Key Leaders
Father Frank Pavone, appointed in 1993, has led Priests for Life (PFL) for most of its existence. He is the public face of and the energy behind this American-based organization. Most recently, Pavone enjoyed national attention as a primary advisor and public spokesperson for the parents of Terry Schiavo immediately before her death. He is regularly interviewed by the national media and writes a bi-weekly column for supporters.
According to the PFL website, there are also over 40 staff members, 21 clergy-advisors, and 4 consultants supporting PFL work. The clergy-advisors include a variety of American bishops and Archbishops, including Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, who is becoming increasingly active politically and is linked with other like-minded organizations, such as Concerned Women for America.
Despite claims of being opposed to violent tactics such as bombing of clinics or murdering doctors, Pavone has long had ties to some of the most extreme anti-abortion activists who sanction such activities. According to a 2001 Village Voice article, noted associations include:
- Pavone has appeared with Operation Rescue leaders Randall Terry and Reverend Philip "Flip" Benham at various events. Several years ago, Benham and Pavone spoke at a burial service in Dallas for 900 aborted fetuses.
- Pavone invited Mark Crutcher onto his cable television show to give tips on putting abortion doctors out of business using malpractice litigation. Crutcher, who runs an antiabortion organization in Dallas, has written that his goal is "an America where abortion may be perfectly legal, but no one can get one."
- In 1998, a jury found that Joseph Scheidler, who runs the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago, had violated federal racketeering laws by conducting a nationwide campaign of harassment and intimidation at clinics. (Scheidler is appealing.) He has been an ally of Pavone's for many years and his photo hangs in the lobby of Priests for Life's headquarters.
Organizational Background and Activities
PFL was founded as a small non-profit by Fr. Lee Kaylor, a priest from San Francisco. It was Pavone, however, who aggressively grew the small organization into a media powerhouse and aggressive political advocate with an international presence. PFL is recognized and revered by the Vatican, and it was Cardinal John O’Connor—one of the most connected Catholics in recent years to both the Vatican and United States politics—who authorized Pavone as the leader. In 2003, the organization was granted NGO consultative status to the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations.
While their primary mission is to educate and mobilize Catholic clergy as anti-family planning activists, their tactics are often aggressive and overtly political.
PFL boldly advertises its anti-abortion ideology and rallies against family planning among the general public and elected officials. They have spent tens of millions of dollars on anti-abortion media campaigns that include advertisements on radio, television, billboards, and in newspapers.
In addition to their extensive media push and overt campaigning for “pro-life” candidates, PFL pursues priests around the world with the hope that newly-converted activists will influence the faithful on a large scale. They hold seminars for priests, send newsletters to over 45,000 clergy, and make videos, tapes, bulletin inserts, and homily materials available. PFL produces and distributes graphic images of aborted fetuses. Their website provides links to order signs and other printed materials, as well as providing their own catalog of online images.
In March of 2005, Pavone founded a new and separate pro-life order of priests “dedicated to the formation and training of priests, deacons, brothers and seminarians who will devote themselves fully to the proclamation of the Gospel of Life.” Based in Amarillo, Texas, this new entity known as Missionaries of the Gospel of Life is being run under the direction of Bishop John W. Yanta.
Most recently, PFL launched the “National Silent No More Awareness Campaign.” This effort is a joint project of PFL and NOEL. Its aim is to have women share stories via the web regarding their abortion experiences.
Address
Priests for LifePO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: 888-PFL-3448, (718) 980-4400
Fax: 718-980-6515
Email: mail@priestsforlife.org
Funding and Budget
Fiscal Year 2003
Income: $5,185,630
Expenses: $5,036,032
Net Gain: $149,598
Assets: $1,043,621
View their IRS Form 990 at GuideStar.org (login required)
