Breaking: Bishop suspends Fr. Frank Pavone from Priests for Life
1:49p: Just spoke with another inside source, very reliable. This sounds pretty simply like jealousy to me. Quoting the source:
People have been complaining about Priests for Life for decades – about the success of its fundraising, and the success of Fr. Pavone’s preaching, and his ability to organize and get things done.
It was for this very reason that Fr. Pavone hired a huge accounting firm in the early 2000s to look at PFL’s books. The firm interviewed staff and analyzed PFL’s finances and gave it an “all clear.”
Fr. Pavone’s ministry necessarily conflicts with church hierarchy, because they understandably want to control the message on the Life issue. This is not wrong or a bad thing, but lay Catholics view bishops as weak on the Life issue, not strong enough. Then, in steps Fr. Pavone, and there is a power struggle. This scuffle is definitely a manifestation of that struggle.
It’s not that Fr. Pavone wants to take over the church. It’s simply that he wants to end abortion,. That is his sole desire. Everybody who knows him knows this is true.
Have you seen his bedroom? It’s the size of a bathroom. There’s a bed, and there’s a closet, and that’s it. Father Pavone does not live in a mansion and he does not ride a Harley-Davidson. His favorite restaurant is McDonald’s, for crying out loud.
I saw this story and was so angry. It is ridiculous. If there is a real charge, then prove it. Don’t give me this mealy mouthed, “I’m very concerned where all this money is going to.” I know for a fact the opposite is the case. I thnk the blowback from lay people is going to be severe. I think the bishops are going to find that out.
1:08p: Just spoke with a source close to the situation, who says they were blindsided by this development. My source says Fr. Pavone has been working with Bishop Zurek for weeks and was completely transparent with Priests for Life’s books. So the bishop’s letter to the other bishops came out of the blue, and then someone leaked that letter to CNS.
My source says Fr. Pavone has not been suspended. “This is an attack on the movement,” my source told me. “Fr. Pavone is being attacked and treated unjustly.” This story is obviously developing….
12:45p: This is pretty awful. Am working on getting more information. This is a real blow to the pro-life movement. Fr. Frank Pavone, who I love to pieces, is a driving force.
From Catholic News Service, today:
Father Frank Pavone, one of the country’s most visible and vocal opponents of abortion, has been suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about his operation of Priests for Life.
The suspension was made public in a Sept. 9 letter from Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek to his fellow bishops across the country, but Father Pavone told Catholic News Service that he was returning to Amarillo and planned to continue functioning as a priest there.
“My decision is the result of deep concerns regarding his stewardship of the finances of the Priests for Life organization,” Bishop Zurek wrote. “The PFL has become a business that is quite lucrative which provides Father Pavone with financial independence from all legitimate ecclesiastical oversight.”
Bishop Zurek said “persistent questions and concerns” from clergy and laity about how the “millions of dollars in donations” the organization has received are being spent led to the action.
The bishop also asked Father Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, to return to Amarillo “to spend time in prayer and reflection.”
Father Pavone, meanwhile, told CNS Sept. 13 from Birmingham, Ala., where he had been taping programs for Eternal Word Television Network for more than a week, that he planned to comply with Bishop Zurek’s request to return to Amarillo. Father Pavone said he was scheduled to leave Birmingham the afternoon of Sept. 13 and meet with Msgr. Harold Waldow, vicar for clergy in the Amarillo Diocese, immediately after his arrival.
“Bishop Zurek asked me to go back to the diocese today, which I am doing for a limited period of time,” Father Pavone said. “I am going there and my (priestly) faculties are fully intact and I’m in good standing.”
Father Pavone was incardinated in the Amarillo Diocese in 2005 when Priests for Life moved some of its operations to the Texas panhandle city. Priests for Life was welcomed to Amarillo by now-retired Bishop John W. Yanta, who served on the organization’s board of advisers.
Priests for Life no longer has offices in Amarillo. It is based in Staten Island.
Records filed with the Internal Revenue Service show that the organization’s income topped $10.8 million in 2008, the latest year tax forms were available. In 2007, Priests for Life showed income of $9.2 million.
The same records show that Father Pavone received no income from the organization during those years. He said when he originally took the position with Priests for Life that he would claim no salary from the organization.
A popular lecturer and retreat leader, Father Pavone travels the country speaking against abortion and on other pro-life issues. He also produces programs for secular radio and television.
Father Pavone became national director of Priests for Life in 1993. He also holds the same position with Gospel of Life Ministries, an interdenominational effort to end abortion, which shares its headquarters with Priests for Life.
In addition, Father Pavone is national pastoral director of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and president of the National Pro-Life Religious Council.
A native of Port Chester, N.Y., he was ordained in 1988 by Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York and served as a parish priest in the New York Archdiocese until joining Priests for Life full time in 1993.
[HT: Dr. Gerard Nadal]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
What a shame. I hope they clear this up quickly so that it won’t interfere with his ministry. Priests for Life is a fantastic organization, and they have donated thousands of dollars worth of pro-life materials, talent, and time to many local pro-life groups I am involved with. They have never asked for anything in return except to continue working for life.
I’ve met Fr. Pavone several times, and while he is of course human and therefore imperfect, I seriously doubt there is any cause for concern from these questions.
The same records show that Father Pavone received no income from the organization during those years.
Ok, I’m lost. Then why was he removed from his position??
I second Andrew’s comment. Looking forward to Fr. Frank & Priests for Life getting back to saving lives again as soon as possible.
I stand with Fr. Pavone. He speaks boldly in the defense of life and me thinks the PC police and abortion friendly part of Catholicism is on a witch hunt. Pray for Fr. Pavone. You are my hero.
Bishop Zurek said “persistent questions and concerns” from clergy and laity about how the “millions of dollars in donations” the organization has received are being spent led to the action.
This just seems off to me. Priests for Life is a large organization with many, many branches of pro-life ministry. Does the hierarchy not realize this?
Amen, Andrew!!!!!
This is just to say, let’s get all the information first before we make up our minds. The Catholic Church did not do this because they were looking for something to do on a Tuesday afternoon. I worked at Covenant House in NYC when Father Bruce Ritter had to step down. No one EVER thought he was guilty of the crimes he was accused of. But he was.
Just wait, and just be patient.
Praying for the apostolate of Priests for Life. Father Pavone is but one man – there are other Priests for Life who carry the message of hope, reconciliation and life.
I do not think this is a case of jealousy – I do believe it is a case of asking the good Father to come back to Texas (he is on loan, as are all priests with PFL, and they are all under the jurisdiction of their bishops and archbishops, btw) to review and settle any things that may be in need of correction.
This is not necessarily a bad thing – it could very well be a great thing for the apostolate of Priests for Life. Oversight, when done correctly is good, not bad.
Do not think because Father Pavone is not in New York that PFL will collapse – do pray for Priests for Life, and all that is under their umbrella – especially Rachel’s Vineyard.
Thank you
A link at http://www.newadvent.org
or: http://lockerz.com/s/138409096
I have wondered to myself if bishops are reluctant to really dig into the pro-life issue because they are afraid of alienating the many cafeteria Catholics that are soft on abortion or even (gasp) pro-choice. Jesus would call that being more concerned with the approval of men than the approval of God.
The Church did not get stronger with the infection of relativism in its own ranks. It will get stronger if and when the bishops provide a united front against abortion and against relativism, and for God. When Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against you, he meant that we take the fight to the enemy and win, not that we sit around all wishy washy and hope not to offend the pro-abortion crowd.
Let’s hope that the outcry of support for Father Pavone and the outrcy against abortion reaches the ears and hearts of all Church leaders.
I’m still waiting for some “social justice” bishops to show concerns about funding at ACORN…
@ninek Having observed Bishop Zurek’s ministry for several years, I believe he would not be one to intentionally slow pro-life causes. Not at all. He served as our auxiliary here in the Archdiocese of San Antonio before his current assignment, and has a shepherd’s heart.
Let’s simply pray and try not to speculate beyond what we see.
So when are they going to excommunicate Pelosi, Kerry etc.? Seems they are big into going after priests now Fr. Pavone, (former) Fr. John Corapi. Where’s the excommunications for the pro-abort politicians? Hypocrites.
ninek says:
Let’s hope that the outcry of support for Father Pavone … reaches the ears and hearts of all Church leaders.
I’ll just pray that truth prevails. God bless Father Pavone for his obedience to his Bishop.
Don’t assume the charges are bunk unless there’s clear evidence. I hope this is all just a misunderstanding.
As we’ve said before, Pelosi is already excommunicated. You don’t need to wait for a fancy letter on the Pope’s stationary.
However, if someone shows me photographic evidence of Pelosi actually attending a Catholic mass in 2011 and receiving communion, then, I will personally get on a plane to Rome and talk to the Pope about giving her a letter on his letterhead.
The deeper and more serious problem (than phoney baloney politicians) are the parishioners who think they are doing a good thing by promoting “choice” and artificial contraception. Two very dear ladies in my church are pro-choice, and it honestly breaks my heart. They are very active in the parish and unmoved by anything that I’ve had to say personally. If you are Catholic and reading this, please pray for our ordinary people who are mislead.
I believe he is getting too close to some truths that “others” don’t wish to be revealed! This Church is really getting me disgusted! I am a lifelong Catholic, but if this keeps up, I’m outta here! And I don’t mean maybe; this is ridiculous, I don’t think these bishops have a clue in the world about anything, aside from where their next pampered meal is coming from!
Prove me wrong and I’ll apologize, but good luck!
I suspect the issue is related to the Missionaries of Life business. Supposed to be a priestly society. Lots and lots of money raised specifically to build a seminary down there in Amarillo. A year after this was announced the Missionaries of Life – it was announced – would no longer be a priestly society but a lay society. No need for the half-built seminary funded by millions.
So where did that money go?
I’m just guessing that this is the root of the disagreement.
Interesting Stacy – my understanding was that the Missionaries of Life was always a lay apostolate…
I hope all of this gets cleared up. The speakers for Priests for Life just ask for their expenses to be reimbursed and a donation made – no thousands charged for speaking. I just heard him this morning on the EWTN homily. He was very stron g in his homilies this week – maybe this set things in motion.
Father Pavone – you are a good priest to be obedient to your bishop – and I hope this gets cleared up quickly. We hope for a good outcome – and we need you in the fight to defend life. We are praying for you and the organization. we must be patient, we must be loving, and we do not know all the information. Godspeed and let’s hope all goes well.
Here on the change re/Missionaries:
http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otr.cfm?id=4795
I posted this on another thread, but in light of the statement above, it is more appropriate here. Having been one of Bishop Zurek’s targets for purging, I have experienced his passive-aggressive style first hand, to wit:
Patrick J. Zurek is a careerist clergyman, a climber, in other words. Ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Austin by Pope Paul VI in 1975, Fr. Zurek rose to prominence when Bishop John McCarthy appointed him Director of Vocations in 1987. Over the next 11 years, Zurek was the gatekeeper for who got into the seminary, who continued, and who was ordained to the priesthood. He served three years as president of the national association of diocesan vocations directors and networked with priests and bishops across the country. In 1998, he was ordained to the episcopacy and made Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. In 2007, he was installed as Bishop of Amarillo.
The disparity in tone and content between Bishop Zurek’s letter to the bishops of the United States and those of Fr. Frank Pavone and Fr. David Deibel as chief canonist indicate that Pat Zurek is still using the same passive-aggressive style from the playbook he learned from Bishop McCarthy. Demand repeated accountings. Receive those accountings but do not acknowledge receiving them. Say No when asked if you have more questions. Wait a while. Lower the full weight of your office, accusing the one you want to discipline or expel of non-compliance, adding words publicly that could discredit the targeted individual.
In Austin, Fr. Zurek (with the compliance of Bishop McCarthy) used that game plan against seminarians he wanted to get rid of. Seminarians do not have the standing to challenge that kind of approach. I know. In August 1988, Pat Zurek told me — over the phone — that I would never be a priest. He seemed taken aback when I concluded the phone call with “God bless you, Father.” I wrote him a detailed letter stating the reasons for my confusion over his unilateral decision against positive recommendations of me from people he sought for input. He did not reply. I wrote to Bishop McCarthy, stating the same concerns. The Bishop’s reply rubber-stamped Fr. Zurek’s decision. I attempted to meet with both Fr. Zurek and the Bishop, to no avail. I appealed to both of them that I at least wanted to attempt to understand the reasoning for my categorical dismissal from formation, so that no matter what the future held, I could learn from what he observed. Again to no avail.
I have been a priest of another diocese for 15 years.
As a climber, Patrick Zurek is never satisfied, and now in his early 60s, he feels the tick of the biological clock. With every passing birthday, with every appointment of someone else as Ordinary of a more cosmopolitan diocese or archdiocese, Bishop Zurek’s fear that he has climbed his last ecclesiastical rung increases. That fear is magnified by the fact that the head of Priests for Life, Fr. Frank Pavone, is one of Zurek’s own priests. How Bishop Zurek must fume while he is chief shepherd of the the highly rural Texas Panhandle while one of his presbyters is jet-setting to preaching assignments and parish missions and to tape TV series and programs. Zurek’s personality cannot tolerate a Pavone. And since Zurek is the Bishop and Pavone is one of his priests under obedience, the Bishop will, by golly, show Frankie boy who’s boss.
Notice, too, that Fr. Pavone indicates that upon arrival in Amarillo he will meet with diocesan Vicar for Clergy, not Bishop Zurek himself. To this I would ask my former Vocations Director one question, “Bishop, are you really that busy in the Diocese of Amarillo that you cannot make time to meet MAN TO MAN with one of your own priests in good standing that you publicly excoriated to your brother bishops?”
My prediction: Bishop Zurek will get what he really wants, deep down, and that’s to be rid of a “famous” priest whose very attachment to Amarillo reminds the Bishop of the incompleteness of his climb up the ecclesiastical ladder. And it won’t take long. Another bishop will snap up Fr. Frank Pavone in a heartbeat.
Praised be Jesus Christ now and forevermore!
I think it would be nice if people refrained from accusing Bishop Zurek. There is no evidence that he took this action out of spite or greed.
Where I come from, there are serious consequences for falsely accusing a priest OR a bishop.
So for the time being, let the situation unfold as it is without assuming either party is acting in bad faith.
Good grief! Father (Famijoly), my heart goes out to you for the trials you’ve endured; God bless your perseverance and witness!
Maybe these TRUE words of Fr. Pavone is part of the reason he is being called out by the bishop?
”Simply put, there are too many leaders in the Church who are more concerned about contolling God’s work than about doing God’s work. The control freaks want everything done at their command according to their spefications or not at all.”
“Fr. Pavone’s ministry necessarily conflicts with church hierarchy, because they understandably want to control the message on the Life issue”
===
The problem is that when most American bishops “control” the message on life issues, well, there’s not much of a message.
Alice S. writes: “This Church is really getting me disgusted! I am a lifelong Catholic, but if this keeps up, I’m outta here!” Where do you plan to go, Alice? To the SSPX? But the Lord Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he gave the keys of his kingdom to St. Peter and Peter’s successors, the current one being Benedict XVI. The SSPX is in schism, and I personally doubt that the latest reconciliation offer by the Holy See will be accepted. If the Church today is getting you disgusted, how would you have felt during the reign of the notoriously debauched Pope Alexander VI? How could your faith have survived Church complicity in the shocking murder of Joan of Arc? For that matter, if you’d been a disciple of Christ during his earthly life, how “disgusted” would you have been with the betrayal by Judas, the threefold denial by Peter and the desertion by most other Apostles of the Lord during his Crucifixion? Would you have been scandalized by Our Lord’s acceptance of Crucifixion and death instead of having destroyed his accusers and given his followers something to cheer about on the spot? If today’s business has you “disgusted,” things have been lots worse many times in the past.
Some of the comments have noted there is no evidence that the good Bishop of Amarillo is acting in anything but fatherly love and concern for his priest, the good Father Frank Pavone. WHAT? Have you read the letter this good and gentle Bishop sent to his brethren ( 21 of whom by the way sit on the Board of Governance at PFL along with 4 Cardinals who must have some responsibility here for the fiscal policies of PFL)filled (this letter) with malicious innuendo and smearing this priest before he has had a chance to clarify and explain? I know a priest owes his Bishop his undying obedience…but does not this Bishop owe a modicum of simple, plain Christian charity to a priest who has brought not only the attention of the public to a heightened awareness of the gravity of this unprecedented attack on life but saved and converted many who were active in the ProChoice movement. An awareness that the USCCB would likely prefer
to be toned down in the face ot the coming elections of 2012 that most predict will be at best an uphill battle for the Democratic Party, the party that clearly many members of the effete and ineffective USCCB prefer. Our bishops in far too many
cases seem to fit more the role of spokesman for the Democratic Party agenda than
the shepherds of the Catholic faith they were ordained to be. Truth will eventually prevail but right now it would seem that many within the ranks are working against that proclaimation. God have mercy on us all….and may the Holy Spirit be with Father Pavone and the PFL to guide them through the ecclesial mess Bishop Zurek has created for the Pro-Life cause. Yes, we need to take a wait and see and pray attitude but for all the transparency that the Bishop of Amarillo claims to seek and
not gotten from Father Pavone he has done a fair share in “muddy-ing” the waters
himself. Passive-aggressive indeed!
Bishop Zurek was gate-keeper of a seminary for 11 years? And this is how he behaved? No wonder we have a shortage of good priests. And no wonder the NCCB is so cowardly in addressing the issue of abortion, among other things. God bless you, Father, for persisting in your vocation. Please no one give up on the Church over these matters: you are needed to help set things right. I am a convert of 14 years and in spite of troubles in the fold, I would not surrender the Eucharist for anything in the world. Clerics may be mistaken, even dead wrong, but Jesus is true!
Pro-Life supporters everywhere KNOW PFL and Fr Pavone’s good work over many, many years. This is not just an attack on them, it’s an attack on all of us in the Pro-Life movement. Let’s face it….the USCCB and the vast majority of Bishops in general, except for a few other good men, have ignored this issue since Roe vs Wade. Why? Because it doesn’t fit into the agenda of the party of their choice, Democrats. Bishop Zurek is just the front guy for the USCCB trying to eliminate Fr Pavone’s Pro-Life voice in the wilderness before the next election which looks like it is shaping up to be uphill for the Democrats. Why don’t we Pro-Lifers just stop giving our $$$ to anybody else in the church except PFL until this gets resolved in a way that is more respectful to the Pro-Life movement???
Also, send your thoughts to our dear Pope at benedict.xvi@vatican.va
We need to draw a line in the sand and show support for PFL, the only Pro-life voice really crying out in the wilderness. Let’s all say a prayer right now for our good Bishops and an extra prayer for the silent majority.
Alice S.–to quote lcnorthon, “Where will you go?” If you’re a lifelong Catholic, do you not believe it’s the One True Church? If you don’t believe that, then why have you been a lifelong Catholic?
Human beings make mistakes. People forget that the Church’s freedom from error is in terms of doctorine/dogma…not in the individual folks who are flawed human beings.