MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

40 Days For Life will oppose abortion industry by using prayer

Organizers of a campaign against abortion that is scheduled to end just before the November election are declaring their effort a success, just halfway through the six weeks of work.

"I know 40 Days for Life is on the right track whenever
Planned Parenthood cranks up its PR machine," said Shawn Carney, national
outreach director of 40 Days for Life. "And if you read some of the things
Planned Parenthood and its supporters are publishing these days, it's
obvious that the nation's largest abortion chain sees trouble on the
horizon."

In two previous campaigns by Christians to disrupt America's abortion industry with continuous prayer, campaign officials say 35,000 people have participated in vigils, 514 babies have been saved and five abortion industry workers have lost their jobs.

The third campaign is going on now in dozens of cities where prayer warriors are assigned to be on the sidewalks outside abortion businesses for 24 hours a day. It is scheduled to conclude Nov. 2.

"By
our best estimates, tens of thousands of pro-life people in more than 175
communities in 47 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and two
Canadian provinces are participating," said Carney. "Local campaign
coordinators report that thus far, at least 268 mothers have left abortion
facilities without having abortions."

He said in addition, pro-life pregnancy resource centers are reporting a significant
increase in calls for help, and local campaign coordinators are reporting a drop in the number of abortion business customers, a decline of up to 30 or even 50 percent in some locations.

"We know of at least two clinic employees who have quit their jobs in the
abortion industry," said Carney.

One Planned Parenthood facility in Vermont
has reportedly been running newspaper ads, seeking replacement employees to
assist with its abortion business. Several abortion businesses simply have remained closed on some days.

"Planned Parenthood in particular doesn't like 40 Days for Life," Carney
said.

He said one Planned Parenthood business location refers to the campaign as "40 days of
harassment" and the organization has brought back its "I am Emily X"
blog, a series of postings where people complain of the "hardships" of the abortion industry.

One entry takes specific aim at a Catholic group that recited the rosary during a "40 Days for Life" prayer vigil.

"I worry about
how intimidating the sound of all those voices at once can be," the blogger
said.

But Carney said, "The sight of people gathered in prayer
outside of Planned Parenthood facilities and other abortion centers has
given women a sense of hope at a point in their lives when they feel most
vulnerable and desperate. Prayer 'intimidates' no one, and thus far, it has
saved 268 lives, and saved 268 mothers – plus fathers and countless other
family members and friends – from the lifetime of guilt and regret that can
follow the so-called choice of abortion."

WND previously reported that according to 40 Days for Life founder David Bereit, the first campaigns also resulted in the closure of two abortion centers.

"It's a massive undertaking. People are committing to call on believers to pray and fast for 40 days – that's 960 hours with people physically present," he said.

Among the national leaders endorsing the project are Joe Scheidler, national director of the Pro-Life Action League; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; Carmen Pate of the Point of View Radio Talk Show; Royce Dunn of Life Chain; Jim Sedlak of Stop Planned Parenthood; Faith2Action leader and WND columnist Janet Porter; and former abortion provider Noreen Johnson.

The 40 day model was taken from the Bible, where in repeated instances God transformed individuals, cities or nations over a 40-day period, such as 40 days of rain on Noah, the 40 days on Mount Sinai for Moses, David's transformation by Goliath's 40-day challenge, Elijah's 40 days of strength from one meal and Jesus' 40 days in the desert.