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Published: February 2, 2008
“Relentless attack on Planned Parenthood”
Pro-lifers getting ready for Lenten vigils outside abortion sites
News from the Trenches
 "Pro-life advocates in 59 cities across 31 states are preparing to launch the next wave of a unique nationwide pro-life campaign, 40 Days for Life," said David Bereit, national campaign director for 40 Days for Life. "From February 6 until March 14, people across America will join together for 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, 40 days of constant, peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities and Planned Parenthood offices and 40 days of intensive pro-life community outreach."
Such vigils outside abortion facilities in California are planned in Tahoe (vigil at West End Abortion site, Reno, Nevada), Monterey area (vigil at Planned Parenthood in Seaside), Bakersfield, Sacramento and Los Angeles. The list of 40 Days for Life locations is posted online at: www.40daysforlife.com/location.html. Details for each city are available on this site.
The campaign dates of Feb. 6 through March 16 coincide with the Christian season of Lent. "That's what local groups asked for," said Bereit. "Lent is a season of prayer, fasting, repentance and renewal. It is our prayer that the efforts of the thousands of people who will participate in 40 Days for Life in their hometowns will touch hearts and minds, save lives -- and help mark the beginning of the end of abortion in America."
During the first nationally coordinated 40 Days for Life effort in the fall of 2007, communities from coast to coast took part in the initiative. "The results were staggering," said Bereit. "Over 100,000 people united in prayer and fasting, more than 22,000 people took to the streets to participate in peaceful prayer vigils outside abortion centers, abortion facilities experienced sharp setbacks -- some cutting back hours and others closing for days at a time -- and at least 340 innocent children were spared from death by abortion."
Even Planned Parenthood -- the nation's largest abortion chain -- noted the impact of 40 Days for Life during the first wave of the campaign. The organization circulated numerous "crisis" e-mail alerts to abortion advocates around the country, calling for their financial help to fight back against the pro-life campaign.
Cecile Richards, national president of Planned Parenthood, described 40 Days for Life efforts as "unprecedented assaults," and the CEO of one large Planned Parenthood operation in New York wrote, "Planned Parenthood is under attack and we need your help to fight back! RIGHT NOW, THE LARGEST ANTI-CHOICE PROTEST WE'VE SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME is taking place. An extremist group and its 40 Days for Life Campaign has launched a relentless attack on Planned Parenthood health centers" [emphasis included in original].
"Following the tremendous impact experienced during the first wave of 40 Days for Life, we can't wait to see what life-saving results will be accomplished from February 6 until March 16," said Bereit.
(Story courtesy of Christian Newswire.)
Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 5:53 AM By Miguel
God Bless those who fight for those who can't fight for themselves!
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 9:25 AM By Ruth
I'm interested in seeing how this actually goes down. This is an age-old mudslinging contest, and frankly neither side has been truly willing, in all points, to put their prejudices aside and sit down and talk with eachother. This would be a good time period to emphasize the ideas behind "right to life", but I'd really like to see these groups of Christians (or are only Catholics allowed to be 'Pro-Life'?) put some of their attentions on other life. For example, to truly address their moral standpoint on euthenasia, physician-assisted suicide, etc., other than just saying "It's bad, don't do it OR ELSE g*d will SMIIIITE YOUUUU". Because that's all I've ever heard. This is an issue in which there can never be a blanket answer that is righteous. I respect the First Wave for their dedication, but have to wonder if their points of view have been thought out, or are they just acting?
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 9:34 AM By Charles O'Connell
It's closing the barn door on the escaped horses, to try to oppose abortion before resuming the Church's historic opposition to contraception. Pope John-Paul II predicted that large swaths of North America would become devoid of Catholicism without Eucharistic Adoration. This is in no small part due to the incursion into American Catholicism of the anti-eucharist of 'The Pill'. It was noted in an opposition commentary on the 1963 capitulation of a prominent Catholic diocese to the pioneering plan to introduce contraception into public hospitals to cut down on minority birth rates (a legendary Catholic urban political machine then dropped its opposition in the state legislature), that Catholics who were supposedly being faithful to the Church's teaching were themselves having smaller families, then an artificially low average of 4 children. The figures for lack of belief among American Catholics in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, about 80%, correspond nearly exactly with the figures for lack of obedience to the instructions of Pope Paul VI, in 'Humanae Vitae', that every act of marriage must remain open to the transmission of human life. The success of the 40 Days for Life campaign - which must ultimately rely on Msgr. Reilly's program of prayer centered on the Holy Eucharist to have any hope of making a difference - will be most concretely measurable by how well the Bishops finally start to implement Humanae Vitae in their role as Teachers of their flocks.
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 12:29 PM By Ronnie
Ruth, if only we could talk to those who advocate death for the innocent unborn! (We do try to help those confused women who believe they have no other choice) I agree we should show them that the violence of abortion is never the answer but is that considered righteous? Isn't compassion without truth meaningless?.....I believe we must first address the immediate slaughter taking place because without life what's left? And isn't euthanasia, assisted suicide a direct result of years of disrespecting life in the womb? How can we claim to care about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked by overlooking the mass murder of the least among us? Finally, Jesus said some evils can only be stopped by pray and fasting (along with good works fighting this injustice) and I believe abortion is that evil. Of course, the women exploited by this evil need our compassion and love.....
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 12:45 PM By Roger L
Prayer works. Kneeling down in front an abortion mill with rosary in hand is a humbling, net immensely rewarding experience. It is bringing the Church to the streets. It is part of saving one baby at a time. It is a public witness that chips away slowly at the ice that has frozen the hearts of the world for the past 35 years, and it is working. It is something each and everyone of us can and should do, now. Think of how embarrassing and pitiful our excuses will sound to our Lord on judgment day for not taking the time to do it (I had to wash the car, do yard work, go jogging with my friends…). In the words of Msgr. Reilly, "IF NOT YOU, WHO? IF NOT NOW, WHEN?"
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 2:34 PM By Charles O'Connell
I truly apologize, Ruth, if you have ever encountered any self-righteous people lacking in love, but they must have had much to learn. Jesus rebuked the Sons of Thunder who wanted to bring down lightning upon a town that wouldn't receive him. But nevertheless, we would have all defended your right to life in the womb. It wouldn't have been any use to have someone defend you from euthanasia, or the death-penalty, or hazard of war, economic exploitation, or any other injustice - if you didn't have the first of the rights, that of life itself.
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 4:19 PM By Daniel
RUTH Belongs to that feminist group that has it all figured out, God got everything all screwed up, her agenda is, lets talk, lets put it togeather the way it should be. We will decide what babies are worth keeping, what old people, or disabled people we will let live. There is a simple BLANKET ANSWER, LET GOD'S WILL BE DONE.
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Posted Saturday, February 02, 2008 9:03 PM By Natalie
Only in a totally crazy mixed up world would people that are trying to save the lives of unborn baby children who are unable to defend themselves be called extremists. Over 45 million abortions of the unborn have taken place in America since the legalization of abortion on demand in 1973. Who are the real extremists? Remember what Jesus says: "What you do for the least of my children you do unto me." The unborn are the least of God's children. Pray for the success of the Forty Days for Life campaign to end all abortions in America.
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Posted Sunday, February 03, 2008 12:07 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Roger L., I remember being at an Operation Rescue event in New Orleans. We had several women pose as wanting an abortion inside the clinic. We were outside saying the Rosary.
When our gals finally came out, they told us that the people inside the clinic we crying "we wish they would stop that rosary noise"! The only problem with what they were stating is that we weren't even shouting, just gently praying!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
www.crcoa.com
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Posted Sunday, February 03, 2008 8:37 PM By Charles O'Connell
I truly apologize, Ruth, if you have ever encountered any self-righteous people lacking in love, but they must have had much to learn. Jesus rebuked the Sons of Thunder who wanted to bring down lightning upon a town that wouldn't receive him. But nevertheless, we would have all defended your right to life in the womb. It wouldn't have been any use to have someone defend you from euthanasia, or the death-penalty, or hazard of war, economic exploitation, or any other injustice - if you didn't have the first of the rights, that of life itself.
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Posted Sunday, February 03, 2008 8:58 PM By John L. Sillasen
Love is hooking somebody up with God ... regardless of their personality or character. The greatest act one can make for another is to introduce the other to God. The personal failings really are insignificant when measured against this standard.
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Posted Monday, February 04, 2008 9:09 PM By Charles O'Connell
To John L. Sillasen: Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. - Matthew 5:48
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Posted Monday, February 04, 2008 9:44 PM By Sue Maher
Wow Roger, I totally agree with you, I really want to do this
in my county of Pa. Media, Pa. but dont really know if there
is anybody leading a 40 days for Life Vigil. If anyone here
knows, please email me At SusieM57@aol.com, Thanks
I really would appreciate it . God Bless You, All
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Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 6:35 AM By John L. Sillasen
Charles O'Connell, there are two ways to "be perfect as your Father in Heaven": 1. Instantly by the magic wand routine as seen on the Televangelist broadcasts, or 2. the way that St Paul says, that it's a race, a journey from glory to glory, progressing from seeing through a glass darkly to the Beatific Vision, making good use of the march of time. The "instantly" thing is a Calvinistic sort of deception. If you do not do anything because you are not perfect in the sense of utterly sinless and without any stain of guilt ... ie immaculate ... then you sin by sloth. So you see, we have the choice of simply doing all that we can do, whether it is perfect or not ... because anything less is not perfect, and any attempt at all is perfect. Not wise to use Scripture to avoid or preach avoidance of trying to follow Christ. There was a french play last century about two men waiting for God ... absurd, because one has to follow Christ and not sit by the roadside waiting for Heaven to come by like a bus.
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Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 7:43 AM By Roger L
Sue M, 40 days for Life is a wonderful and powerful thing. But so is even one person, one day for life. Don't despair if you can't find an organized vigil. Start it yourself. You and a friend. Even without your friend. Even if it is only one morning a week. Even if you are the only one there. Your prayers will be heard among the silence, and the souls of the dying will rejoice that at least one person cared enough to make a public witness and pray for them.
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Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 9:15 PM By Ruth
Ronnie: I'm afraid I don't understand you. To "first address the immediate slaughter taking place", are you referring to the immediate slaughter of human beings who are not in the womb, or fetuses? I am anti-abortion. I will defend and uphold all right to life and the right of free will. There are certain cases where abortion is a medical necessity, which include ridiculously complicated unanswerable questions, including: Which life is more important? That of a being whose future existence is precarious at best, or the life of the woman who is in the midst of her own? "the women exploited by this evil need our compassion and love" What kind of love? My advice: do not condescendingly love, for that is unnecessary. Daniel: Oops! Is that really how I came off to you? my deepest apology, I did not intend to offend you. Allow me to correct the small errors you made in interpreting my comments: I do not belong to a 'feminist group' as such, any more than you belong to a chauvinistic patriarchal group; however, I do believe women are equal to men, and need eachother to live righteously. Human beings, as a whole, have the right to "decide what babies are worth keeping, what old people, or disabled people we will let live", but ultimately decisions regarding them will have to be made, and one cannot say Let them all live. I agree: a 'blanket answer' would be to let God's Will be done. If God's Will is not explicit--obviously the case--then no person can tell another what it is.
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Posted Wednesday, February 06, 2008 6:53 AM By John L. Sillasen
Twenty some years ago, Dr Willke, the president of Nat'l Right to Life both published and said that there is no case now where abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother. That was well over twenty years ago, and the medical technology has continued to develop. So, Ruth, either you are completely against abortion or you are your own god. If you see some fetuses as less than worthy to be allowed to be born, then you also likely favor artificial contraception. Look, if you're going to claim being Catholic, then you have to follow the teaching of the Church. If you are not Catholic, then realize that it's not your opinion that determines what is right or wrong, but God's ... and then find out what God has to say about the issue.
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Posted Friday, February 08, 2008 2:30 PM By Ygnacia
The Bishop of Monterey has asked Catholics in the Diocese (via this months Observer newspaper) to assist at the 40 Days For Life with prayers and fasting and community action only. The Diocese does not support the prayer vigils outside of Planned Parenthood in Seaside............................ "At this time, I am suggesting that we participate only in the prayer and fasting and community outreach to the extent that individuals wish to do so. The Diocese of Monterey has not sponsored protests or vigils of this kind in the past and while they may be effective, it is best that we not support such activities until we develop policy guidelines in this area."...............................
http://www.dioceseofmonterey.org/observer/2008/feb/40days.htm.
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Posted Friday, February 08, 2008 4:37 PM By John L. Sillasen
Ygnacia, likely it is a liability issue, which the Bishop wants to formally and legally position the diocese on. He does not forbid site demos, from what you've posted. Just occurs to me, that if a bishop of a diocese is arrested at a protest at an abortion mill, then the abortion lawyers will go after him and his diocese. This could amount to a catastrophic financial hit ... and on top of the pedo-payouts and costs ... whew!!! So, what's bishop to do? There is substantial persecution of the Church, much of it made possible by the clergy corruption, dissention from sound teaching, and libertine theology in drag.
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Posted Friday, February 08, 2008 8:49 PM By Ygnacia
Yes, I simply posted this as an FYI. I agree with the liability thinking, and add to that the fact that this Planned Parenthood is in an unsafe area (I lived briefly in Seaside). We here in the Diocese of Monterey are clear that we definetly have a Pro-Life Bishop.
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Posted Friday, February 08, 2008 11:01 PM By John L. Sillasen
Ygnacia, without your post, I for one, would not have figured out the liability angle ... I've long wondered why the bishops stand somewhat aloof from those activities. Maybe publishing this sort of knowledge will move some souls to change from attacking the bishops to instead now trying to come up with ways to improve the whole movement.
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