Community Corner
Supporters Rally for Pavone Ahead of Meeting with Bishop
Supporters of Port Chester native the Rev. Frank Pavone are rallying to his support after Pavone was suspended from duty outside of his home diocese.
Supporters are rallying on behalf of an embattled priest and pro-life leader ahead of a crucial church meeting tomorrow.
The Rev. Frank Pavone, a Port Chester-born priest and leader of Priests for Life, has been in limbo for after he was recalled to his home diocese amid questions about the finances of his charity.
Pavone will meet tomorrow with Bishop Patrick Zurek, the diocesan leader who to his home diocese of Amirillo, TX, after publicly raising questions about the finances of Priests for Life.
Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Priests for Life was founded in Port Chester in 1993. Over two decades, the pro-life group has grown into a nationally-recognized non-profit with revenues of about $10 million a year. Pavone himself has become a familiar face in anti-abortion circles and in national media, with frequent guest appearances on Fox News and a prominent role advocating on behalf of the parents of Terri Schiavo.
Despite the group's impressive revenue during an economic recession, when many non-profits are struggling to collect donations, Priests for Life disclosed a $1.4 million revenue shortfall in 2010, according to the National Catholic Register.
Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The revenue shortfalls and ongoing questions from Catholic clergy and laity about Priests for Life are what prompted Zurek to recall Pavone to Amirillo, the bishop said last month.
Meanwhile, subsequent media reports have brought more bad news for Pavone and supporters, including news that one of Pavone's affiliate groups continues to solicit tax-deductible donations despite losing tax-exempt status from the IRS in 2010.
Despite the questions about Pavone's financial management of Priests for Life, Pavone has launched an aggressive fund-raising campaign in the wake of the allegations, and supporters are pressuring Catholic leaders to allow the Port Chester-born priest to continue his ministry.
"We need more people fighting against the culture of death," said Operation Rescue's Troy Newman. "The websites, the phone calls, and the messaging is intended to show America that the pro-life movement will not remain silent."
Follow Port Chester Patch!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PortChesterPatch
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PChesterPatch
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
