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Father Frank Pavone

Catholic Diocese: Father Pavone Not Accused of Wrongdoing

A new statement issued by the Diocese of Amarillo in the controversial debate over its bishop's call for Father Frank Pavone to come back to serve as a priests there indicates the Priests for Life leader is not accused of wrongdoing.

As LifeNews has reported, the pro-life movement has been abuzz with the news that Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek of the Diocese of Amarillo has asked Father Pavone to come back to serve in the diocese and has temporarily prevented him from exercising his duties as the head of Priests for Life. Zurek alleges, with little supporting evidence, that there are financial irregularities at Priests for Life despite annual audits from one of the nation's top accounting firms.

Yesterday, Priests for Life released a new statement responding to some of the misreporting in the mainstream media making it appear Pavone has been 'suspended" as a Catholic priest or from the organization. Priests for Life said it was widely misreported in various Catholic and secular media that the Most Reverend Patrick Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo, had 'suspended" Rev. Frank Pavone, a priest of his diocese, and put him "on leave."

Now, the Diocese, in a new statement obtained by LifeNews and written by reverend Monsignior Harold Waldow, Vicar of Clergy for the Diocese, Pavone is said to be accused of no wrongdoings.

"As the Vicar of Clergy for the Diocese of Amarillo and the Moderator of Curia I want to publicly state that Reverend Frank Pavone of Priests for Life is a priest in good standing with the Roman Catholic Church. He has all the faculties for ministry that every priest of our diocese has in and for the Diocese of Amarillo," Waldow writes.

"I would also like to clarify a point that because there is a dispute about the auditing process and the complete audit for all the entities of Priests for Life, Rachel's Vineyard, and the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life does not mean that Father Pavone is being charged with any malfeasance or being accused of any wrong doing with the financial matters of Priests for Life," the statement continues. Ref. Source 8

Pavone Frank Father

Fr. Pavone appeals suspension by his bishop to Rome
Catholic News

AMARILLO, Texas, Sept. 13, 2011--Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says he has begun the process of appealing his suspension from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo.
Source: CBCP News - World News

Father Frank Pavone Catholicism Studies

Catholic Bishop to Keep Father Pavone in Texas Indefinitely

Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, Texas has released a new letter concerning the status of Father Frank Pavone and has said the Priests for Life leader will be forced to remain in Texas indefinitely.

The letter, which appeared publicly on the Diocese of Amarillo website and which LifeNews blogger Gerard Nadal obtained, claims Father Pavone "remains suspended," even though the Diocese had said publicly repeatedly before that that was not the case and that Pavone was a priest in good standing.

Zurek writes on September 30 that "at my discretion," Pavone "has faculties for ministry in the Diocese of Amarillo. He does not have permission for ministry outside the Diocese. He is to remain in the Diocese for an indefinite period of time for prayer and reflection."

Over the weekend, Father Pavone emailed LifeNews with a response to the letter, saying, "I"ve been told by my diocese, at the same time, that I am both 'suspended" and "a priest in good standing." Now I"m neither a canon lawyer nor a bishop, so I will admit that I"m a little confused."

"The only thing I"m really sure of at this moment is that I am a priest, sitting in Amarillo, patiently awaiting clarification of my own status, and meanwhile, continuing to comply completely with the requirements of my Bishop," he said. Ref. Source 7

Pavone Frank Father

Vatican Rules in Father Pavone's Favor in Ministry Dispute

Last year, Father Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, ran into a dispute with Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek regarding the bishop's decision to indefinitely have Pavone serve in the Texas diocese and prevent him from engaging in active full-time pro-life ministry.

The bishop's decision has been filled with controversy - with some pro-life advocates blasting him for preventing Pavone from actively engaging in his pro-life ministry and others saying the bishop's decision should be respected. Zurek alleges that there are financial irregularities at Priests for Life despite annual audits from one of the nation's top accounting firms. Ref. Source 6

Pavone Frank Father

Priest: You Wouldn't Vote for a Terrorist, So Why an Abortion Backer?

Father Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, has released a new video that may generate controversy - so much so that he says he doesn't expect it to ever air on television and probably won't be allowed to stay up on YouTube.

In the video, Pavone compares candidates" views on abortion with their views on terrorism. The video includes graphic pictures of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 as well as images of babies who have been victimized by abortion. Ref. Source 1