STATEN ISLAND, Ny., Feb. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, praised the work of Priests for Life and the American pro-life movement during a stop in New York on his six-day trip to the United States. The Cardinal visited the headquarters of Priests for Life on Staten Island and met with Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, and his pastoral team.
"We look with a certain envy to your country, where for so many years the life issue has been so central," said Cardinal Schönborn.
The Cardinal was particularly interested to learn how the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and Rachel's Vineyard -- both ministries of Priests for Life - - are reaching men who have lost children to abortion. He was especially impressed by the statement "Men Regret Lost Fatherhood," which is a theme that the Silent No More Awareness Campaign is emphasizing. "The concept of lost fatherhood is the central drama of our time," the Cardinal noted.
After his visit to the Priests for Life headquarters, Cardinal Schönborn offered Mass in St Patrick's Cathedral, where he was joined by Fr. Pavone and other priests and bishops. The Cardinal hosted a dinner after the Mass, to speak about the International Theological Institute in Gaming. Priests for Life promotes the work of the Institute, where Fr. Pavone has been invited to make presentations on the theme of the defense of life.
Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro- life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
