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