National Pro-Life Religious Council

Pavone's Tangled Web May Have Led To His Downfall

Submitted by Brian Tashman on Monday, 9/26/2011 11:24 am

Pavone’s Tangled Web May Have Led To His Downfall After Bishop Patrick Zurek of the Archdiocese of Amarillo, Texas, recalled Frank Pavone of Priests for Life over financial concerns, many of Pavone’s allies lashed out at Zurek. The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform said it would picket Roman Catholic churches in Amarillo for “hindering efforts to protect the safety of unborn children” and Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said Pavone’s suspension was “outrageous,” slamming Zurek for “casting a shadow where none should be.”

Pavone and his friends defended his financial management, but it appears that the group hit a significant financial shortfall. It appears that much of the problem involves one of Pavone’s many spinoff groups, Gospel of Life Ministries. Other Pavone-affiliated groups besides Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries include the National Pro-Life Religious Council, Rachel’s Vineyard and Faith And Action.

According to Religion News Service, Priests for Life faces a serious budget shortfall, partly as a result of its decision to loan “some $879,000 to Gospel of Life Ministries,” which lost its “tax-exempt status because it failed to file any forms for three consecutive years”:

A leading Catholic anti-abortion group whose leader is under scrutiny for failing to disclose financial details reported a $1.4 million deficit in 2010 despite collecting tens of millions of dollars in donations during recent years.

The budget shortfall at Priests For Life and a bishop’s recent decision to sharply curtail its national director’s activities raise serious questions about the group’s long-term viability.

…

Earlier this month, Bishop Patrick Zurek ordered Pavone to return to Amarillo, Texas, where the priest is officially based, saying Pavone had failed to answer questions about Priests For Life’s finances. The group’s financial troubles appear to partly result from the economic downturn that has hurt many nonprofits.

But an audit for 2010 released this week by PFL shows the problems also stem from debatable management decisions, such as spending nearly all of its reserve funds.

…

The audit shows that Priests for Life’s income, which is based largely on donations from individuals, went from $9.3 million in 2007 to $10.8 million in 2008 and $12 million in 2009.

In 2010, income dropped to $10.7 million while expenses stayed the same, resulting in a $1.4 million deficit.

Still, Pavone and PFL’s loaned some $879,000 to Gospel of Life Ministries, an offshoot of PFL that Pavone established in 2006 at the headquarters of Priests for Life in Staten Island, N.Y.

Gospel of Life Ministries was intended to unite evangelical and Catholic anti-abortion activists and to be financially self-sustaining. Instead, it relied on funds channeled from PFL to subsidize two cable television programs.

The IRS has revoked Gospel of Life’s tax-exempt status because it failed to file any forms for three consecutive years, according to GuideStar, an online database that tracks nonprofits.

…

Earlier this month, Zurek told the rest of the bishops in the United States that he was recalling Pavone to Amarillo and restricting his ministry until the priest complied with demands to disclose financial records and ended his “incorrigible defiance of my legitimate authority as his bishop.”

Zurek portrayed Pavone, who spends almost all his time traveling for PFL, as driven by personal ambition. Pavone has appealed Zurek’s ruling to the Vatican and said he will look for another diocese to call home.

Right Wing Leftovers

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 2/18/2010 6:29 pm
  • For some reason, Mike Huckabee thought it necessary to remind everyone that he is "unequivocally" pro-life.

  • FRC praises VA Gov. Bob McDonnell for making it easier for employers to fire gay employees.

  • Does anybody care what Ted Nugent thinks about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. If so, here you go.

  • Answers in Genesis' Ken Ham delivered his "State of the Nation"address last night.  Guess how he thinks the nation is doing?

  • Gary Bauer calls The Mount Vernon Statement "a seminal document reflecting both the past and the future of intellectual conservatism."

  • The Susan B. Anthony List and dozens of other right-wing groups have sent a letter to President Obama and Minority Leader John Boehner demanding there be no "taxpayer funding of abortion on-demand" in any health care reform legislation.

  • LifeNews.com, National Clergy Council, National Pro-life Religious Council, Operation Outcry, Priests for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Wallbuilders and others are joining forces to launch a series of "Voter Registration Sundays."

  • Quote of the Day from the AFA's Bryan Fischer: "Our first order of business is to identify candidates who will be guided by the moral law of God in forming public policy, whose worldviews align with the value system found in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and help them become our 'ministers of God,' secular priests exercising sacred authority in the public square."

Right Wing Leftovers

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 1/15/2010 6:29 pm
  • Lou Engle declares the year 2010 to be "73-37 window" because it has been 37 years since the Supreme Court issued Roe v. Wade in 1973. Get it?

  • The message of this year's March for Life will be "no abortion funding in health care."

  • Tim Pawlenty will headline a fundraising event in March for the anti-choice Susan. B. Anthony List.

  • Tea Parties are plotting how to take over the GOP.

  • On a semi-related note, Richard Viguerie will deliver the keynote speech at the inaugural Leadership Tea Party training event to be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Westin Hotel from January 29-31.

  • Matt Barber joins the "is Mark Kirk gay? "crowd.

  • Finally, will Tony Perkins be rocking his roguish new beard when receives the National Pro-Life Religious Council's National Pro-Life Recognition Award next week?

Another Day, Another Right Wing Coalition Formed

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 1/15/2010 2:32 pm

I've honestly lost track of exactly how many new right-wing groups and coalitions have formed since Barack Obama was elected president - I feel like there have been close to a dozen.

Well, we can now add another one to the ever-growing list, this one consisting of Priests for Life, Wallbuilders, the National Clergy Council, the Susan B. Anthony List, and others:

Declaring that it is time for the Culture of Life to gain ground at the voting booth, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, announced today that a "Vote Pro-life" Coalition is forming to assist organizations, Churches, and individuals to foster Christian political responsibility.

"For years, Priests for Life has been working with groups like National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Wallbuilders, National Clergy Council, National Pro-life Religious Council and many other organizations to foster political responsibility. This year we will both continue and enhance this collaboration. The "Vote Pro-life" Coalition will assist organizations and individuals to advance activities like:

a) Non-partisan voter registration drives in Churches and through other organizations;

b) Educating candidates and voters about life issues and their critical importance;

c) Informing voters about the positions of candidates on key issues;

d) Getting voters to the polls during early voting and on Election Day, November 2, 2010.

Perkins To Be Honored For His Anti-Choice Efforts

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 10/9/2009 9:38 am

It's not quite the Nobel Peace Prize, but Tony Perkins is getting an award too:

The National Pro-Life Religious Council (NPRC) announced today the recipient of its annual Pro-life Recognition Award. This award is bestowed each year upon a leader who has made a significant difference in the effort to restore protection to unborn children. This year's recipient is Mr. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council.

Rev. Frank Pavone, President of the NPRC, praised the work and example of Mr. Perkins: "Tony has an incredible record of uniting Christians of all denominations in legislative efforts that protect the rights of unborn children. We are particularly grateful for the pioneering way he has inspired and empowered pastors to join in this cause."

The pro-life award will be presented at the annual National Memorial for the Preborn, to be held on Capitol Hill on the morning of Friday, January 22, 2010, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Faith And Action's Tangled Web

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 3/5/2009 12:00 pm

A few weeks back, Faith and Action's Rob Schenck provided a video update in which he reported that Focus on the Family's new lobbyist to Capitol Hill, former Bush administration aide Tim Goeglein, would soon be sharing office space with them.

Shortly after we highlighted the video, Faith and Action yanked it down, but in it Schenck related how their office was actually the office of several allied ministries as well including the Christian Defense Coalition, Priests for Life, the National Pro-Life Action Center, the Judicial Action Group, and the Life Education and Resource Network.

In fact, there are so many different organization operating out of that office and being run by people with ties to Faith and Action that it is almost impossible to tell them apart.  For instance, Schenck and Christian Defense Coalition Director Patrick Mahoney regularly work together, like when they got together to annoint the door through which Barack Obama would walk on his way to his inauguration.

Priests for Life is run by Frank Pavone, who is also a trustee at Faith and Action, as well as president of the National Pro-Life Religious Council and Pastoral Director of Rachel’s Vinyard.

The National Pro-Life Action Center is run by Paul Schenck, Rob's twin brother, who is Chairman of Faith and Action as well as the Chief Operating Officer for National Pro-Life Radio, which itself was founded by Stephen Peroutka, who just so happens to also be the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Pro-Life Action Center.  National Pro-Life Radio's on air broadcasters include Frank Pavone, Paul Schenck, and Rob Schenck, as well as other allies like Day Gardner of the National Black Pro-Life Union and Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice who has his own close ties to Rob and Paul Schenck.

As for Rob Schenck, in addition to being a co-founder of Faith and Action, he is also president of the National Clergy Council. Among the board members of the NCC are Patrick Mahoney of the CDC as well as a man named Gary Dull, who is also an executive board member of Faith and Action.

All of which is a long way of saying that it looks like we'll soon have yet another Faith and Action-related group to try and keep an eye on because Dull is set to announce that he is starting his own new right-wing organization to confront the problem of godlessness in America:

Why is the USA in the midst of a great economic crisis? Why is there so much corruption in government? Why are American marriages breaking up at the rate of nearly 50%? Could it be that there is a root cause that many are overlooking? Could it be that the America we love is facing the judgment of God due to rejecting His laws regarding abortion, same-sex marriages, the public display of God in public spaces, trying to borrow our way into wealth, and the funding of godless programs? It appears that we too often attempt to fix the symptom of the problem, as the root of the problem continues to eat at the very core of the nation.

Today, Faith and Action in the Nation's Capitol, HOPE Ministries of Hickory, NC, and The Way of Truth Ministries of Altoona, PA are announcing the formation of THE FAITH AND FREEDOM INSTITUTE for the purpose of motivating religious, governmental, and community leaders to call our nation back to its basic values defined in historical documents. The vision of TFFI will be to perpetuate true patriotism and generate a genuine desire for biblical values in churches, schools and governmental entities within the USA.

...

Today (March 5) at 4:00 PM, a press conference will be held by the organizers to TFFI at the headquarters of the Faith and Action Ministry at 109 2nd Street, NW Washington (behind the Supreme Court) to explain the mission and objectives of the organization.

Syndicate content

National Pro-Life Religious Council Posts Archive

Pavone's Tangled Web May Have Led To His Downfall
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Tashman, Monday 09/26/2011, 11:24am
Pavone’s Tangled Web May Have Led To His Downfall After Bishop Patrick Zurek of the Archdiocese of Amarillo, Texas, recalled Frank Pavone of Priests for Life over financial concerns, many of Pavone’s allies lashed out at Zurek. The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform said it would picket Roman Catholic churches in Amarillo for “hindering efforts to protect the safety of unborn children” and Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said Pavone’s suspension was “outrageous,” slamming Zurek for “casting a shadow where none should be.” Pavone and his... MORE >
Right Wing Leftovers
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 02/18/2010, 6:29pm
For some reason, Mike Huckabee thought it necessary to remind everyone that he is "unequivocally" pro-life. FRC praises VA Gov. Bob McDonnell for making it easier for employers to fire gay employees. Does anybody care what Ted Nugent thinks about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. If so, here you go. Answers in Genesis' Ken Ham delivered his "State of the Nation"address last night.  Guess how he thinks the nation is doing? Gary Bauer calls The Mount Vernon Statement "a seminal document reflecting both the past and the future of intellectual... MORE >
Right Wing Leftovers
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Friday 01/15/2010, 6:29pm
Lou Engle declares the year 2010 to be "73-37 window" because it has been 37 years since the Supreme Court issued Roe v. Wade in 1973. Get it? The message of this year's March for Life will be "no abortion funding in health care." Tim Pawlenty will headline a fundraising event in March for the anti-choice Susan. B. Anthony List. Tea Parties are plotting how to take over the GOP. On a semi-related note, Richard Viguerie will deliver the keynote speech at the inaugural Leadership Tea Party training event to be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth... MORE >
Another Day, Another Right Wing Coalition Formed
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Friday 01/15/2010, 2:32pm
I've honestly lost track of exactly how many new right-wing groups and coalitions have formed since Barack Obama was elected president - I feel like there have been close to a dozen. Well, we can now add another one to the ever-growing list, this one consisting of Priests for Life, Wallbuilders, the National Clergy Council, the Susan B. Anthony List, and others: Declaring that it is time for the Culture of Life to gain ground at the voting booth, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, announced today that a "Vote Pro-life" Coalition is forming to assist... MORE >
Perkins To Be Honored For His Anti-Choice Efforts
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Friday 10/09/2009, 9:38am
It's not quite the Nobel Peace Prize, but Tony Perkins is getting an award too: The National Pro-Life Religious Council (NPRC) announced today the recipient of its annual Pro-life Recognition Award. This award is bestowed each year upon a leader who has made a significant difference in the effort to restore protection to unborn children. This year's recipient is Mr. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council. Rev. Frank Pavone, President of the NPRC, praised the work and example of Mr. Perkins: "Tony has an incredible record of uniting Christians of all denominations in... MORE >
Faith And Action's Tangled Web
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 03/05/2009, 12:00pm
A few weeks back, Faith and Action's Rob Schenck provided a video update in which he reported that Focus on the Family's new lobbyist to Capitol Hill, former Bush administration aide Tim Goeglein, would soon be sharing office space with them.Shortly after we highlighted the video, Faith and Action yanked it down, but in it Schenck related how their office was actually the office of several allied ministries as well including the Christian Defense Coalition, Priests for Life, the National Pro-Life Action Center, the Judicial Action Group, and the Life Education and Resource Network.In fact,... MORE >