Father Frank Pavone, one of the country’s most visible and vocal opponents of abortion, has been suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about the priest’s operation of Priests for Life.
The suspension was made public in a Sept. 13 letter from Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek to his fellow bishops across the country, but Father Pavone told Catholic News Service that he was returning to Amarillo and planned to continue functioning as a priest there.
“My decision is the result of deep concerns regarding his stewardship of the finances of the Priests for Life (PFL) organization,” Bishop Zurek wrote. “The PFL has become a business that is quite lucrative which provides Father Pavone with financial independence from all legitimate ecclesiastical oversight.”
Bishop Zurek said “persistent questions and concerns” from clergy and laity about how the millions of dollars in donations the organization has received are being spent led to the action. [Source]
Wow its been a tough years for “celebrity priests”. Fr. Euteneuer, Fr. Corapi, and now apparently Fr. Pavone. Though it is almost a relief to see that it was financial irregularity and not something else. Especially considering that two priests that were most involved and visible in the pro-life cause have run into problems. Satan would like to sift all of us like wheat, though I am not surprised if he had concentrated he efforts in the pro-life cause. I say this not to invoke the Church ladies “Satan” as blame considering our free will.
Again a further reminder to pray for our priests.
Update: Fr. Pavone has released a statement in response to his bishop’s order.
As usual time will tell what is going on, but the financial situation is not the loose canon that was Fr. Corapi financial arrangements.
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*sigh* And this after he just wrapped up celebrating Mass on EWTN this week. Prayers for our priests are so needed. Satan hates them more than any of us!
The CNS story has some parts uhm “left out” on some folks websites. Here is the rest: “Bishop Zurek asked me to go back to the diocese today, which I am doing for a limited period of time. I am going there and my (priestly) faculties are fully intact and I’m in good standing,” Father Pavone said, according to CNS.
I’ve heard whispers about this situation around the campfire every now and then. Paperwork can be tedious but ministries just afford not to be squeaky clean and “transparent.”
Hopefully, a complete audit will take care of this matter.
Well, unlike the bishops, he’s not giving money to Development and Peace or ACORN.
It could be serious malfeasance, or it could be just lack of documentation, or it could be that everything’s kosher but that explanations are difficult. It could even be nothing but a whisper campaign. The moral of the story is probably going to be that charities need good accounting and good recordkeeping, as well as a good liaison person, to avoid misunderstandings. “In God we trust”, yes, but also “Never let your boss the bishop be surprised.” Bosses hate surprises.
But we’ll see how it goes. Right now, we don’t know nothin’ about nothin’ goin’ on.
Hokay… it’s sounding more like, “Dude, we need more priests back in Amarillo, and some of the other priests in Amarillo need somebody to cover their vacation days for the next six or seven years.” Shrug. Who knows.
I think it is not only critical and difficult for these priests to make sure they do not become more important than the cause they are working for!
Maybe if Priests for Life sent some money to abortion-advocacy groups overseas, they would more support from the North American Bishops.
I think this bishop is on to something. So, I would suggest that all diocesan operations, and all religious communities in the USA have financial audits done so that the clergy and laity know in very specific detail exactly how every penny of the money that comes into church coffers is spent. Wouldn’t that be revealing? If you think that the sexual abuse issue was a scandal to the Church, it pales compares to the (mis)use of Church funds which in many cases amounts to a slush fund for the use of those having access to it. We can start with removing Church credit cards from the innumerbale people in dioceses who use them.
Whatever financial irregularities or inefficiencies go on at Priests For Life, I doubt that they have funded overseas abortion-advocacy groups.
Hello Curt Jester, YOU surely dont recall me BUT I posted on this page when Obama was running for Prez and after. I saw YOUR tweet on several topics, and I said I KNOW this guy. SO I clicked follow.
I get e mails from The Deacons Bench and TODAY he hit a homer on Father Pavone and HE slammed him pretty GOOD. I am NOT taking too kindly to this and HIS comments on this post is ONLY for PAID subscribers EHHHHH wth a little cash on the side, call it USE for blog and VOILA! Anyway he is on a rant as to Father Pavone being obedient to his bishop yada yada, I have HAD it w.the so called BE OBEDIENT BULL to EVEN wayward and EVIL Bishops who ARE OBAMA supporters. IGNORE speaking out against the KILLINGS of BABIES via OBAMAS FIAT, even those born alive due to botched abort. ALSO have you noticed a DEAFENING silence as to their LACK of SPEAKING out on the EVILS taking place in some of our churchs BY actively Homosexual PRiESTS,LESBIAN NUNS, and even ACTIVE HOMOSEXUAL BISHOPS. Check out Michael Voris’ Real Catholic T V on You Tube, amazing what he has uncovered 4 this whole weeks videos. DEACON may wish TO FOLLOW ‘ALL’BISHOPS I choose as I SEE their actions or lack thereof, I WILL NOT FOLLOW A PRIEST NOR BISHOP INTO HELL and thats a FACT! I am a cradle Catholic raised w.exposure to BOTH the Latin and Byzantine Rite, I just returned to my Byzantine heritage.AS I have had ENOUGH GOOD PRIEST TRASHING…………Find that article at patheos ‘The Deacons Bench’ . PLEASE pass on your thoughts to me about ALL the GOOD DEACON said about Father Pavone. JUST curious as to your take, YOU may well think hes like newly found CANDY~ PAAAA RUMPPP PA LOL
To the bishop-What goes around, comes around!