Priests for Life Director Gives Invigorating Speech

Fr. Frank Pavone Addresses Challenges Facing Pro-Life Movement at 2001 Banquet

By Kathleen Sweeney, Outreach Department

Fr. Frank Pavone, in his June 30 speech at the National Right to Life Convention Banquet, presented with eloquence, humor, and great passion a probing analysis of the challenges facing the pro-life movement. Fr. Pavone, national director of Priests for Life (PFL), captivated the audience with a message that highlighted the need to take the offensive in creating a culture of life and reach out to those who have so far been unwilling to listen to the pro-life message.

Reflecting on the three-day convention, which drew over 1,000 activists to Charlotte, North Carolina, Fr. Pavone characterized the attendees as "more ready than ever to go back to our local communities and wreak havoc on the culture of death."

Fr. Pavone thoughtfully explained that the battle for life will be won one step at a time. "We know full well that unfortunately as we try to deal with the political realities of this movement, as we try to move the ball down the field and try to make as much progress as we realistically can at that moment, we know full well that doesn't mean that we've lost sight of the goal," he said.

"Just because we're taking one step down the field doesn't mean we don't know exactly where we want to end up," he emphasized.

Fr. Pavone stressed the need for members of all religions - - Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim - - and also the atheists or agnostics who are pro-life to work together.

"If you have a child in critical medical condition and you call the paramedics," he said, "you don't stop them at the front door and ask them what religion they belong to! If you're willing to work with them to save your child, why are you not willing to work with someone else to save the life of someone else's child?"

"This is something for which we tonight can be so proud and so grateful about the National Right to Life Committee, that it so generously and selflessly promotes and encourages the entire pro- life movement," Fr. Pavone told the attendees.

Reminding listeners that the best defense against pro-abortion critics is to take the offense, Fr. Pavone discussed the use of advertising that highlights how abortion exploits women and even injures or kills them in so-called "safe, legal abortions."

A particular challenge pro-lifers face is getting the pro-life message to those who, to date, have been unwilling to hear the message.

"Critically important for the success of this movement," Fr. Pavone declared, is "confronting an unwilling culture by exposing the evil that they want to ignore." He added, "We must develop activities, strategies, outreaches that reach the unwilling audience."

Fr. Pavone concluded by turning to the New Testament's parable of the Good Samaritan. The priest and Levi, he suggested, were focused on the dangerous road and the question, "If I stop and help that man, what will happen to me?"

Similarly with the abortion issue, we might be tempted to ask ourselves, "What's going to happen to me if I preach or teach too loudly and clearly about the sanctity of life? What controversy, division, persecution am I going to have to face? What's going to happen to my church?" he said. "What's going to happen to me if I speak about the unborn?"

Fr. Pavone explained that the Good Samaritan reversed the question. He asked, "If I don't stop to help that man, what's going to happen to him?" Likewise, pro-lifers need to ask, "If I don't speak up for the unborn...what's going to happen to them?"

He praised those attending the NRL Convention because they say, " I am set, fixed on the goal. My unborn brothers and sisters, all my brothers and sisters who are vulnerable, they will be defended!"

Fr. Pavone received a standing ovation when he concluded, "There is no time to lose. Let us go forth from this room refreshed, renewed, and ready for victory."