July 5, 2005

Dear Friends,

Thanks to a new cooperative venture between Priests for Life and Life Dynamics, we can
now offer you a subscription to LifeTalk, the lively one-hour television talk show that
contains information on the abortion issue that you cannot find anywhere else. I have a
segment on every show -- so if you like the presentations I give, and if you like what
Mark Crutcher, President of Life Dynamics has to say, then you'll love this show. To
have the DVD delivered to your home each month, contact us at
orders@priestsforlife.org, give us your mailing address, and send the subscription fee of
$35 (which covers the whole year!). Please let us know on the email whether you will
send a check or, instead, will donate online at www.priestsforlife.org/donate.

As you know, it is time for action regarding the Supreme Court. Now that a vacancy has
been announced, pro-abortion groups are spreading all kinds of messages about why we
need pro-abortion Justices, and how bad the pro-life ones are. And once a nominee is
named, they will attack that person as being extreme. We need to be ready to spread the
opposite message, and things you can do can be found at www.priestsforlife.org/judges.

What follows is our July-August newsletter. Enjoy! And remember, tune in to EWTN
every Friday at 10pm ET (or Wednesday at 5am ET) for my Defending Life program!

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director

Priests for Life Newsletter
Volume 15, Number 4
July-August 2005

Fr. Mark Clarke, CMF joins Priests for Life for full-time
ministry

As Priests for Life welcomes Fr. Mark Clarke CMF, we would like to take this
opportunity to introduce you to him.  Fr. Mark is a Claretian Missionary, and has
been ordained a priest for just over two years.  Throughout his formation, Fr. Mark
was very involved with respect life issues through study as well as ministry, and
has a burning desire to continue this ministry for life. 

Fr. Mark's Masters Thesis focused on the U.S. bishops' treatment of the abortion
issue from 1990 through 2000.  He focused not only on abortion in the context of
family, health care, justice and peace, and respect for life, but also in relation to
euthanasia and capital punishment.

"I view respect life ministry as very comprehensive -- to recognize the inherent
dignity of the human person and also the dignity of human sexuality," said Fr.
Mark.  "The focus of our work is not only on abortion, but also on contraception
and how that relates to the whole human person." 

His ministry work has led him to forming a student respect life club with students
from Providence High School in San Antonio, Texas. The club's motto was
"Respect Life, Respect Yourself," and the students were taught the positive and
life-giving message of abstinence until marriage and the reality and consequences
of the culture of death related to abortion.  The students communicated this
message to their peers through media, skits, art, and involvement with pro-life
activities.  Fr. Mark also facilitated a parish respect life program in Long Beach,
California.

Of coming to work with Priests for Life, Fr. Mark "is excited and very blessed to
have this opportunity... to be with a very established and visible organization." 
He is looking forward to learning as much as he can about the pro-life movement
as well as being able to preach and teach the message of the Gospel of Life. Fr.
Mark has desired to work with Priests for Life because he recognizes his call to
full-time respect life ministry.

To his fellow priests, Fr. Mark would like to offer the encouragement in preaching
the message of life.  "Do not be afraid to communicate the truth and beauty of this
teaching," said Fr. Mark.  "If in doubt, pray for the wisdom...of the Holy Spirit."

Fr. Mark's complete biography is posted on our web site at www.priestsforlife.org. 
He will be based in Amarillo, Texas, and is available for speaking engagements
(contact travels@priestsforlife.org).

Moral Guidance for End-of-Life Decisions
-- Fr. Frank Pavone

Following are some key concepts to keep in mind as you provide guidance to
others about end of life decisions.

Never to kill. The basic principle that we may not kill the innocent is always in force.
There is such a thing as a worthless treatment, but there is no such thing as a worthless
life. People always have to be given humane care, such as nourishment and comfort care.

You've got to be there. Questions about whether or not specific medical treatments are or
are not morally obligatory can usually be answered only when one has the input of
doctors who can give the medical details about the patient's condition, and about the
anticipated benefits and burdens of the proposed treatment. To say "I don't want to be on
a respirator" means one thing if it would only prolong imminent death for months on end,
and quite another if it would only be needed for 48 hours after an accident, and one could
be restored to normal health. Resist the temptation to give an answer on the spot as to
what medical treatments should or should not be withheld.

"I wouldn't want to live like that." There are many people about whom we can all say
this -- and not just those who are ill. I wouldn't want to live like the homeless, for
example. But that does not give us permission to kill, or even ignore, the homeless, nor
does it give them permission to kill themselves.

A straw is "artificial." We all rely on "artificial" things to sustain life and health every
day. Many artificial machines and processes went into getting the cans of vegetables into
your kitchen. The relevant moral distinction about what treatments are required is not
found in "artificial" vs. "natural," but rather in whether the treatment will provide benefit
without unreasonable burden.

The danger is not that we will be over-treated, but rather that we will be under-treated.
We already have the right to refuse medical treatment. What we run the risk of losing is
the right to receive the most basic humane care - like food and water - in the event we
have a disability. Our culture also promotes the idea that as long as we say we want to
die, we have the right to do so. But we have a basic obligation to preserve our own life. A
person who leaves clear instructions that they don't want to be fed is breaking the moral
law by requesting suicide.

You can't predict the future. The reason you cannot indicate today what medical
treatments you do or don't want tomorrow is that you don't know what medical condition
you will have tomorrow, nor what treatments will be available to give you the help you
need. Living wills try to predict the future, and people can argue over the interpretation of
a piece of paper just as much as they argue about what they claim someone said in
private.

Will to Live, NOT Living Will. The better solution is to appoint a health care proxy, who
is authorized to speak for you if you are in a condition in which you cannot speak for
yourself. This should be a person who knows your beliefs and values, and with whom
you discuss these matters in detail. In case you cannot speak for yourself, your proxy can
ask all the necessary questions of your doctors and clergy, and make an assessment when
all the details of your condition and medical needs are actually known. That's much safer
than predicting the future. Appointing a health care proxy in a way that safeguards your
right to life is easy. In fact, the National Right to Life Committee has designed a "Will to
Live," which can be found at www.nrlc.org and which I recommend highly.


Send a message of comfort to Terri Schiavo's family

Priests for Life maintains regular contact with Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler,
and her siblings, Bobby and Suzanne. They are strong Christians with a beautiful, gentle
spirit. If you wish to relay a personal message to them, you can send it to
terri@priestsforlife.org and we will pass it along to them myself. Meanwhile, let us
continue to commend Terri to the Lord, mindful of the equal value of every life, no
matter how prominent or obscure, healthy or sick.

Terri Schiavo and the Role of the Priest
-- Fr. Frank Pavone

As you may have seen in media reports, those who killed Terri were quite angry that I
said so. The night before she died, I said to the media that her estranged husband
Michael, his attorney Mr. Felos, and Judge Greer were murderers. I also pointed out that
contrary to Felos' description, Terri's death was not at all peaceful and beautiful. It was,
on the contrary, quite horrifying. In my 16 years as a priest, I never saw anything like it
before.

After I said these things, Mr. Felos and others in sympathy with him began attacking me
in the press and before the cameras. Some news outlets began making a story out of their
attacks and said I was "fanning the flames" of enmity and hatred.

Actually, there's a simple reason why they are so angry with me. They had hoped that
they could present Terri's death as a merciful and gentle act. My words took the veil of
euphemism away, calling this a killing, and giving eyewitness testimony to the fact that it
was anything but gentle. Mr. Felos is a euthanasia advocate, and like all such advocates,
he needs to manipulate the language, to sell death in an attractive package. Here he and
his friends had a great opportunity to do so. But a priest, seeing their work close-up and
then telling the world about it, just didn't fit into their plans.

One of the attacks they made was that a "spiritual person" like a priest should be speaking
words of compassion and understanding, instead of venom. I had, in fact, reached out
publicly with compassion to Michael Schiavo. But compassion demands truth. A priest is
also a prophet, and if he cannot cry out against evil, then he cannot bring about
reconciliation. If there is going to be any healing between these families or in this nation,
it must start with repentance on the part of those who murdered Terri and now try to
cover it up with flowery language.


Give us your views through our ONLINE POLL!
On our home page, www.priestsforlife.org, we conduct an ongoing online poll.
Each month, a different question is posted, and you are invited to answer that one
question with a "Yes" or "No" response. It is very simple to do, and it enables us
to get a sense of what our web visitors think on a variety of topics related to the
pro-life movement. Please be sure to give us your opinion, and invite the other
members of your pro-life group to do the same!


Can you make a gift to enable us to send this newsletter to every priest in your
diocese? Call Jerry at (718) 980-4400

Prayer Intentions
You are encouraged to remember the following intentions as you pray the Liturgy
of the Hours:

July intention: For the advance of pro-life policies at the United Nations and
internationally.
August intention: That God may give eternal rest to the women who died from
abortion.


Please help promote our Television and Radio programs!

Tune in to see 13 new, powerful and informative Defending Life shows!
The 10th Season on EWTN has begun!
Wednesday, 5 AM and Friday, 10 PM (all times Eastern).
Visit www.ewtn.com for more information
Listen to Defending Life on the web at
www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/intro.asp Search on "pavone."
********
Tune into Gospel of Life on the "Angel One" channel on the Sky Angel
Satellite System (www.skyangel.com) - Monday at 3:30am, Tuesday at 2am,
Thursday at 8:30am and Saturday at 7:30pm (all times Eastern).

And on Catholic Familyland (www.familyland.tv) (Sky Angel Channel 9717)
-- Sundays at 1:00am, Mondays at 9:00am
Thursday at 11:30pm (all times Eastern). For more info visit
www.familyland.tv
Listen to Gospel of Life episodes on the web at www.gospeloflife.com/tv
********
Want to ask your question on the air? Call 888-735-3448, ext. 301 and leave
your message any time.
********
Hear Fr. Frank's daily radio spots, as heard on EWTN Global Catholic
Radio, and on the Bott Radio Network, by clicking on
www.priestsforlife.org/dailyspot/dailyspot.m3u
********
Please pass this information along to your friends and Pastors!

Priests for Life Advisory Board of Bishops

His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo
President, Pontifical Council for the Family
His Eminence Renato Cardinal Martino
President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Denver
Most Rev. Edwin F. O'Brien
Archbishop of Military Services
Most Rev. John J. Myers
Archbishop of Newark
Most Rev. John F. Donoghue
Archbishop Emeritus of Atlanta
Most Rev. John W. Yanta
Bishop of Amarillo
Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop of Phoenix
Most Rev. Ronald M. Gilmore
Bishop of Dodge City
Most Rev. Sam G. Jacobs
Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
Most Rev. Emilio S. Allue
Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
Most Rev. Rene H. Gracida
Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi
Most Rev. Paul V. Donovan
Bishop Emeritus of Kalamazoo
Most Rev. James D. Niedergeses
Bishop Emeritus of Nashville
Most Rev. James C. Timlin
Bishop Emeritus of Scranton
Most Rev. James S. Sullivan
Bishop Emeritus of Fargo
Most Rev. Francis A. Quinn
Bishop Emeritus of Sacramento
Most Rev. Albert H. Ottenweller
Bishop Emeritus of Steubenville
Most Reverend Juan Fremiot Torres
Bishop of Ponce
Most Reverend John Quinn Weitzel
Bishop of Samoa Pago Pago


Oración al Espíritu Santo, El Defensor

Espíritu Santo, Tú fuiste la promesa que nos hizo Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, como
el que abogaría por nuestras causas, el que hablaría por nosotros en las alturas del
cielo. "y Yo pediré al Padre y os dará otro Paráclito, para que esté con vosotros
para siempre..."(Jn. 14:16).
San Pablo nos enseñó que Tú intercedes por nosotros con gemidos inefables
(Rom. 8:26).
Te alabamos Señor por el regalo de la salvación, porque sabemos muy bien que
nosotros no nos podemos salvar a nosotros mismos. Hemos pecado, y no podemos
perdonarnos nosotros mismos. Necesitamos un Defensor.
Te rogamos, Espíritu Santo, que nos hagas cada vez más concientes de aquellos
que nos necesitan como sus defensores. Concédenos poder escuchar el gemido de
los más pequeños, de los hermanos y hermanas indefensos, los que todavía se
encuentran en el vientre de sus Madres, quienes no pueden hablar ni defender ellos
mismos, y que ni siquiera pueden orar.


Pope Benedict XVI on Respect for Life

"[The Pope] must not proclaim his own ideas, but rather constantly bind himself and the
Church to obedience to God's Word, in the face of every attempt to adapt it or water it
down, and every form of opportunism. Pope John Paul II did this when, in front of all
attempts, apparently benevolent to the human person, and in the face of erroneous
interpretations of freedom, he unequivocally stressed the inviolability of the human being
and of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. The freedom to kill
is not true freedom, but a tyranny that reduces the human being to slavery." -- from the
homily of Pope Benedict XVI at the Mass of Possession of the Chair of the Bishop of
Rome, Basilica of St John Lateran, Saturday, 7 May 2005.

Our Latest Product: Terri Schiavo's Final Hours: An Eyewitness Account
Priests for Life has produced an audio CD and a brochure which relate Fr. Frank Pavone's
account of the final hours of Terri Schiavo's life, which he spent at her bedside. Not only
does Fr. Frank tell us what the euthanasia lobby does not want us to know, but he also
gives important reflections about what we do next, and some guidance on end-of-life
decisions. Order this important product below.

Order Form
Please mail your order to: Priests for Life P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314
Or fax it to (718) 980-3900 or Email: orders@priestsforlife.org

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Other Priests for Life Products

___ Terri Schiavo's Final Hours: CD and brochure, product 1772 for $10.00
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___ Prayer to End Abortion prayer cards: product #1670
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@ $0.10 Each for total $______

___ Mass Cards - In Remembrance of the Deceased: product #1708
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___ Mass Cards - For the Intentions of the Living: product # 1732
Quantity_______ (Free)

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This newsletter can be found online at:
www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/prevnewsletters.html

Comments? Email us at mail@priestsforlife.org, Priests for Life, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY
10314; Tel: 888-PFL-3448, 718-980-4400; Fax: 718-980-6515; web: www.priestsforlife.org