a large shopping mall at the intersection of a number of highways. Children have been saved as a result, because the woman who is at the mill on Saturday may well be at the mall on Friday. Those who need our help are everywhere, and so must we be!

Priests for Life Sept 23: Fr. Frank Pavone returned from a pro-life weekend in London, during which he spoke at a conference sponsored by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. The national director, John Smeaton, had arranged for Fr. Frank to come from Rome and speak to pro-life activists from various parts of the UK. The conference was attended by several hundred such persons, including a large youth contingent. Various denominations and religions were represented. Fr. Frank shared with the participants the signs that the abortion industry is collapsing, and why pro-life people should be more encouraged than ever. He also spoke about the specific mission of Priests for Life.

Meanwhile in Rome, Fr. Frank is involved in preparations for a major meeting at the Vatican in late October of politicians and legislators from all over Europe. The gathering, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Family, will address the dignity and rights of the human person. A similar meeting was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Family last year for legislators of America. The first of all rights, and a fundamental prerequisite for any others, is the right to life. As the Holy Father said in Evangelium Vitae, "Abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize" (#73).

9/18/98 Press Release on Today's Vote on Partial-Birth abortion

Priests for Life Sept 13: Priests for Life announces the publication of Volume One of a booklet of pro-life prayers composed by Fr. Frank Pavone and adapted for use in parishes, at Holy Hours, at prayer vigils in front of abortion facilities, and for personal use. There are prayers to each Person of the Blessed Trinity, pro-life intentions for the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross, a special pro-life litany, and others. More info to follow.

Priests for Life, Sept 10: Fr. Frank Pavone returned to Rome this week to continue his work with the Pontifical Council for the Family and the international expansion of Priests for Life. On the weekend of September 19-20, he will travel to England to speak at a pro-life conference there and present the work of Priests for Life.

Following that conference, he will meet for two weeks in Rome with Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA, the newest full-time staff member of Priests for Life. Following these meetings, Fr. Wilde will begin his full-time travels for Priests for Life, and will focus in a particular way on post-abortion issues as well as on the use of music in conveying the pro-life message.

Note from Physicians for Compassionate Care:

65% OF AMERICANS OPPOSE USING FEDERALLY CONTROLLED DRUGS FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE, according to a Wirthlin Worldwide national survey, released March 11, 1998.

This poll was much clearer than the misleading pro-suicide poll released some days ago. The pro-suicide poll was worded in a confusing way and did not mention assisted suicide; instead, it used such euphemisms as "aid in dying," which people could interpret to mean receiving pain care or even psychological or spiritual support during the natural dying process.

The Wirthlin poll was much more clear. It simply asked: "As you may or may not know, the use of narcotics and other dangerous drugs is generally prohibited by federal law except when a doctor prescribes them for a ‘legitimate medical purpose.’ Should the federal law allow use of these federally controlled drugs for the purpose of assisted suicide and euthanasia?" 65% of Americans polled answered just as simply, "NO!"

Please share this information with others.

N. Gregory Hamilton, M.D.

President, Physicians for Compassionate Care

William L. Toffler MD

National Director, Physicians for Compassionate Care

Defending Life #4

From August 24-28, Fr. Frank Pavone will tape the fourth series of Defending Life Programs at the Eternal Word Television Network in Birmingham, Alabama. The 13 shows to be taped will deal exclusively with the tragedy of abortion, which we consistently assert is the most urgent moral crisis of our day.

The shows in this new series will include an interview with a former abortion provider, Lorraine LaNeve, who not only worked in an abortion facility but assisted in establishing them in various parts of the country, and lobbied extensively for the pro-abortion movement.

Fr. Frank will interview several key pro-life leaders of our day, and will also tape a stirring discussion with two women whose daughters went to obtain a "safe, legal abortion." One came out damaged for life, and the other did not come out at all.

The series will also include an explanation of some of the latest and most exciting developments in the pro-life movement, and a summary of reasons why, despite any appearances to the contrary, the pro-life forces are indeed winning the war!

During that week at EWTN, Fr. Frank will preach at the daily televised masses and is scheduled to appear on the Live Show on Wednesday evening, August 26.

July 12, 1998: Fr. Frank Pavone is continuing a summer speaking tour this weekend in Southern California with parish weekends, strategy meetings with pro-life leaders, and media work. Later this week, he will also be in Washington, DC, where he will introduce the two newest full-time Priests for Life priests, Fr. Peter West and Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA, to officials at the headquarters of the US Catholic Bishops and to various other pro-life leaders in Washington. At the end of the week, Fr. Pavone will welcome His Eminence Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo to the United States. The Cardinal will address a large gathering of families at the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Bloomingdale, Ohio. The address of His Eminence will then be posted on this website.

Norma McCorvey to join Catholic Church

Vatican Conference for European NGO's

June 14: Fr. Frank reported from Rome today that a two day conference convened by the Pontifical Council for the Family successfully concluded yesterday with a statement calling for a greater collaboration and more intense and swift response by pro-life and Catholic groups to various initiatives by the United Nations that advance the culture of death. (The statement will be posted here as soon as the final version is released.)

The meeting, held within the Vatican on Friday and Saturday, consisted of representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations and other pro-life associations of Europe.

Fr. Frank presented a reflection to the gathering on how the vision of human sexuality put forth in many UN documents and conferences is at odds with Christian teaching, and also called for a strategy of presenting within international UN gatherings the growing evidence that legal abortion does not mean safe abortion.

Priests for Life Staff Changes Reflect Charism in Church

5/21/98 Priests for Life Offers On-Line Homilies for Entire Liturgical Year

Priests for Life in Philippines: Visit Concluded May 10

On Sunday, May 10 Fr. Frank Pavone concluded his visit to the Philippines, where he preached at a national clergy retreat, met with pro-life leaders, and exhorted the faithful in various parishes to intervene to save the lives of the unborn. Abortion is illegal in this nation, yet Fr. Frank told the people that they need to reach out to those tempted to have abortions anyway, and show them that the Church is ready to help them choose life. Next month, our Associate Director, Fr. Richard Hogan, will likewise go to the Philippines to participate in a number of activities. We expect that these two visits will launch the Priests for Life effort in this country, and will elicit an enthusiastic response from the clergy. We look forward to assisting the Church of the Philippines to continue its strong witness to the Gospel of Life!

NOW vs. Scheidler

May 3, 1998: As a followup to the press release already sent out by Priests for Life regarding the guilty verdict in the NOW vs. Scheidler case, Fr. Frank Pavone has indicated that should there be an appeal in the case, Priests for Life will submit an amicus curiae brief to the court, in defense of Mr. Scheidler and the other defendants. Beyond this, should the judge attempt to issue an injunction barring peaceful demonstrations at abortion facilities, we will be prepared, upon examination of such an injunction, to comment upon it from a moral perspective and then to call for an increased presence at these facilities, reaching out to help both the women and the children. We do not need the permission of any judge or court to save human lives or to exercise the virtue of charity, nor can any court or judge command us not to do so.

Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo sends Message to HLI World Conference

Holy Father's Easter Celebrations in Rome

Holy Father Celebrates Palm Sunday 1998 With Youth of the World

Holy Father Speaks About Pre-Natal Education

Pope John Paul II spoke on March 20 to a gathering of experts on the subject of Biological and Psychological Foundations of Prenatal Education. He praised the study of the pre-born child, and said that such study is "not just to observe his physical growth and listen to the beat of his tiny heart, but also to investigate his emotions and register the signs of his psychic development."

Priests for Life assisting Western Australia

Efforts have been underway in these days to relax the abortion laws in Western Australia. Priests for Life has issued a press release promising assistance and warning against reported misuse of the words of Evangelium Vitae by some legislators. The Holy Father himself has expressed his support through a special letter.

Priests for Life Website receives two awards

Within recent days, Priests for Life received word from the Catholic Community Television Network (www.cctn.org) that our website had received their CCTN Award for Excellence in Promoting the True Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Shortly thereafter, we were informed by Suite 101 (www.suite101.com) that our website was selected as one of the "Top 5" which their contributing editors selected for the Catholicism page.

Both sites provided award logos, which are below. Priests for Life is grateful for these awards and will seek to maintain excellence on this website.

New Vatican Book on Abortion

Fr. Frank Pavone announced from Rome today that a new book on procured abortion has been published from the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The volume, "Dichiarazione Sull'Aborto Procurato" presents to the Church once again the 1974 Declaration on Procured Abortion (in Italian and Latin), and also contains documents on abortion issued by eight Episcopal Conferences from around the world: Italy, Rhodesia, the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. The book carries an introduction by His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.

It is published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 00120 Vatican City State, Phone: (from US) 011-396-6988-5003; Fax: 011-396-6988-4716.

Fr. Frank Pavone issues comment on imprisonment of Joan Andrews Bell

Fr. Frank Announces Priests for Life CD

Fr. Frank Pavone announced another step forward this week in the training of the clergy in pro-life issues. An initial draft version of a "Priests for Life CD" has been completed in the main offices and is being sent to Fr. Frank in Rome for final editing.

This CD contains many Fr. Frank's audio tapes, such as seminars on preaching about abortion, healing those who seek forgiveness for abortion, organizing parish activities, answering pro-abortion arguments, and so forth.

It also contains the Priests for Life brochures and other written materials that can be used in parishes and schools.

Priests for Life hopes to soon be able to make this resource widely available both to clergy and laity. It is another way to reach priests and laity who wish to have an intensive training in pro-life matters, but whom it is not possible to reach by means of Priests for Life seminars presented in local communities (for reasons of time and travel.)

Check this page for further updates on this new educational initiative.