Contact:  Jerry Horn, Priests for Life, 540-220-0095

ROME, April 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, expressed the sadness of the entire Priests for Life organization at the death yesterday of Cardinal Alfonso Lopez-Trujillo, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

"Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo was one of the Church's strongest advocates for the dignity of the human person and the family, and both his friends and his enemies knew it. He knew and often said that the Church's pro-life stance was not just a teaching, but a battle, and he willingly undertook the sacrifices of that battle in his own life," Fr. Pavone said.

Among the many ways the Cardinal encouraged the Church's pro-life efforts, he was a key member of the Priests for Life Board of Bishops from the beginning of its existence. He asked Fr. Frank Pavone to work at the Vatican for several years.  Fr. Pavone explained, "In the course of my day to day work with the Cardinal, he gave me the opportunity to share the vision of Priests for Life with bishops from around the world, and personally encouraged them to adopt our work. In every meeting I had with the Cardinal, he was thinking of new ways to advance the Culture of Life. He felt very keenly the lack of sufficient time to develop and implement the ideas that flowed from his enthusiasm and creativity. Now's the time for all of us to pick up where he left off."

Priests for Life is the largest organization devoted exclusively to ending abortion and euthanasia. It is international and consists of both clergy and laity.