Bishop announces investigation of Father Pavone
November 09, 2016
Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, Texas, has announce an investigation into the incident in which Father Frank Pavone posted a video in which he displayed the body of an unborn child on an altar while making a plea for support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The bishop said that the display of an aborted fetus on an altar was “against the dignity of human life and is a desecration of the altar.”
“The Diocese of Amarillo deeply regrets the offense and outrage caused by the video,” the bishop’s statement said. Bishop Zurek said that the video presentation was “not consistent with the beliefs of the Catholic Church.”
Although he works in New York as head of Priests for Life, Father Pavone is officially a priest of the Amarillo diocese. The pro-life activist priest has clashed in the past with diocesan leaders in both Amarillo and New York.
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Further information:
- Bishop launches probe of priest who posed with fetus on the altar (RNS)
- Statement from Bishop Patrick J. Zurek (Amarillo diocese)
- Father Pavone under fire for political video showing unborn child on altar (CWN, 11/8)
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Posted by: scotty -
Nov. 11, 2016 1:50 PM ET USA
The only sacrifice that should be brought to the altar of God, is Jesus Christ. Anything else removes God from any message someone (no matter how noble the work) is trying to make.
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Posted by: wojo425627 -
Nov. 11, 2016 10:51 AM ET USA
I am confused about how so many Catholics are unable to see that Father Pavone appears to have desecrated an altar of God. I am well aware of how bad abortion is, and I oppose it vehemently but you do not desecrate an altar of God to make a political statement. The Altar of God has one single use, and that is to offer the sacrifice of the mass on it. Any other use is a sacrilege. How are Catholics unable to recognize this? They are exhalting Fr. Pavone above Gods prerogative to worship.
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Nov. 10, 2016 7:38 PM ET USA
Bishop Zurek give us a break. How often in your diocese did you or your priests preach against abortion and how often did you call it a mortal sin to vote for Clinton. Don't throw stones in a glass house.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Nov. 10, 2016 3:39 AM ET USA
Rush Limbaugh refers to abortion as the "sacrament of the far left." It appears that Fr. Pavone may have taken this symbolism too far. To take a lead from Barry Goldwater, extremism in the pursuit of virtue is no vice. What Goldwater actually said is something that Pope Francis might have a problem with: "moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." Perhaps these sentiments played a role in Fr. Pavone's decision to act out the symbolism in such a graphic manner.
