Volume 20, Number 3
May-June 2010
Priests for Life Forms "Vote Pro-life" Coalition
Priests for Life has formed a "Vote Pro-life" Coalition of national ministries. These groups work together to advance non-partisan activities to help the People of Life to engage the electoral process in an informed and responsible way.
The Coalition has been sponsoring monthly teleseminars that can be followed online or by phone, and that offer training for effective political action. You may listen to past calls and sign up for future ones atwww.priestsforlife.org/conferencecall.
The Coalition has also designated the following dates as "Voter Registration Sundays," in which pastors of all denominations are urged to offer their congregation the opportunity and motivation to register to vote: May 23 (Pentecost), July 4, Sept. 12.
The groups in the Coalition include but are not limited to the following:
American Values, Anglicans for Life, CatholicVote.org, Citizens for a Pro-life Society, Gospel of Life Ministries, The Heidi Group, The Justice Foundation, Life Coalition International, LifeNews, National Clergy Council, National Pro-life Religious Council, Operation Outcry, Priests for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Wallbuilders.
Bi-coastal weekend: Fr. Frank greets Orthodox bishops at the 2010 March for Life in Washington. To photo right of Fr. Frank is His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. The next day, Fr. Frank was in San Francisco for the West Coast Walk for Life and provided commentary for EWTN's coverage of the event. The same day, he provided commentary for Fox News on both events.
June 24-26: National Right to Life Committee convention, Pittsburgh, PA. Join Fr. Frank and the Priests for Life team. Info: www.priestsforlife.org/eventsnew.html.
Archbishop Chaput Endorses Fr. Frank's New Book
"Father Pavone has served the cause of human dignity with extraordinary dedication for years. His new book Prolife Reflections for Every Day is a beautiful and rewarding way to remind ourselves of the sanctity of life on a daily basis. I highly recommend it. A copy should be in every Catholic home – and well used by all." - Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Denver
Fr. Frank prays at the tomb of Cardinal O'Connor in the crypt of St. Patrick's Cathedral in February, 2010. The Cardinal died ten years ago, on May 3, 2000.
Prayer Intentions
You are encouraged to remember the following intentions as you pray the Liturgy of the Hours:
May intention: That Mary, Mother of Life, give all mothers courage in their pregnancies.
June intention: That those who have had abortion find mercy in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pro-Life Novenas and prayer cards
Please join us in praying and promoting the following Novenas. You may also obtain prayer cards for each novena, free of charge, for distribution to your parishes and organizations. Details atwww.PrayerCampaign.org.
May 13-23, 2010: Pentecost Novena for Life
June 26-July 4, 2010: Independence Day Novena
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Visits Priests For Life Headquarters
Fr. Frank and Cardinal Schönborn in the TV studio at Priests for Life in New York
During a six-day visit to the United States, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, Austria, paid a three hour visit to Priests for Life's Staten Island headquarters on Tuesday, February 2. The Cardinal had been familiar with Priests for Life through previous visits with Fr. Frank Pavone.
Fr. Frank was joined by members of the Priests for Life Pastoral Team, including Associate Directors Fr. Denis Wilde, OSA and Fr. Peter West, Executive Director Janet Morana, and Dr. Theresa and Kevin Burke, Founders of Rachel's Vineyard, a ministry of Priests for Life. The team discussed with the Cardinal the work of Priests for Life and the status of the pro-life movement in general.
"We look with a certain envy to your country, where for so many years the life issue has been so central," the Cardinal said. By contrast, in Europe "very few people believe there can be a real change." The Cardinal came away personally encouraged by the progress of the movement.
Noting that it's difficult even for bishops to speak out against abortion "if you have not the people of God behind you," he congratulated Priests for Life for not only working to assist priests in their pro-life work but also for "helping the laity assume their responsibility."
Cardinal Schönborn was particularly interested to learn that men are participating in the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and seeking healing for themselves through Rachel's Vineyard retreats. He said he "will never forget" the words "Men Regret Lost Fatherhood," which are on the signs held by the men who participate in the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. "The concept of lost fatherhood is the central drama of our time," the Cardinal said.
The Cardinal is a prolific author who is perhaps best known for his work as director of the commission that published "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" in 1994.
At Priests for Life, the Cardinal also taped a television segment with Father Frank for the EWTN program "Defending Life." Later, Fr. Frank concelebrated with him at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and attended a dinner to benefit the International Theological Institute (ITI), of which the Cardinal is the Grand Chancellor.
"Do not forget us in Europe," Cardinal Schönborn implored the Priests for Life staff as he blessed them. "We need encouragement because the pro-life movement is much too weak still. We have to learn from you."
Fr. Frank was scheduled, as of this writing, to present a guest lecture at the ITI and to address the priests of Vienna at the beginning of May.
Leslie Palma-Simoncek, Communications Director of Priests for Life, contributed to this article.
Order Key Pro-life Products
Order at www.priestsforlife.org/store or mail your order to: Priests for Life, P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; Or fax: (718) 980-3900; Or Email: orders@priestsforlife.org
Contraception of Grief - *ON SALE*
By Theresa Burke, Ph.D.
This book exposes the pain that so many women endure when they realize that the contraceptives they used caused the deaths of their children. (#1776, $5.00)
Sharing the Heart of Christ
By Kevin Burke, LSW * Theresa Burke, Ph.D. * Fr. Frank Pavone
In this book, abortion is presented as a relational wound exploring the effects on Marriage and family life and special chapters address unique issues for clergy in their ministry. This book is for Priests, Deacons, Counselors and Laity in ministry to those suffering after abortion and in need of emotional and spiritual healing. (#2116, $10.00)
Pentecost Novena Prayer Cards (#2457) and Independence Day Novena Prayer Cards (#2458) – FREE!
Priests for Life
PO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: 718-980-4400
Toll Free: 1-888-735-3448
Fax: 718-980-6515
Email: mail@priestsforlife.org
www.priestsforlife.org
