May 2, 2005
Dear Friends,
Below is the May-June newsletter of Priests for Life.
We also have posted a new question on our online poll. At
www.priestsforlife.org
please register your opinion about this question: "Even with a ban on
partial-birth
abortion, the abortionist can kill the baby using a different abortion method.
Do
you think that the ban nevertheless advances the pro-life cause?"
Our two newest products rip the veil of secrecy off of abortion and euthanasia.
"See For Yourself" is an unforgettable DVD about the abortion procedure.
"Reflections on Terri Schiavo" is an audio CD in which I reflect on my time at
Terri Schiavo's bedside in the last hours and minutes of her life. If you want
to
spread the truth about abortion and euthanasia, you won't want to miss these two
new tools. Send your name and address to our orders department at
orders@priestsforlife.org . Each
item is offered at a suggested donation of $10.
Finally, I hope you have called the offices of your two US Senators urging them
to
vote on the confirmation of federal judges. Please call no matter what your
Senators' positions may be, and please call BOTH the Washington DC offices
(switchboard 202-224-3121) and the local State offices of each Senator. For
information on what to say, visit
www.priestsforlife.org/government/judges.htm
God bless you!
Fr. Frank Pavone
Priests for Life Newsletter
Volume 15, Number 3
May-June 2005
Bishop Permits Fr. Pavone to Found New Society
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, officially announced
that
he is founding a pro-life community dedicated to the formation and training of
priests, deacons, brothers and seminarians who will devote themselves fully to
the
proclamation of the Gospel of Life. This initiative will be based in the diocese
of
Amarillo, Texas, under the authority and stewardship of Bishop John W. Yanta,
Bishop of Amarillo.
"It has been a dream of mine for over a decade to form a community that can
accept seminarians who want to devote their entire ministry to the defense of
the
unborn," said Fr. Pavone. "While it is true that a few religious orders have
pro-life
work as a dimension of their activities, the Church has no 'institutional'
society of
men whose primary charism is to protect innocent human life from the tragedy of
abortion and euthanasia. It is time for such a community. I am grateful to
Bishop
Yanta for allowing me the opportunity to make this dream a reality."
Bishop Yanta, who has served on the Priests for Life Episcopal Board of Advisors
since 1998, and who has been particularly devoted to the pro-life cause
throughout
his priesthood, has already offered several buildings in his diocese that will
serve
as the center for the new apostolate. "I am excited about supporting Fr. Pavone
in
venturing forth, with and through the Holy Spirit, in the establishment of a
Society
of Apostolic Life for priests and seminarians dedicated to pro-life ministry -
an
immense need at this time in history," said Bishop Yanta today. "The Lord has
provided several vacant buildings that once served as a Christian Brothers High
School with boarding facilities, a chapel, gym, and spacious grounds. The
Diocese
of Amarillo is happy to make these available (at no cost) to Priests for Life
and the
proposed Society of Apostolic Life."
This community, while drawing on the spirit and mission of Priests for Life,
will
be a completely separate entity. Priests for Life will continue to exist as a
not-for-
profit association of the faithful under Canon Law. Fr. Pavone will continue to
serve as the National Director of Priests for Life. In order to initiate the
historic
formation of this pro-life community of priests, deacons, brothers and
seminarians,
Fr. Pavone has officially become a priest of the diocese of Amarillo.
"This is a pivotal moment in time," said Fr. Pavone. "Throughout the history of
the Church, God has intervened in times of great moral crisis and has raised up
within His Church the charisms necessary to address those crises. I have long
been
convinced that God is raising up numerous disciples ready to devote their entire
lives to ending the tragedy of abortion, which the bishops have identified this
as
the 'fundamental human rights issue of our day.' I have no doubt that we will
see a
tremendous and immediate response to this initiative."
Church sign posting: do it today!
Parishes throughout the country bear witness to the sanctity of life by means of
signs posted prominently on their property. Why not do it at your parish?
Deacons' Corner
Believe, Teach and Practice
By Deacon Keith Fournier
© Third Millennium, LLC
"Receive the Gospel of Christ, Whose herald you now are. Believe what you read,
Teach what you believe, and practice what you teach." Bishop's Charge to the
Newly
Ordained Deacon
As Deacons we were ordained to serve by being configured to Christ the Servant.
We are
charged to continue his redemptive mission. One of the unique aspects of the
diaconal
vocation is the call to charity and social justice. Working to end what Pope
John Paul II
rightly labeled the "culture of death" and to build what he has called a new
"culture of
life" and "civilization of love", flows right from the heart of our ordained
vocation. When
we were handed the Book of the Gospels, the Bishop called us to believe, teach
and
practice. That Gospel is, in the words of Pope John Paul, a "Gospel of Life."
Many of us are married. We are called to believe, teach and practice everything
that the
Church teaches concerning marriage and family as a vocation and call to
holiness. We are
to make our families a "domestic church", fully living all that the Church
teaches
concerning the openness to life that is the heart of the nuptial mystery- and to
model that
openness to life to others. We are also called to believe, teach and practice
the full
treasury of the Catholic Church concerning marriage and family without confusion
or
compromise.
Many of us are engaged in careers or jobs. These are not something we do
"outside" of
our diaconate. Upon the imposition of hands by the Bishop we changed
"ontologically",
as good sacramental theology teaches. We are deacons in everything that we do
now, not
just those things that seem somehow "spiritual." Thus, in all of our work we are
called to
be both evangelistic and prophetic, living the faith that we proclaim from the
ambo, and
witnessing to its truth and relevance in every segment of life.
The Early Christian Fathers referred to the Church as the "world reconciled."
One
Orthodox theologian I am fond of writes of the world as being "in the course of
transfiguration." We are called to carry on the redemptive mission of Jesus
Christ through
His Body, the Church, in the real world. Most of us stand at the intersection of
faith and
culture, and we are called to be instruments for transformation in the current
age.
Through our diaconal service, some of us also serve in ecumenical environments.
This
positioning gives us opportunities to present the full truth about life to our
Christian
friends in other communities and put into practice the Catholic Church's
teaching on
authentic Christian cooperation. The pro-life movement is one of the greatest
ecumenical
efforts of our lifetime. As Deacons we are called to be at the front lines of
this movement.
"Deacons in the Service of Life" (
www.DeaconsForLife.org ), an outreach of Priests for
Life, is committed to assisting Deacons in their work of building the new
Culture of Life
through their diaconal ministry. Our mission is to help Deacons believe, teach
and
practice the fullness of Catholic teaching on life and to instruct, assist and
challenge
others to do the same.
"Deacons in the Service of Life" is ready to help all deacons to believe, teach
and
practice this "Gospel of Life."
Deacon Keith Fournier is a Deacon of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. He is a
graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, the John Paul II
Institute of the
Lateran University and the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law. A human
rights
lawyer he has appeared as co-counsel four times at the United States Supreme
Court. He
has authored seven books.
"See For Yourself" - Powerful New DVD about the Abortion Procedure!
Listen to and watch former abortionist Dr. Tony Levatino take actual instruments
that were once used to kill thousands of babies, and describe how the abortion
procedure is done, using fetal models to illustrate it. This program is
guaranteed to
wake up all but the most hardened consciences! Then, on the same DVD, watch
Dr. Byron Calhoun comment on actual aborted babies whom he examined -- and
see the babies in detail. Order "See for Yourself" below.
Priests for Life Mass Cards Available
Our Mass cards continue to be available, and you can request them from us in any
quantity free of charge. Then, when you want to enroll a deceased friend or
loved
one, you can use the card, and the person will share in the benefit of all the
prayers
and Masses of the Priests for Life Association worldwide.
We are in the process of producing Mass cards for the living, and if you want to
place an advance order for those, please do so -- but please be patient as we
finish the production!
Prayer Campaign to End Abortion prayer cards
We are asking all Christians to make a commitment to say a special prayer of
commitment each day for an end to abortion, and to indicate that they have
joined
this effort by going to
www.PrayerCampaign.org to sign up. You may obtain
prayer cards from us, in quantity, with this prayer on them.
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
Name: ___________________________________
Address: _________________________________
City: ____________________________________
State/Zip: ________________________________
Phone: __________________________________
Email: __________________________________
___I have made my check payable to: Priests for Life.
___I have donated online at
www.priestsforlife.org/donate
___Please charge my contribution to my credit card:
Card Type:_______________________________
Card #:__________________________________ Exp:____/_____
Signature:________________________________
___"See For Yourself" Abortion video: product #1763
Quantity_______ @ $. Each for total $______
___Mass Cards - In Remembrance of the Deceased: product #1708
Quantity_______ (Free)
___Mass Cards - For the Intentions of the Living: product # 1732
Quantity_______ (Free)
___Prayer to End Abortion prayer cards: product #1670
Quantity ____25; ____50; ____75;____100; _____other (increments of 25)
@ $.10 Each for total $______
___Additional Donation $__________
Total Donation $___________
Can you make a gift to enable us to send this newsletter to every priest in your
diocese? Call Jerry at (718) 980-4400.
General Intercessions for every Sunday of the year:
www.priestsforlife.org/prayers
The US Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities calls for a pro-life
petition at
every Mass. Now you can find, in English and Spanish, a suggested set of General
Intercessions for every Sunday of the Liturgical Year. Go to
www.priestsforlife.org/prayers
Prayer Intentions
You are encouraged to remember the following intentions as you pray the Liturgy
of the Hours:
May intention: That the unborn be remembered at graduation ceremonies
nationwide.
June intention: That post-abortion ministries may be successful in their efforts
to
reach more and more people with compassion and healing.
(Please promote this as a daily prayer! People can join our prayer campaign
at
www.PrayerCampaign.org and download
this prayer in English and Spanish.)
Priests for Life Broadcasting On Television, Radio and Internet
Tune in to see 13 new, powerful and informative Defending Life
shows!
The 10th Season has just begun on EWTN
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."
********
We also produce the program Gospel of Life, which is geared to an
interdenominational Christian audience. It airs on the "Angel One"
channel on the Sky Angel Satellite System - Monday at 3:30am,
Thursday at 8:30am and Saturday at 7:30pm (all times Eastern).
Visit www.skyangel.com for more
information
Listen to Gospel of Life episodes on the web at
www.gospeloflife.com/tv You can
call us with questions and we may
have your question on the air! Call 888-735-3448, ext. 301
********
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!
Remember to support our work at
www.priestsforlife.org/donate
This newsletter can be found online at
www.priestsforlife.org/newsletters/v15n03mayjun05.htm
Comments on this column? 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
K-0-903749-26659749-2-6871-US1-6F5AF935