History of Priests for Life
The founder of Priests for Life was
Fr. Lee
Kaylor, a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He wanted to encourage
his brother priests to preach and teach on the sanctity of life. He established
a newsletter for priests and began to organize an association to network priests
who are active in pro-life efforts.
On April 30, 1991 Archbishop John Quinn of San
Francisco officially approved Priests for Life as a Private Association of the
Faithful, a term drawn from the Code of Canon Law. The
organization is listed in the Official Catholic Directory.
Fr. Frank Pavone, a Priest of the Diocese
of Amarillo, TX, serves as National Director of Priests for Life on a full-time
basis with his Bishop's permission. He was ordained by
John Cardinal O'Connor, who allowed him to begin this work in 1993. He has
been able to travel to all 50 states and five continents to promote this work.
Several other priests have also been given permission by their Ordinaries to
work full-time to promote Priests for Life: Fr. Peter West,
Fr. Denis G. Wilde, O.S.A., and Fr. Walter
J. Quinn, O.S.A. , Fr. Scott Daniels,
O.P., and Fr. Victor Salomón, who
works with us on a part-time basis and is the Director of Hispanic Outreach.
Since 1993, the staff of Priests for Life has grown from one person to 40
full-time paid employees. Working with Fr. Frank from the beginning have been
Mr. Anthony DeStefano, Vice Chairman of the Board and
Janet Morana, Executive Director. Senior Vice President
Mr. Jerry Horn coordinates, among other things, key public relations and
media work.
This association obtained the enthusiastic
endorsement of many leaders.
His Eminence Cardinal William Keeler, when
serving as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, expressed
his active support. Cardinal
Roger Mahony likewise expressed his support in 1994 when he was Chairman of
the same committee. The Holy Father's representative in the United States,
Most Reverend Gabriel Montalvo,
has warmly endorsed Priests for Life. Also, from the beginning, the late
Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillo endorsed the work on behalf of the
Vatican, and had renewed
that endorsement. Cardinal Trujillo was the President of the
Pontifical Council for the Family, which was established by Pope John Paul
II to coordinate and foster the pro-life, pro-family activities of the entire
Church.
Priests for Life has been warmly endorsed by Mother
Teresa of Calcutta, who asked Fr. Frank Pavone to come to India to speak to
her sisters and priests of the region.
In 2003, Priests for Life was granted NGO Status by the
United Nations.
Priests for Life has received many inquiries from other countries who want to
establish similar associations.
Canada
has a fully functioning Priests for Life organization. We also receive inquiries
from young men looking for a priestly or religious vocation centered in pro-life
activity.
A key characteristic of the mission of Priests for Life is its ability to
work with and support many varied groups and facets within the prolife cause.
These groups are grateful for the witness of Priests for Life on many fronts.
For example,
Catholics Against Capital Punishment have experienced the willingness of
Priests for Life to be of assistance.
To learn more about the Priests for Life organization and its history and
mission, order our introductory video,
a powerful and professional presentation!
Click here to hear an Audio Intro to
Priests for Life
Read the comments of those who praise our work.
