NEW YORK, June 27 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Bishop Austin Vaughan, an auxiliary of the archdiocese of New York passed away yesterday. In a touching article of commemoration Thomas Droleskey writes that the bishop was “fearless in the face of the police brutality visited upon him when he was arrested during various (pro-life) rescues in the 1980s and early 1990s.”
Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition Canada said Bishop Vaughan’s death is “a tremendous loss following on the heels of Cardinal O’Connor.” Hughes said the bishop was invited to Canada on numerous occasions and that he gave inspiring pro-life presentations. “He was one of the leading pro-life prelates in North America.”
Droleskey recalls that Bishop Vaughan courageously warned former New York Governor Mario Cuomo ten years ago that he was risking the fires of Hell for his support of the killing of unborn children in their mothers’ wombs.
Vaughan was also known for his extraordinary gentleness, natural humility and holiness – not normally expected in a an outspoken activist.