Do you remember when Fr. Pavone was first remanded to his diocese and the Priest’s for Life first put under scrutiny?
At the time, there were all kinds of allegations and innuendo of financial misconduct and worse alleged against Fr. Pavone and the group. All kinds of allegations and innuendo, some of it quite vile.
At the time, there were many people that were assured by the combox inquisitors and prominent bloggers that where there is smoke, there is certainly fire. The Bishop knows much more than we and he would not have made such a dramatic move unless things were seriously wrong!!!
In fact, many people assured us that things are likely much worse than we know. Why else would the Bishop suspend Fr. Pavone from all ministry outside the diocese? Wake up! Why would a Bishop take such a serious and draconian step unless Fr. Pavone was guilty of serious wrong doing? Stop defending the guy, Archbold. Wake up and smell the coffee! Read the writing on the wall! This is Corapi all over again!!
Well, the Congregation for the Clergy overturned that suspension and then today we have the news that all the issues surrounding Fr. Pavone and Priest for Life are over and all can go about their business. Nothing to see here, move along.
All this is not to say that all was perfect before the intervention and that some improvements haven’t been made, these are humans we are talking about after all. But the worst fears, allegations, and copious innuendo that spewed about after the intervention have proven unfounded.
While the situations are certainly different in many regards, I would ask people to keep this in mind before assuming that the worst allegations and innuendo against the Franciscan of the Immaculate and its founder must be true or the Vatican and the commissioner would not have acted this way.
As we see, that is not always the case.
January 17, 2014 at 3:11 pm
The defamation suffered by Fr Pavone and Priests for Life will not easily be undone. Was there a public apology from the bishop?
January 17, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Saints and sinners all in the same Church
January 17, 2014 at 6:41 pm
We should also recall the Saints Faustina and P. Pio were censured for a while as well. We have never been promised freedom from suffering until we reach Heaven, God willing.
January 17, 2014 at 8:42 pm
"Good people have been subjected to this before" is no excuse for those behaving badly.
January 18, 2014 at 4:38 am
"We would not have handed HIM over to you unless He was guilty" the High Priests.
January 18, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Will Mark Shea admit he was wrong about Fr. Pavone?
January 18, 2014 at 4:27 pm
"I would ask people to keep this in mind before assuming that the worst allegations and innuendo against the Franciscan of the Immaculate and its founder must be true or the Vatican and the commissioner would not have acted this way."
Hey, how about assuming we don't know anything either way?
"We should also recall the Saints Faustina and P. Pio were censured for a while …"
… and both obeyed, to the letter.
January 18, 2014 at 5:30 pm
All there is against FFI are vague slurs and innuendo and crypto-allegations.
January 19, 2014 at 3:45 am
DL
Hey, how about assuming nothing. Who has disobeyed?
January 19, 2014 at 7:24 am
I met Fr Frank at a Mother of Life Conference with my daughter right before the money, obedience and authority drama with his Bishop. He weathered it. Apparently, as well as can be expected. He was plucked right out of his Priests for Life Ministry, just like that and for quite awhile.
I was surprised Father is about the same stature as Padre Pio. He was very patient and personal with those who waited to meet him. You would never suspect that this man, has had constant death threats made against his life or that he has been attacked more than once. Gotta' give him credit for having some guts! He has even been refused protection by local authorities during prayer vigils!
Thank You, Fr Frank for all the work you have done! Welcome home, the timing is, of course, excellent!
January 25, 2014 at 11:13 pm
Of course, there is a distinct difference between Fr. Pavone's ordeal and the FI's predicament. In Fr. Pavone's case financial accusations were initially made but were found to be false by the official investigation. In the case of the FI, there were no initial accusations regarding the financial discrepancies, but were only found during the official investigation.