The Rev. Frank Pavone, head of the anti-abortion group Priests for Life, has had a lifelong fascination with roller coasters. He grew up next door to the famous Rye Playland in New York’s Westchester County, home of the famous “Dragon Coaster” featured in the Tom Hanks movie “Big.”
But the greatest ride for the Port Chester, New York, native is perhaps about to begin. Friday’s reversal of the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide is almost guaranteed to trigger protests and legislative battles as the abortion question would be returned to state legislatures.
Father Pavone is beloved by supporters, some 65,000 of whom he estimates are responsible for between $10 million and $12 million in annual donations to the nonprofit group.