Priests for Life Newsletter

Priest Profile: Fr. Paul Scalia

In many ways, Fr. Paul Scalia is representative of the amazing crop of priests God has raised up during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II: young, fervent, energetic, brilliant, and orthodox.

Fr. Scalia's vocation became clear to him on the way home from making his Confirmation in 8th grade. Two years later, while a sophomore in high school, he became close friends with a priest at the local parish, and his own desire for the priesthood intensified. He considered joining the Jesuits, but after several years of discernment, concluded that what he wanted most was to serve the Church as a diocesan priest.

One of the most significant factors in Fr. Scalia's developing vocation was the work he did as a publisher and editor of his college newspaper, The Fenwick Review. This periodical not only frequently acted to defend the Catholic Faith, but also served as a strong pro-life voice on campus. Indeed, as a college student Fr. Scalia regularly attended monthly protests at an abortion clinic in Worchester, Mass. As he points out, "Pro-life is one of the touchstones of any vocation, isn't it? You can't really discern a vocation to the priesthood without committing yourself to be unequivocally pro-life. After all, in the Gospel, Christ identifies Himself as "Life" and says He has come so that we may have life, and have it to the full. That's the mission of a priest. Without it, what are we?"

Two of Fr. Scalia's main passions are teaching--- "to anyone who will listen"--- and helping to build up family life within the parish. Both of these, he says, are connected: "The teaching mission of the Church is crippled without the family."

Every two weeks, Fr. Frank Pavone issues a 500-word commentary on some aspect of the abortion issue and the pro-life movement. This commentary is available free via email or fax (see details below). Thousands of people enjoy this column regularly. It is rooted in the Catholic Faith and illumines many of the connections between doctrines of the Faith and the pro-life commitment. For example, these columns have dealt with the topic of "the Holy Spirit and abortion," showing how the Advocate makes us advocates for the weak and vulnerable. The Eucharistic and Marian dimensions of the pro-life commitment have also been topics of discussion.

At the same time, Fr. Frank's column is strongly ecumenical, since one of its frequent themes is that securing justice for the unborn, and helping their parents, provides one of the best practical arenas for collaboration among Christians. Scriptural references abound.

These columns draw on Fr. Frank's vast experience with pro-life people around the world. They contain many anecdotes from those who have converted to the pro-life cause -- including abortionists and people like his friend, Norma McCorvey (former Jane Roe of Roe vs. Wade) -- and provide insight into the thinking of abortion supporters, with whom Fr. Frank has constant dialogue.

We invite the clergy and other pro-life groups to offer to their people the opportunity to receive this column by announcing that they need only request it at subscribe@priestsforlife.org. (Those who wish to receive it by fax may request it by faxing (253) 830 9773.) Again, it is totally free of charge, and may be quoted in whole or in part for use in homilies, letters to the editor, or other publications. The past issues of this column have been gathered into the booklet "Life and Choice," available from Priests for Life.

The Holy Seasons of Lent and Easter provide a framework for preaching and teaching the pro-life message in the context of repentance and of the victory of life.

Repentance is a changing of the mind, and with it one's life, away from the path of sin and toward a life of holiness. It is not possible to repent of a sin which one does not recognize or admit is a sin. During Lent, we ask to be delivered from such blindness, and to be forgiven even our hidden sins. The application to the abortion problem is clear when we consider that the injustice of this act has been proclaimed as a "right" and a legitimate "choice." Because such respectable elements of society as the Supreme Court, many medical associations, and even some Christian denominations, continue to call abortion a "right," many find it hard to recognize it as a wrong. Part of the purification of Lent involves the metanoia, the "change of mind," so necessary in this area.

Easter celebrates the victory of life. Christians do not come to Church on Easter simply to congratulate Jesus for rising from the dead. They come in order to touch their own victory over death. In rising, Christ destroyed not only His own death, but ours! He overturned the entire kingdom of death. Death has no more power over Him; nor does it have ultimate power over those who live in Him. The influence of the Church on the world, therefore, is the influence of a community which already participates in victory over death. That influence moves the structures and choices of society away from death and destruction, and toward the affirmation, in word and deed, of the precious gift of life.

Following are two prayers that can be used in these seasons whenever liturgical rites allow prayers in the celebrant's own words:

The Annunciation: An Important Pro-life Feast

The Magisterium's most comprehensive statement on the sanctity of life, the encyclical Evangelium Vitae, was issued on March 25, 1995, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This feast (observed this year on Monday, March 26) marks the moment at which the Incarnation took place. At Mary's "Fiat," God begins existing in a human nature - a human nature at the earliest stages of its development within Mary's body.

The Annunciation illumines the pro-life message in several ways.

1. 'The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates "the fullness of time," the time of the fulfillment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive him in whom the "whole fullness of deity" would dwell "bodily"' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 484).

This solemnity marks the moment when God Himself began redeeming the unborn child -- and all of us who once were unborn children -- by becoming one Himself. Never can the unborn be considered too small to be significant or to possess rights, for God Himself was that small.

2. "The one who accepted "Life" in the name of all and for the sake of all was Mary, the Virgin Mother; she is thus most closely and personally associated with the Gospel of life. Mary's consent at the Annunciation and her motherhood stand at the very beginning of the mystery of life which Christ came to bestow on humanity (cf. Jn 10:10). Through her acceptance and loving care for the life of the Incarnate Word, human life has been rescued from condemnation to final and eternal death" (Evangelium Vitae, 102).

The Annunciation ushers in the kingdom of life in which we find ultimate victory over the forces of death in ourselves and in our world.

3. "The "yes" spoken on the day of the Annunciation reaches full maturity on the day of the Cross, when the time comes for Mary to receive and beget as her children all those who become disciples" (Evangelium Vitae, 103).

This feast teaches us the fruitfulness of self-giving. Mary says "yes" to something that is difficult, and continues that "yes" even when the embrace of suffering is extreme. This is precisely the opposite of the behavior which avoids responsibility -- a behavior which finds its culmination in abortion.

4. "The angel's Annunciation to Mary is framed by these reassuring words: "Do not be afraid, Mary" and "with God nothing will be impossible" (Lk 1:30, 37). The whole of the Virgin Mother's life is in fact pervaded by the certainty that God is near to her and that he accompanies her with his providential care." (Evangelium Vitae, 105).

What happened at the Annunciation overcomes the fear and despair that lead to violence. It has been said that the false god transforms suffering into violence, while the true God transforms violence into suffering. Mary, in her "yes," gives courage to all mothers who know that being a mother will involve some suffering. She assures them that they are not alone. The Christian community, following Mary's example, accompany these mothers with their prayers and their active charity, providing alternatives to abortion.

We suggest special observances on the Feast of the Annunciation, highlighting the powerful message it brings to bear on the abortion issue. Following is a prayer that can be incorporated where appropriate: