Priests for Life

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.