I have not written anything since the initial news concerning Bp. Zurek and Fr. Pavone. From my sofa-eyed view of the situation there seemed to be much fault on both sides and I was not exactly thrilled with the actions of either.
The latest news that Fr. Pavone had not attended a private meeting with his bishop due to his canon lawyer’s advice added a new wrinkle to this conflict. Fr. Pavone is adept at using media to get information out so I really wonder why he did not announce that he was not going to attend this meeting ahead of time? I also wonder why exactly he feels he needs a mediator when talking with his bishop. This action is more like somebody who is lawyering-up before meeting a district attorney. This makes the bishop-priest relationship an adversarial one and that he feels he must be protected from his bishop. That it seems his greatest fear is that he will be given a parish. With first Fr. Corapi and now Fr. Pavone is canon-lawyering-up to be the latest phrase.
Now I have long admired Fr. Pavone’s pro-life work and the good he has done, but doing pro-life work does not excuse you from Holy Obedience. Even if your bishop throws around words like “suspended” when they are canonically incorrect. Even if your bishop might not be making the most prudential choice in this matter. Would having Fr. Pavone step down from his leadership roles in the pro-life movement to be a parish priest be the most prudential use of his talents? Maybe not, but a parish priest is simply not a low-rung on the ladder as many great saints and St. John Vianney in particular have shown.
I was hoping that Canonist Ed Peters would post more on the subject of mediation. I certainly wanted to understand the subject of mediation in the view of Canon Law since I know nothing on the subject.
His post is informative and answers my questions and confirms some initial thoughts on the subject.
6 comments
Is Fr. Pavone part of a “canon lawyer council”? or is he receiving counsel from a canon lawyer?
I think the Bishop’s main concern is the fate of the soul of Fr. Pavone, not where his talents can best be used.
Perhaps Fr. Pavone is “lawyering up” because of the original announcement by Bishop Zurek which implied Fr. was being removed from his post due to questions of malfeasance, something the Bishop later recanted. Bishop Zurek might have legitimate reasons for bringing Fr. Pavone back to Amarillo, but he has handled this process very poorly, tempting many of us to suspect the worst of either or both men.
The person who listens to gossip is even worse than the person who tells it, because no harm could be done by gossip if no one listened to it. It has been said that disparaging speech kills three: the person who speaks it, the person who hears it, and the person about whom it is told. Is this what is happening on these so called conservative Catholic Blogs? I see it’s occurring on the non Catholic blogs and internet venues as well.
With that said, I’ve done a little research and found out the Catholic Catechism teaches the following:
“Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity” (2479). “…detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them” (2479b).
This sounds right up Bishop Zurek’s alley.
“Humility might make us indifferent even to a good reputation, were it not for charity’s sake; but seeing that it is a groundwork of society, and without it we are not merely useless but positively harmful to the world, because of the scandal given by such a deficiency, therefore charity requires, and humility allows, us to desire and to maintain a good reputation with care” (St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Introduction to the Devout Life).
Enough people!!! Freefrfrank.com
In this day and age when malicious people can make reports to bishops about perceptions of ‘inappropriate behavior’ on the part of priests (whatever that can connote) and then be summoned to the bishop’s office to answer the “accusation” (which in most cases is tnatamount to being ‘guilty as accused’) you can bet your life you need to be accompanied by a lawyer of some kind – canon or civil One needs to remember that in this age of litigation and hundred million dollar lawsuits, bishops are more concerned with finances than they are with the reputation of any one priest. Believe me because, before the bishop’s meeting with the priest, he’s already met with the Diocesan Attorney and the Finance Director of the diocese in question.
while it is too true that weak Bishops have left many Catholics sick at heart and some priests at risk of false accusations, I am not sure if that is what is wrong here.
Sadly, far too many folks have been so hungry to hear a strong, or any pro-life homily from their pastors. I believe this has led to a totally uncritical mindset about Fr Pavone. While I admit he has been a great pro-life preacher, he is not alone!. There are many good priests who preach with power and truth all over America. I travel a lot in my job working at universities, and I have been blessed to meet many of these men!
Fr Frank is not above being caught up in his own publicity. Some of which seems to suggest that he , and he alone has devoted his life to the pro-life cause. That is an insult to the many anonymous priest, nuns and laity that have done the same within their vocation or place in life. I have personally hear him say that others do pro-life work as a sort of hobby! Shame on you, Fr Pavone!
Father is not the only one called to such a sacrifice, but he is famous for it! That may not be so good for his spiritual life. I am beginning to think that is what Bishop Z. is really concerned about.
Meanwhile, excellent pro-life work continues to be done while Father is being asked to be still and pray.
40 Days for Life is successfully saving lives everyday this month!
Countless volunteers at PRC’s are working to give Mom’s and their babies a hopeful future.
Student’s for Life of America is creating a force for life on campuses across America.
Most importantly laws are being developed and passed in Washington and the states by National Right to Life and it’s state groups every day while Fr Frank is staying where his Bishop put him.
The Protect Life Act will save thousands/millions of Babies lives by preventing abortion funding under Obama Care. This law was developed by NRLC and it was their staff, not PPL that brought it through Congress. Now they need our help to press the Senate! That would be a better place to send a letter right now, not Amarillo! http://www.nrlc.org for more info.
Father has done a wonderful job waking the faithful, but right now he should wait upon the Lord. It may be the best thing for his future here and in heaven. If his work is of God it will continue. All this clamor about how indispensable he is will just prove to the bishops that for his own good Fr Frank needs some down time!
I would think that what he was trying to do was to inspire the rest of us to make the system work! So let’s pray for Father, then go get busy!