Sitting here waiting on a tow I thought I'd inquire as to why I get no catch in park with a broken CV?

I thought that was internal to the trans and not dependant on the axle??? Or is there something bigger going on here?

I had no warning, just pulled onto the street and pop, then a grinding sound. I see that the outer cv broke, but see nothing else. No fluid dripping.

Because there is a differential in your transmission just like in the back of a RWD. Both tires need to be on the ground and connected to the transmission. the side with the broken axel will just rotate opposite direction of the good side.

I'm suspecting your parking pawl broke, and the sudden stop of the diff is what broke your CV axle.

What made the parking pawl fall is beyond me. (at least that'* what I'm suspecting)

The car won't stay because of the nature of how the differential works. Once the other axle is in, it will work again.