Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon : "Uncertain" About Promoting "Priests for Life", is PFL too Catholic?

Recently someone asked me about the scrutiny that Matt Cato, latest director of the Office of "Respect Life", Justice and Peace in the Archdiocese of Portland had stated regarding the uncertain status of Father Frank Pavone and Priests for Life.

Ihe emails to and from Matt below the history are, in my opinion, a beginning to the censorship of a wide Catholic political  and educational base to a very narrow view "allowed" and controlled by the Archdiocese of Portland and beyond.

HISTORY

In 2002 the Archdiocese hadn't even heard of Priests for Life, so Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) had me put together an eleven day Oregon tour from Grants Pass to Portland.  (I just retired from ORTL after thirteen years for health reasons.)

Priest for Life, Father Walter Quinn brought out the best and the worst in Oregon Catholics.  He was no nonsense with his Church teaching and strong Philadelphia delivery. Churches and schools gave him a standing ovation or were outraged at what he said. (They can't forget him). This was strange Catholic teaching many, mostly students, hadn't heard before.

I bring this up because Priests for Life was a conduit for the true teaching of the Church on political views through their brochures and handouts in the 2004 and 2008 elections. Remember well how Voter's Guides from PFL and ORTL were censored from the backs of churches in many cases?

Priests for Life - Accurate Election Information

The Archdiocese siding again with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and sponsoring their "Interfaith Advocacy Days" at the Capitol thus adding their names to EMO issues.

CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION: ADVOCACY
Monday March 14: Interfaith Advocacy Day. 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. First Congregational Church UCC, at 700 Marion St. NE, Salem. Advocate for your community--Oregon--on Hunger, Homelessness, Ill and Disabled. Click here for flyer. Co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Portland.

Interestingly,there was no mention by the Catholic Church in western Oregon regarding the three pro-life bills introduced to the Legislature.. Not even a letter of support was written and put on record.  Roger Martin, our pro-abortion lobbyist, did nothing!

These questions regarding PFL have everything to do with the election of 2012 and keeping the progressive, liberal agenda alive and well-financed by Catholics.

For too long, Christ as the answer to life's problems is not promoted, taught or even mentioned.

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  "Is Priests for Life a Catholic Organization?"

The letters below were initiated by Mary Ann Kreitzer, president of Catholic Media Coalition. This is something questioned in case the Catholic hierarchy throughout the United States was collectively starting to censor Priests for Life because of the 2012 election and their handouts. 

____________________________________________________________

From: Mary Ann Kreitzer [mailto:kreitzr1@shentel.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 1:54 PM
To: Bunce, Bud
Subject: Has the diocese banned Priests for life?

A friend in Oregon told me the diocese has banned Priests for Life from speaking in Oregon at any diocesan venue. Is this true? If so, can you please tell me the reason?

Mary Ann Kreitzer

From: Bunce, Bud
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 1:54 PM
To: Cato, Matt
Subject: FW: Has the diocese banned Priests for life?

Matt,

Would you please respond to this email.  Thanks

Bud Bunce

Director of Communications

Archdiocese of Portland

503-233-8373

http://www.archdpdx.org/

 ----- Original Message -----

From: Cato, Matt

To: kreitzr1@shentel.net

Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 5:44 PM

Subject: FW: Has the diocese banned Priests for life?

Hello Mary Ann,

Thank you for your e-mail and ascertaining the validity of the information that you had received. Rest assured that diocese has not banned Priests for Life from speaking in Oregon at any diocesan venue.

Let me explain: Priests for Life is not an officially recognized Catholic organization. As a result I cannot promote Priests for Life, specifically in the “Beginning of Life” brochure from my office, where I first understood the difference between a recognized Catholic organization and an organization led by Catholics.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thank you Mary Ann.

Peace,

Matt Cato
Office of Life, Justice and Peace
Campaign for Human Development
Archdiocese of Portland503.233.8361
mcato@archdpdx.org
http://www.archdpdx.org/jprespect/

____________________________________________________________

May 4, 2011 to Matt Cato, Archdiocese of Portland.

Priests for Life Questions

Matt,

Happy Easter.

Could you please let me know about the status of Priests for Life in the Archdiocese of Portland?

Are you going to allow Priests for Life information in your newsletter?  Can a representative of Priests for Life still be allowed in the Archdiocese?

Please clarify and thanks alot.

God Bless,
Carolyn Wendell
_____________

Hi Carolyn,

First, it was a pleasure meeting you and your husband at the conference.

Now, as far as I know, a representative of Priests for Life is allowed in the Archdiocese. No one has ever said anything to the contrary to me.

I need to get clarification on promoting P for L in my newsletter or brochures. There is some language and information with which I am unfamiliar and I am a bit unsure.

Feel free to call me if you'd like next week.

I hope this helps.

Thank you Carolyn.

Peace,

Matt Cato
Office of Life, Justice and Peace
Campaign for Human Development
Archdiocese of Portland
503.233.8361
mcato@archdpdx.org
http://www.archdpdx.org/jprespect/

____________________________________________________
What About?

• The articles Matt is constantly promoting that are non-Catholic and always "green" from EMO?
• Mother Teresa's attached letter highly praising Priests for Life to all priests
• Rachel's Vineyard is part of Priests for Life.  It is one of the small pro-life activities in the Archdiocese.  Or is this necessary for fundraising if no effort for pro-life political protection seems important on its own?

With the election coming up it seems that we're going to be censored again and have stress in churches where we got to meet Our Lord, the Source and Summit of our Faith, IF we don't speak up.

 

"Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."

Isaiah 5:20            739 B.C. - Song of the Vineyard - Woe to the Wicked