Frank Pavone

Father Frank A. Pavone is an American Roman Catholic priest, and pro-life activist. He was ordained a priest in 1988 and was appointed as director of the Priests for Life organization in 1993.

He has appeared on many media programs such as "Larry King Live", "Good Morning America", and "The O'Reilly Factor".

Pavone provided much commentary during the Terri Schiavo controversy. He delivered the homily at a memorial Mass for her at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Gulfport on April 5 2005 (see [http://www.priestsforlife.org/audiose/schiavomemorial.m3u] ).

Pavone hosts his own worldwide television program called "Defending Life" on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He tapes a series of new programs every year and features some notable guests such as Dr. Alveda King, niece of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 2004, Bishop John Yanta of the diocese of Amarillo, Texas, gave Pavone permission to establish a new community of priests specifically dedicated to the pro-life apostolate: Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. As founder, Pavone hopes to train priests, deacons, and lay missionaries to work full time for an end to abortion in the United States, and worldwide as well. As of 2007, Priests For Life had a paid staff of 50 full time employees. [http://www.catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=41098]

Pavone serves as a member of Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family Institute. [http://www.catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=41098]

Pavone joined Paul Schenck's NPLAC in 2006.

Political Activity

Fr. Pavone is also noted for being very politically active. He has repeatedly preached that Catholics who vote for pro-choice candidates imperil their very souls. In September, 2004, he addressed a group of delegates to the Republican National Convention in New York saying, "Isn't it great to be among Catholics who aren't afraid to be political? And isn't it great to find a few priests who aren't afraid to be political?" [Feurherd, Joe. "Battling the 'heretics' at the Republican National Convention: former Corpus Christi bishop prays for Bush victory." National Catholic Reporter. September 17, 2004.] Arguing that abortion was the "single issue" that mattered in the election of 2004, Pavone endorsed George W. Bush. [http://www.catholicexchange.com/2004/10/29/90473/] Pavone explained in 2004 that most priests would vote for Bush, saying, "The President understands Christian moral values far better than John Kerry does. In fact, the President, though not Catholic, also understands Catholicism better." [http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/nov/04110103.html] In a controversial homily delivered on EWTN on July 14, 2008, Pavone reportedly indicated that if a person does not take steps to make abortion illegal, God would not hear that person's prayers. [http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=253561] On his blog on September 18, 2008, Fr. Pavone wrote that Catholic Church property was an acceptable place to distribute literature stating that it is immoral to vote for Barack Obama. [http://www.priestsforlife.org/blog/?p=73] At the time that Republican presidential candidate John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate in the presidential campaign, Pavone stated that Palin (who was formerly Catholic) was a better Catholic than Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden. [http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=08&year=2008&base_name=catholic_police]

References

External links

* [http://www.priestsforlife.org/intro/ffbio.html Biography at Priests for life]
* [http://www.earnedmedia.org/pfl0120.htm Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests For Life On Call for Comment During Week of Pro-Life Events]