Politics and the Pulpit: Part One: "Uninhibited, Robust, and Wide-Open!"

By Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

It's an election year, and it's time to open our mouths, in the Church, about politics, candidates, and the right to life.

Our fight for our unborn brothers and sisters is a fight for freedom and against tyranny; for people and against oppressive governments. Our Founding Fathers fought this fight, and so must we, with the same readiness for self-sacrifice.

This is true for every American. How much more true is it for us as the Church, as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ? The Gospel is a Gospel of freedom. "I have come to proclaim liberty to the captives…to let the oppressed go free," Jesus said in defining his mission.

Carrying out this mission requires the freedom to speak the truth as we understand it. Not only was this fundamental right explicitly acknowledged by our Founding Fathers and placed at the top of the Bill of Rights, but it has been affirmed time and time again by the Supreme Court, not only to point out the existence of such freedom, but also its characteristics.

In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (376 U.S. 254, 270 (1964)), the Court asserted that the protection of citizens to advocate for particular issues reflects our “profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open” (emphasis added).

In 2010, the Supreme Court also affirmed the following:

"Speech is an essential mechanism of democracy, for it is the means to hold officials accountable to the people. The right of citizens to inquire, to hear, to speak, and to use information to reach consensus is a precondition to enlightened self-government and a necessary means to protect it. The First Amendment 'has its fullest and most urgent application to speech uttered during a campaign for political office.'”
“[I]t is inherent in the nature of the political process that voters must be free to obtain information from diverse sources in order to determine how to cast their votes.” (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010)).

The corresponding freedom of the Church to speak and teach the truth -- a freedom also contained in the Founders' recognition of freedom of religion -- is something explicitly insisted upon in the Church's own documents. This freedom is, in fact, an essential aspect of the Great Commission left by Jesus Christ: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." "Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you." Because the Gospel covers every aspect of life and human activity, the Church must also be free to comment on political matters. In this regard we see the following strong statement from the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes):

"At all times and in all places, the Church should have the true freedom to teach the faith, to proclaim its teaching about society, to carry out its task among men without hindrance, and to pass moral judgment even in matters relating to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it." (n. 76)

In my upcoming columns, I will help us prepare for the midterm elections by reflecting on how we in the Church have often stifled this freedom, and why it is time to repent and open our mouths.

Historic National Ecumenical Prayer Service - January 22, 2014 at Constituion Hall, Washington, DC

From Father Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

The purpose of my column this week is to extend to you an invitation: please join me, along with hundreds of clergy and thousands of believers, on Wednesday morning, January 22, 2014 in Washington, DC for mass followed by the Twentieth Annual National Memorial for the Preborn and their Mothers and Fathers. This interdenominational, national prayer service will be held in the historic and beautiful Constitution Hall. Mass is at 7:30, the prayer service starts at 8:30, and we'll be done by 10:30, leaving plenty of time to get to the March for Life Rally.

You'll get an idea of the enthusiasm of the crowd and the beauty of the venue if you watch the short video clip at the event's website, NationalPrayerService.com. Last year, we were blessed to have clergy from denominations representing practically every letter of the alphabet! We had a dozen bishops of the Anglican Church from across America, leading Lutheran and Charismatic Episcopal bishops, and many other religious leaders from denominations large and small. Dr. Robert H. Turrill, President and CEO of the Evangelical Church Alliance was present, as were Roman Catholic priests and seminarians. Our organizing committee for the service includes Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Church of Christ, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, Charismatic Episcopal Church, Anglicans, and Catholics.

What is the importance of attending this event?

First of all, this is the premier National Prayer Service for the sad commemoration of the Roe vs. Wade decision each January 22. We have to combat the culture of death first of all with prayer, and on the day of the national March for Life, what better way to begin than with a vibrant prayer service?

Secondly, the educational value of this event is tremendous. It is not every day that one can see leaders of so many different Christian denominations gathered together. And in praying with them and hearing about the denominations they represent, we learn so much about Christianity in America, and about the real unity we have despite the differences from one denomination to the next.

Interestingly, each year, when the sad date of the Roe vs. Wade decision (January 22) is observed, Christians are in the midst of also observing the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25). This Providential convergence teaches us something both about the pro-life cause and about Christian unity.

In regard to the pro-life cause, it brings to mind Pope John Paul II's words in The Gospel of Life:

“Service of the Gospel of life is thus an immense and complex task. This service increasingly appears as a valuable and fruitful area for positive cooperation with our brothers and sisters of other Churches and ecclesial communities, in accordance with the practical ecumenism which the Second Vatican Council authoritatively encouraged. It also appears as a providential area for dialogue and joint efforts with the followers of other religions and with all people of good will. No single person or group has a monopoly on the defense and promotion of life. These are everyone's task and responsibility. … [O]nly the concerted efforts of all those who believe in the value of life can prevent a setback of unforeseeable consequences for civilization.” – (March 25, 1995, EV, #91)

The convergence of these dates also reminds us that efforts at authentic Christian unity are not limited to the important dialogues that take place, but also include carrying out the Christian mission side  by side. In this regard, exactly two months after issuing The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II issued Ut Unum Sint, his encyclical on Christian Unity, in which he writes:

“Many Christians from all Communities, by reason of their faith, are jointly involved in bold projects aimed at changing the world by inculcating respect for the rights and needs of everyone, especially the poor, the lowly, and the defenseless…Christians who once acted independently are now engaged together in the service of this cause, so that God’s mercy may triumph” (May 25, 1995, "Ut Unum Sint," n. 43).

I am delighted to join with so many other pro-life groups in working to fill Constitution Hall this year with enthusiastic pro-life believers. The groups working together include The National Pro-Life Religious Council, The National Pro-Life Center on Capitol Hill, Faith and Action, Priests for Life, and Gospel of Life Ministries. Other pro-life groups are co-sponsoring or hosting the event, including Austin Ruse and the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute, Brad Mattes and the Life Issues Institute, Sam Casey and the Jubilee Campaign Law of Life Project, Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council, Alveda King, Director of African-American Outreach, Priests for Life, Charmaine Yoest, Ph. D., President and CEO, Americans United for Life, Pastor Luke J. Robinson, Director, Voice of Truth and Life Ministries, Pastor, Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, Archbishop Craig W. Bates, Patriarch of the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church and Ernie Ohlhoff, National Right to Life Committee.

I hope you will be among them! Please talk with your pro-life groups, parishes, dioceses, Knights of Columbus Councils, and schools that may be planning to come to Washington, DC, and arrange your schedules so that you can join us on January 22! Constitution Hall is located at 1776 D St., NW (18th and D St), Washington DC. See you there!

National Day of Remembrance

From Father Frank Pavone

The National Day of Remembrance (AbortionMemorials.com) is an effort of prayer and education focused on the approximately thirty locations throughout the United States in which the bodies of children killed by abortion are buried. By telling the stories of these burials and having memorial services at each of these sites, the public is brought to a deeper awareness of the humanity of the unborn and the inhumanity of abortion. Moreover, this occasion can lead those who have lost children to abortion to a greater measure of healing.

This initiative is sponsored by three national pro-life groups, Priests for Life, Pro-life Action League, and Citizens for a Pro-life Society.

The National Day of Remembrance is scheduled for Saturday, September 14, 2013, which is the 25th anniversary of one of the major burial services for these children in Milwaukee. On that day, simultaneous memorial services will be held at these gravesites, led by local clergy and pro-life citizens. Local communities will publish the stories about how these gravesites came to be, and will invite people to visit them on an ongoing basis. We intend to make this an annual observance.

Some of these graves contain hundreds and even thousands of babies in one burial plot. Most of the time, the bodies were discovered in trash dumpsters outside of legal abortion clinics. In one case, in the early '80's, workers discovered a large container with the bodies of 16,500 aborted babies in it. Pro-life citizens wanted to do what every civilized society does, namely, bury them. But because of the opposition of abortion supporters, that did not happen until after a three-year legal battle. Abortion advocates try to avoid what will reinforce the humanity of unborn children. That's part of the power of this project.

Many of the children in these burial sites were killed in the later stages of pregnancy. At the present time in the history of the battle over abortion in America, in the light of the trial and conviction of Kermit Gosnell and the passage by the US House of Representatives, and various states, of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the reality of late-term abortion has been brought into clearer focus for the American public. Awareness of that reality leads to a logical question: what is done with the bodies?

The National Day of Remembrance builds on that question and strengthens that awareness, creating a focal point for our grief, both national and personal, and for the education of future generations.

Not only will these services raise awareness about abortion, but they will also provide opportunities for an urgent call to healing after abortion. The work of Rachel’s Vineyard and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, the world’s largest ministries for healing after abortion, and which both operate under the auspices of Priests for Life, have taught us that the opportunity to grieve at a gravesite, or have a memorial service, is an important step in the healing process. This Day of Remembrance will bring a great deal of healing to many people, and kindle in them new hope.

 Volunteers are still needed to make these September 14 events a success! Visit AbortionMemorials.com to sign up!


Comments on this column? Go to Askfrfrank.com


Remember to support our work at Priestsforlife.org/donate

Prayer Service for Babies Killed by Kermit Gosnell

From Father Frank Pavone
Priests for Life


In the 2010 raid of the abortion clinic of Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia, the remains of some 45 babies were found in jars, milk cartons, and other containers throughout the clinic and in the freezer. It is bad enough that these children were killed, whether in the womb or outside the womb. But their bodies have still not been buried, despite the offer of Priests for Life to conduct proper funeral services and burials, and the assistance likewise offered by funeral homes and other interested persons from around the nation.

The babies are currently still in the possession of the Philadelphia Medical Examiner. As a reminder of their humanity, and as a sign of our solidarity with them, Priests for Life is holding a prayer service on Friday, July 19, from 10 to 11 a.m. in front of the building where they are being kept, at 321 University Ave., Philadelphia. If the Medical Examiner will not bring these babies to us, then we will go to them.

Our Youth Director, Bryan Kemper, and our Pastoral Associate Kevin Burke, who works in the outreach of our Silent No More Awareness Campaign and of Rachel’s Vineyard, will assist in leading the service, in conjunction with our friend and colleague, Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition.  We invite all people of good will to join us.

See the FaceBook event page for the prayer service.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT FOR NORTH DAKOTA HB 1456 and HB 1305

From Father Frank Pavone

I need your help today to get the strongest pro-life bills in the nation signed into law!

The Governor of North Dakota is about to receive two bills on his desk, HB 1456 known as the “Heartbeat Bill” and HB 1305 which would stop abortions done for sex selection or fetal abnormality.  The Governor is pro-life, and those close to him think he will sign them.

But the pro-abortion forces are going to put tremendous pressure today and in the next few days to get him not to sign them. That's why I'm mobilizing our forces to act quickly, today, to contact him either by phone, fax, or email, to encourage him to enact these bills into law. We need to act today, because he could sign or veto these bills at any moment.

The legislators of North Dakota have passed the strongest pro-life bills in the nation. The "Heartbeat Bill" would prohibit abortions of a baby with a detectable heartbeat. The second bill would prevent abortions done for sex selection or fetal abnormality (like Down Syndrome.)

A baby's heartbeat can be detected around 6 weeks. And as for Down Syndrome, somewhere around 80% of unborn children diagnosed with this condition are killed! So these laws are needed. Again, the Governor is pro-life.

But some are making the argument that because the pro-abortion crowd would challenge these laws in Court, the state would spend too much money in legal fees. But we say, if the people of North Dakota want to protect their unborn children, let the fight begin!

After all, what is worth more to spend money defending than life itself!

And a victory in North Dakota on these bills will inspire other states to enact them as well. This has national implications, which is why people from every state are being invited to do this.




Use this link for info on sending messages to the Governor of North Dakota to encourage him to sign these bills into law

Exposing Abortion - Sunday, March 17, 2013

"The toughest part of a D&E abortion is extracting the baby’s head. The head of a baby that age is about the size of a plum and is now free floating inside the uterine cavity."

 Dr. Tony Levatino, former abortionist, describing second trimester D and E abortion procedure in statement at DC Press Conference, September 18, 2008.


link to text of Dr. Levatino's statement