40 Days for Life

 

  Once again this year, hundreds of Long Islanders will take part in the growing national pro-life campaign, 40 Days for Life.  (www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm)

  The centerpiece of the campaign is prayer and fasting. Members of all faiths will pray in front of abortion facilities across the country for 40 days, a biblically significant period of time, for young moms in an unplanned pregnancy as well as their babies and medical professionals involved.  Another major effort is community outreach and support to young women and men experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.  

  Prayer and sidewalk counseling will take place in over 200 cities in 45 states, including here on L.I., at the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, 540 Fulton Ave., Hempstead, as well as Planned Parenthood, 70 Maple Ave., in Smithtown.  The local campaign is sponsored by the LI Coalition for Life (www.ProLifeLI.org). Individuals, families, church groups,  youth groups, d clergy will join together to be a voice for the voiceless and to bring awareness to local communities of the many victims of abortion in their neighborhood - both babies and their parents.

  Nationally, over 1500 living babies are alive thanks to 40DFL, with their moms relieved they were guided away from abortion.  At  dozens of sites in the previous four years of the campaign, young mothers showed up for a scheduled abortion, sometimes with the child's father, and after seeing the peaceful, prayerful presence outside, had a change of heart. Some spoke to the "sidewalk counselors," trained volunteers outside the abortion facility who offer support to the usually scared and burdened young women, referring them to doctors who will show them an ultrasound of their unborn child, or guiding them in their decision to keep their child or place him or her for adoption. Other forms of support and assistance are offered, and the young woman is asked to at least think and pray about her decision. A prayer card is offered, along with a photo card showing an unborn child at various stages in utero.

  A growing movement of women harmed by abortion is becoming harder to ignore.  "Silent No More" is a national campaign of the walking wounded, women whose lives were shattered by their abortion and who, more often than not, say they felt pressured into the "choice" to abort at the time.  Some were discouraged from giving birth by the child's father.  Others feel betrayed by abortion facility workers who wouldn't show them an ultrasound, which is the self-evident truth of the humanity of the unborn child. Studies have shown that when a women in a crisis pregnancy is shown an ultrasound of her unborn child, she is far less likely to abort.  Victims also state that abortion providers didn't discuss adoption, and didn't mention the many documented physical and emotional consequences after abortion.  Recently members of "Silent No More" marched in Washington DC for the annual March for Life, carrying signs which read, I Regret My Abortion," along side men carrying "I Regret My Lost Fatherhood" signs.  Many recovering abortion victims will be participating in 40DFL nationwide.   A leader in the "Silent No More" campaign is Martin Luther King's niece, Alveda King, who regrets her two abortions and now works through speaking engagements to educate the public about the devastation of abortion.  (You can read her testimony at www.priestsforlife.org/staff)  Also taking part in prayer during 40DFL this year are at least several former abortion providers, who have converted and dedicated themselves to speaking out, an effort that is both courageous and growing.    

    Do you have an hour to stand vigil?