Priests for Life
Encyclopedia
Priests for Life is a Roman Catholic pro-life
organization based in New York
. It functions as a network to promote and coordinate pro-life activism with the primary strategic goal of ending abortion
and euthanasia
and to spread the Gospel of Life according to the encyclical of the same name
written by Pope John Paul II
.
, priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. On April 30, 1991, Archbishop
John Quinn
of San Francisco officially approved it as a Private Association of the Faithful. The organization is listed in the Official Catholic Directory. In 2003, it was granted NGO Status by the United Nations
.
status of a Private Association of the Christian Faithful. It has about 60 full-time paid employees. Its national director is Father Frank Pavone
(who is currently suspended from work with the organization because his bishop has recalled him to his diocese). Priests for Life exists primarily in order to show the clergy how to fight what the organization believes to be a culture of death.
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
organization based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It functions as a network to promote and coordinate pro-life activism with the primary strategic goal of ending abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
and to spread the Gospel of Life according to the encyclical of the same name
Evangelium Vitae
Evangelium Vitae is the name of the encyclical written by Pope John Paul II which expresses the position of the Catholic Church regarding the value and inviolability of human life...
written by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
History
It was founded by Father Lee Kaylor and Father Francis P. FiliceFrancis P. Filice
Francis Patrick Filice is an American priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Filice is Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of San Francisco , founder of United for Life of San Francisco , co-founder of the St. Ignatius Institute , co-founder of Priests for Life , and founder of...
, priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. On April 30, 1991, Archbishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
John Quinn
John R. Quinn
John Raphael Quinn is a Roman Catholic bishop, currently the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of San Francisco; he served as the archdiocese's sixth archbishop from 1977 to 1995...
of San Francisco officially approved it as a Private Association of the Faithful. The organization is listed in the Official Catholic Directory. In 2003, it was granted NGO Status by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Status
While primary membership is for Catholic bishops, priests and deacons, there is also a lay auxiliary membership, as it has the canonicalCanon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
status of a Private Association of the Christian Faithful. It has about 60 full-time paid employees. Its national director is Father Frank Pavone
Frank Pavone
Father Frank A. Pavone is an American Roman Catholic priest and pro-life activist. He was the national director of Priests for Life and serves as the Chairman and Pastoral Director of Rachel's Vineyard...
(who is currently suspended from work with the organization because his bishop has recalled him to his diocese). Priests for Life exists primarily in order to show the clergy how to fight what the organization believes to be a culture of death.