Aug 28, 2010 / 15:52 pm
Human Life International (HLI) announced on Aug. 27 that president Fr. Thomas Euteneuer has stepped down from his position and will return to work in his Palm Beach diocese at the request of his bishop.
In a press release on Friday, the HLI board of directors wrote “that after nearly 10 years of meritorious service to HLI as president, Reverend Thomas J. Euteneuer has stepped down from his position after being asked by his bishop to return to his Diocese in Palm Beach, Florida.”
In a letter posted on HLI's website Friday, Fr. Euteneuer stated that nearly “ten years ago I answered the call of the Lord to come to Human Life International and work full-time in pro-life work with the permission of my bishop.”
“I have been utterly privileged to serve this great mission for a decade, and now I am called back to my diocese to continue my priestly service in parish work, which was the original calling of my vocation,” the priest explained. “I have great peace about the road that lies ahead and about all that has been accomplished up to this point.”
Commenting on his position at the Palm Beach diocese, Fr. Euteneuer said, “I do not have a parish assignment in my diocese as of yet, but I hope to take some time out before I go back into full-time parish work.”
“I expect that some time of rest and renewal will help me to make the transition,” he noted. “It has been 15 years since I last had any significant time for renewal, and after traveling more than 1.1 million miles, authoring two books, visiting 58 countries and making thousands of public appearances, I am ready for a break!”
“I ask for your kind prayers as I move forward and for your continued support of HLI and the new leadership that will come soon.”
The board of directors added in their statement Friday that while “Fr. Euteneuer’s leadership at HLI and his influence on the pro-life movement around the world will be greatly missed, we are blessed to have gifted staff who will continue to carry out our mission while a search for a new president is undertaken.”
The group added that Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro Carámbula, director of HLI’s office in Rome, will take over Fr. Euteneuer’s responsibilities until a replacement is named.