Vatican, Priests for Life to Collaborate on Pro-Life Events

International   |   Jill Stanek   |   Jul 20, 2012   |   4:04PM   |   Washington, DC

I wrote on June 28 that the Vatican had cleared Father Frank Pavone as a priest in good standing in response to Bishop Patrick Zurek’s September 9, 2011, letter “suspend[ing]” him “from public ministry,” words with ominous implications.

Whatever Bishop Zurek meant by using the term “suspend,” which some argue was just a poor word choice, has been overruled by the Vatican. Father Pavone, while still under Bishop Zurek’s authority, has been authorized by the Vatican to continue his work at Priests for Life, which includes traveling and speaking around the country and world on behalf of innocent human life.

Since then Priests for Life has announced two collaborative endeavors with the Vatican, an obvious added show of approval on the part of Rome.

Training

On July 13, Priests for Life announced:

Priests for Life is pleased to announce today to all its supporters that it is sponsoring and promoting a three-day training course in Rome this September for Catholic-Inspired NGOs, hosted by the Pontifical Council for the Family and relevant offices of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.

With specific focus on social issues, training and networking, the event has at its heart the promotion and defense of the rights and dignity of human life and will feature contributions from leading international scholars.

CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!

 

Day of Life

Next year has been designated by Pope Benedict XVI as “The Year of Faith.” Within that year will be a “Day of Life.” It is for that day that Priests for Life will lead a pilgrimage to Rome in conjunction with the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, a new office established by the Holy Father. Per Priests for Life’s website:

The group will be at the Vatican on June 16, which the Vatican has announced will be a day dedicated to the Gospel of Life. Special events in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI are planned on that special day.

Carry on, FP.