Fr. Frank Visits Mother Teresa In Calcutta
And Brings Home Special Message to Priests
From June 18 to 21, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life,
visited with Mother Teresa at her Motherhouse in Calcutta, India. During the
four day visit, Father was able to say Mass several times for the sisters, give
them two talks on the pro-life movement, and have several personal meetings with
Mother Teresa.
Priests for Life is co-sponsor of the National Youth Day (Denver, 1994). Fr.
Pavone had been asked by Youth Day director Kevin Cunningham to assist in
extending to Mother Teresa an invitation to speak to the youth of America on the
need to be active in pro-life work. During the visit, Mother Teresa gave a
message of encouragement to the youth of America to be active in fighting
abortion, and said she will try to attend the National Youth Day in Denver.
Mother Teresa was excited to hear about the work of Priests for Life, and
expressed her desire that the priests not hesitate to teach and preach on the
sanctity of life. She gave Fr. Pavone a hand-written message for the priests
which reads, "Dear Priests of Jesus: Be only all for Jesus through Mary. Be not
be afraid to let Jesus use you for His own and as His own. Be holy. Let us pray.
God bless you. Mother Teresa."
She also expressed her desire to have priests enroll themselves in "Veronica
Intercessory," whereby they will be personally prayed for by one of the
Missionaries of Charity sisters. Priests for Life can provide more information
on this.
Mother Teresa specifically requests that every priest distribute throughout
his parish copies of her speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
Priests for Life will assist in this distribution. Interested priests can
receive a master copy from the Priests for Life office, together with
distribution suggestions.
After hearing one of Fr. Pavone's talks to her sisters, Mother Teresa said to
Fr. Pavone, "This would be very good for our priests," and took him to the
Archbishop's residence in Calcutta for a meeting with the vicar general to
arrange for a series of talks to the priests, seminarians, and religious of
India. Priests for Life is quickly acquiring an international character.
Priests for Life is very grateful to Mother Teresa for her leadership on
pro-life issues. May all priests follow her courageous example!
From the Director
P.F.L. Receives Cardinal Mahony's Endorsement
My brother priests,
Priests for Life is currently reaching over half of the priests in the
country with encouragement to confront the abortion tragedy. Roger Cardinal
Mahony, Chairman of the NCCB Pro-life Committee, has been kept informed of our
activities, and after a recent meeting with me and Fr. Jim Heyd, sent us a
strong letter of endorsement. He writes in part, "I am also very honored to
offer my approval and endorsement of Priests for Life so that many of our
brother priests in the Dioceses and Archdioceses across the country may come to
know about this outstanding work and to embrace it as a very special and
personal apostolate for themselves.
"It is my fond hope that many chapters of Priests for Life will be
established throughout our country, and that many of our brother priests will
take a very active role in the overall mission and goals of this fine priestly
fraternity. I know of no other work in the Church today that so clamors for the
active, visible, and vocal involvement of the priests of our nation than
Priests for Life."
We have also received personal encouragement from Mother Teresa (see
accompanying article).
We are blessed to have Sue Finn here at the main office as a full-time
assistant. She has been with Priests for Life since May and is assisting in the
expansion of our projects.
We are currently compiling specific action plans. Priests who are full
members (see form inside) will receive direct mailings about action steps that
need to be taken to help bring an end to the killing.
Preach vigorously, act decisively, and please be in touch with us as we
continue to save lives.
Sincerely,
Fr. Frank A. Pavone
PFL needs your help!
Priests for Life is saving lives by reaching thousands of priests and laity
with materials and encouragement to bring an end to abortion, yet there is so
much more work that needs to be done.
PFL is supported solely by the donations of private individuals, and we need
your help. We want to continue to travel to bring the pro-life message to
priests around the nation, and around the world. We plan to open numerous PFL
Chapters, to distribute Mother Teresa's pro-life speech, and much more. Please
send in a generous donation today, and each month. Thanks for helping us to save
lives and help moms. God bless you!
| The Streets:
We Can Do More Than You Think!
As you know, the F.A.C.E. bill (Freedom of
Access to Clinic Entrances) was recently signed into law by the President.
Also, the Supreme Court ruled against pro-lifers in the Madsen
decision. The F.A.C.E. bill makes it a federal offense to peacefully
blockade abortion mills or to physically hinder or attempt to physically
hinder a woman from procuring an abortion. In the Madsen decision,
the Supreme Court said that a local city can pass a 36 foot zone ordinance
around an abortion mill in which a person cannot peacefully pray, pass out
literature, speak a pro-life message or share information. |
 |
| Fr. Tom Ganley and Fr. Frank lead
pro-life activity at New Jersey abortion mill. |
|
These rulings indicate that our government, in conjunction with the
pro-abortion industry, is declaring war on the free speech of pro-lifers and of
Christians.
We have a responsibility at this time to encourage our people to exercise
their First Amendment rights without fear. The only way to keep our rights is to
exercise them. We must lead our people out into the streets, both at abortion
mills and elsewhere, to continue to sound the trumpet against the killing of
babies. If we are silent, who will speak up for the babies? If nobody speaks up,
how can the killing ever stop?
The pro-abortion movement does not only want to keep abortion legal. They
want us to go away. Our response must be, "We will NOT go away." The fact that
pro-abortion legislation is being passed in Washington D.C. does not absolve us
of responsibility to save the babies being killed down the street. Just as our
right to life is inalienable, so our duty to defend life is inalienable.
The danger to the babies is not that Bill Clinton is sitting in the White
House, but that we are sitting in our houses! We need to get out on the streets
and stop the killing once and for all.
Since the passage of the F.A.C.E. bill, Fr. Frank Pavone has led several Life
Chains, pickets, and prayer vigils in front of abortion mills and on public
streets. Please organize similar demonstrations of the truth in your community.
If you need further assistance or suggestions please contact the PFL office.
Let's get out on the streets, where the truth needs to be spoken!
Let's Face Our Fears, Part 3
Fr. Frank Pavone
1. Do I simply feel inadequate to the task of addressing abortion?
There may be variations on this theme, which are addressed in the next several
questions. In general, there may be a lack of self confidence. If so, we need to
strengthen our confidence by becoming more informed about the issue, by speaking
with other priests who are active in the movement, by prayer, and by experience.
There is sometimes a fear that we will give the issue the wrong emphasis
("coming down too hard," "fostering guilt," "sounding uncaring"). To help
counteract this, we can resolve that our speaking on abortion will always
include reference to the help available to women in need, as well as to the
peace and forgiveness Christ offers through His Church.
2. Do I believe abortion is too complex to be addressed in the homily?
If this is our attitude, we can ask, "How is it complex?" Certainly it is
psychologically complex. Morally, however, it is quite straightforward: abortion
is a direct killing of an innocent person, and is therefore always wrong.
Nothing can justify it. Is it "too complex to denounce killing in a homily? Is
it "too Complex" to point out injustice toward the most defenseless members of
society? Is it "too complex" to proclaim that there is help available for
pregnant women, and that there are better choices than abortion? How is this any
more complex than addressing racism, poverty, warfare, or drug abuse?
3. Does the complexity of a large and varied congregation deters me from
addressing abortion? Any good public speaker knows that a primary rule is
"Know your audience." A Sunday congregation is a varied audience, in terms of
age, education, and spiritual maturity. The problem of addressing such a group
is not limited to abortion. For ANY subject, we must exercise sensitivity and
prudence. At the same time, our audience is not in a vacuum, nor are they living
in a Christian society. We must consider the shocking, confusing, and erroneous
messages they are constantly hearing outside the Church. Young people are being
corrupted. Our challenge is to provide them with truth that will counteract the
corrupting errors they hear elsewhere. If our criterion in preaching is that
every person will immediately understand everything we say, we are using an
unrealistic and unnecessary criterion. People will so differ, furthermore, in
their estimation about what is "appropriate", that there will ALWAYS be some
criticism. We must live with that. We should make it clear that we are always
open to speak with people privately if questions or misunderstandings arise due
to our preaching. Using prudence, we must at the same time ask, "If they don't
hear the truth from us, exactly where and when will they hear it?" Do we allow a
pro-abortion-rhetoric-saturated society, intent on covering up the truth about
how terrible abortion is, to have the first, last, and only word with people
whom we are responsible to shepherd?
Why One Teen Wants To Hear About Abortion In Church
"Teens want to hear about abortion so that they can better understand what
abortion really is and what the effects are. They need to know that there is
another choice besides abortion. Teens may not know about these things if they
don't hear about it in church."
-- a teen from NY
From Our Brother Priests . . .
I am stationed in tourist country . . . From time to time I preach about the
sacredness of life and against abortion. It's amazing what a fine bit of
positive feedback I get from worshipers, including the many visitors. A good
number say to me, "Come to our parish; we never hear anything against abortion."
-- A Midwest Member
You're Invited to a November Conference
Join other Priests for Life at the annual "Totus Tuus" Conference of the
Apostolate for Family Consecration, to be held in Philadelphia from Friday,
November 18 (9:00 am) to Sunday, November 20 (6:00 pm). At Friday's luncheon,
special emphasis will be given to priests and deacons who will take part in a
question and answer period with several Cardinals from Rome. Banquet fee is
$24.50. For more information, call 614-765-4301.
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