"Priests for Life" Watched the Moral Majority Die



Frank Pavone, founder and chief of Priests for Life, posted an appeal to followers that they demand the new pope reinstate his credentials as a priest. He was defrocked by Pope Francis. Now he cannot do mass, funerals or weddings or present himself in any way as a priest representing the Catholic corporation.

I suspect he wants his priest credential back because it helps him raise money. He may well be experiencing the same drop off of donations I suspect is happening to Tony at the Family Research Council. 

Pavone was a priest when he started Priests for Life. As it grew, high up officials in the Catholic denomination began asking for information about Priests for Life. Pavone gave high officials the bird. I'm thinking he said something like, "Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll. I'm the King of Anti Abortion. You can't demand anything of me." Why did officials want to see Pavone's books? Why did they care?

I'm guessing Pavone asked supporters in dioceses across the country to send him the lists of names and addresses in their parishes. He then pitched them for money. Catholic Bishops complained to Rome. Pavone was taking money from the same sources as Rome. He had to go. 

On the Priests for Life site, you can see an independent accountant's review of its finances. The report says all revenue is accounted for and withing accounting standards. The question is this, who owns Priests for Life and who makes decisions about the assets it owns. It's office building and land is worth a million plus dollars. If Priests for Life owns this real estate, who owns Priests for Life? If it is owned by a corporation and the corporation has officers if Pavone an officer and does he appoint the others if there are others? I don't know the answers to these questions, but what I know is Pavone would not allow Vatican officials to find out what happened to the money Pavone collected from right-to-life enthusiasts. 

Jerry Falwell was once riding high like Frank Pavone. The Moral Majority was swimming in money and expected to grow forever. But, when people tired of it, the Moral Majority had to close its doors. Maybe Pavone saw that and wondered if he might have the same future.  

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