40 Days For Life Ottawa

We've Moved!

2009-02-07T11:14:00.001-08:00

OUR NEW WEBSITE IS LOCATED HERE.

In Their Own Words

2008-12-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

On Abortion ...

"In medical practice, there are few surgical procedures given so little attention and so underrated in its potential hazards as abortion. It is a commonly held view that complications are inevitable."

-- Warren Hern, Abortionist

"[The abortionists] get to go inflict pain on someone for five minutes ...

-- Charlotte Taft, Former Clinic Administrator

"No one ever says 'Thank you' to an abortionist."

-- Unidentified Abortionist

"Every woman ... has a trauma at destroying a pregnancy ... This is a part of her own life. When she destroys a pregnancy she is destroying herself."

-- Dr. Julius Fogel, Psychiatrist/OB who has performed over 20,000 abortions

"Even now I feel a little peculiar about it because as a physician I was trained to conserve life, and here I am destroying it."

-- Unidentified Abortionist

"If the abortion is well done, we don't have to watch the baby die. So we inject a salt solution. The result is like putting salt on a slug, but we don't have to watch it."

-- Dr. Russell Sacco, M.D.

"... [abortion] is still the dark side of medicine."

-- Morris Wortman, Abortionist
Democrat and Chronicle, July 5. 1992

"I guess I never realized I would find [performing abortions] as unpleasant as I do. I really don't enjoy it at all. It's not a rewarding thing to do ... [patients] look at you as an evil person who is deliberately putting them through a painful procedure ... it's their whole attitude that bothers me. I feel like a simple thank you is in order, instead of 'Why are you doing this to me?'"

-- New York Abortionist
The New York Times Magazine, January 18. 1998

"[Doing abortions] can make you feel bad ... No matter how pro-choice you are, it makes you feel low."

-- New York Abortionist
The New York Times Magazine, January 18. 1998

"The abortion clinics never accept any responsibility for complications. They just say it was not their fault. The concern is not the patient at this time. The concern is with taking care of the doctor and keeping his reputation and the clinic's [reputation] clean."

-- Carol Everett, Former Clinic Director and Owner

"You know that there is something alive in there that you're killing."

-- Unidentified Abortionist
In Necessity and Sorrow, Magna Denes, New York: Basic Books. lnc., 1976

"The sensations of dismemberment flow through the forceps like an electric current."

-- Dr. Warren Hern, Abortionist
Associations of Planned Parenthood Physicians meeting, San Diego, October 26, 1978

"It's a nasty, dirty, yucky thing and I always come home angry."

-- David Zbaraz, Abortionist
Washington Post, March 3, 1980

Read the rest here...

Clinic Worker?

2008-12-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

The perils of being an abortion "clinic" worker...

Ground Zero Report - Dec.5

2008-12-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

I've been going to the mill on Friday mornings, usually from 8:40 am to noon. As far as I can tell, the number of women going in has remained steady. On November 21st, it felt like I was having no impact at all, hardly any of the women going in acknowledging me, let alone taking the brochures I was handing out. I have to admit it was probably due as much to my own timidity as anything else. One important thing I did notice, it seems a new doctor has started working there. I haven't seen the other one from the 40 days vigil in a while. This new one completely avoids making eye contact with me and keeps his back to me while waiting for the elevator.November 28th started out much like the previous week, it seemed like just trying to start conversations was a major struggle. Then, a women gave me some words of encouragement as she walked by. She must work nearby, I see her regularly. Later on, a woman coming out from Curves approached me and said: "Are you protesting against the clinic?" I replied : "I'm praying and reaching out to the women going in". She then went on to tell me that in 1988, she almost went through with an abortion, having gone all the way to Montreal (that was before the mill opened in Ottawa). She changed her mind, however, because she recognized that her baby was one of God's creatures. She proudly told me that her daughter, now 20 years old, is going into medicine. I couldn't help but think that the story of the women upstairs at the mill would be so different from hers in twenty years time, regret and tears, not the "bursting with pride" story. Today, about the same number of women went in during my watch (about 8 between 8:40 and noon). Maggie who's usually there from 7:30 to 8:30 usually sees about 3 of them go in. After noon, I've seen up to 5 or 6. Around 9:00 am, the manager of the mill came up to me and asked me what I was doing. I replied that I was praying (I was also holding some brochure in my hand). She asked me to go pray across the street. I told her it was my right to pray right where I was. She said nothing and went inside. I noticed a police car go by about 5 minutes later, but that might just be a coincidence. About an hour later, I noticed a woman taking pictures, aiming the camera directly at me. The lady who was praying with me (I'm sorry, I forget her name) went over and asked her what she was doing. She said she was taking pictures of the steel structures that protect the trees - something about being works of art. It's in the eye of the beholder I guess.One of the women left the mill around 11:00. Her boyfriend had brought her in earlier. They didn't want to talk to me on the way in. He left after a few minutes, avoiding eye contact with me. When this woman left the mill, she didn't seem all that sturdy. She avoided me and went to the payphone to make a phone call. I guess she didn't get through to whomever it was, so she went into McDonalds. A little while later, she came out again and made at least two different calls, still not seeming to get through. I went over and talked to her, asking if she needed help, and I gave her a list of resources for post-abortive women. She didn't want to take it at first, but eventually she did. She tried another phone call, she was obviously still feeling the effect of the sedatives. I asked if there was anything I could do, but again, she refused my help. She then went across the street and took a bus. I couldn't help but think of how alone she is, now that the deed was done. Around 11:30, a couple, looking for the mill walked right past it. I didn't intervene right away. They walked towards Sparks St, still obviously looking for the address. They then turned on Sparks, and I waited a good 40 minutes, but they didn't come back. I'm still not sure how to handle these cases, but I figure I should let them walk by, standing ready when they backtrack and find the door (they usually do), then I can spot them earlier and approach them before their hand is on the doorknob. This couple just didn't come back. I pray they won't, ever. Maybe if I had spoken to them, I would have given it away and they would have gone in. Must have been their guardian angels yanking them away.Let's keep praying. We'll win this war one soul at a time. In this time of Advent, let us keep vigil. Our Lord is coming, let's keep our lamps burning.
- Doris

40 Days For Life 2008 Autumn Report

2008-12-03T09:33:00.001-08:00

Report from Ground Zero - Nov.28

2008-12-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

At least 750 attended the closing Rally on November 2, and joined in the candelight procession to Saint Patrick Basilica for mass at 7:00 with Archbishop Prendergast. Thank you, your Grace for your support and encouragement throughout the campaign.Its not over though and perhaps never will be. In fact, until eyes are opened our ears begin to hear and hearts begin to soften, the vigil will continue. Melanie and I prayed for an hour at the abortion site Friday November 28, from 11:00 Am til noon. I arrived at approximately 10:40 and saw Doris praying near the door of 65 Bank so I joined her for a while. Around 11:00 I crossed the street to wait for Melanie who arrived a few minutes later .We prayed the rosary and while doing so a young couple left 65 Bank st. The woman was very sick and vomited a number of times in the snow bank. She looked so weak and fragile, but the young man with her seemed in a hurry to get going so they quickly continued down the street and past MacDonalds Restaurant. The woman continued to vomit. As I prayed I thought " They kill the baby and send the woman away sick to recuperate alone. I told Jennifer about this occurrence and this is what she said " I feel so angry, more so as a nurse, when I learn that 'patients' are sent out onto the street to recover. There is NO care at these places. It's such a paradox that they respect women and their bodies." Doris left around 11:45 and Melanie and I left around noon around the time that the faithful gentleman arrived to say the rosary in front of the abortuary. This man is there every day. Often he is accompanied by another gentleman but on Friday he was alone. I can't help but admire their courage, humility and obedience and I thank God for the inspiration I receive from them.

I had an appointment in the west end of the city for 2:00 PM so I decided to have lunch at 240 Sparks Street. After lunch I returned to the site and saw Frances holding her sign and praying alone. I stayed and prayed with her for a short time but had to leave for my appointment. I regretted that I was unable to stay longer.It fills my soul with such hope and joy to see the courage and dedication of these faithful witnesses who return to pray several times a week. For me it was my first time back to the site since 40 Days officially ended three weeks ago but I pledge to return more often. The Lord is merciful. - Maureen

________________________

I went up to the Clinic this week at 10:30 - 3 pm. on Thurs. to pray. I brought the sign I got from the meeting 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." One gentlemen approached me first & said we are naive I told him God love him - didn't care but when I told him we love the people at the Abortion Clinic & all those who are having abortion and we pray for them all. He was really happy. The other three I approached had a questioning look about the sign so I explained it and this opened up a door to share - they were all thankful. I really believe God opened these doors.I was there for awhile another person came for a hour & then my sister came at 3 pm & a man.I don't know if you want any feed back. Thought I would just pass this on to let you know God is working. - Nelda

A Grandmother's Grief

2008-11-21T20:24:00.000-08:00

Grandmother's Account of Traumatizing Experience with Abortion Moves Jamaican Parliamentarians to Tears

By Jonquil Frankham

KINGSTON, Jamaica, November 21, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A recent presentation by a woman who 20 years ago bullied her daughter into having an abortion reduced members of the Jamaican parliament to tears, reports the Jamaica Gleaner.

Anne Arthur, a grief counselor, told the parliament she has never fully recovered from having bullied her daughter into killing her unborn child. "I drove my daughter to the abortion clinic like a lamb to the slaughterhouse, against her will," Arthur told her audience.

"I pressed my views on her and convinced her that she would be unable to care for the child while studying and an abortion would be the best thing to do, offering her no other solution or help … While my 12-week-old grand-daughter was ripped apart from my daughter's womb, I knew with brutal clarity that I had made the greatest mistake of my life," said Arthur.

Arthur told the parliamentary gathering that she does not support abortion under any circumstances now, even under the usual exceptions of rape and incest. She said that her 41-year old daughter, now married, has had trouble conceiving because of the damage the abortion, which was performed legally in Germany, caused.

Arthur’s presentation was part of a debate over the legalization of abortion in Jamaica. Sections 72 and 73 of the country’s Offences against the Person Act currently punish participation in abortion with a sentence of up to life imprisonment. However, an advisory group established by former Health Minister John Junor found that increases in maternal fatality are purportedly due to illegal and unsafe abortions, as LifeSiteNews reported November 14th. The advisory group pushed for the legalization of abortion as the solution to the problem.

Dr. Doreen Brady West of the Coalition for the Defense of Life, however, told the Jamaican parliament last week that she is doubtful legalizing abortions will decrease maternal mortality. Rather, she argued, illegal and unsafe abortions are very minor contributors to the maternal death rate in Jamaica. The real solution, she said, is in better antenatal care.

The debate over abortion in Jamaica has been emotionally charged and deeply controversial. As reported by LifeSiteNews, graphic video depictions of abortions have been shown to the parliament, prompting some to leave the room and many to avert their eyes in discomfort.

As the Gleaner reported, Arthur maintained that the legalization of abortion in Jamaica would merely result in a dramatic increase in abortions, as happened in both Germany and the United States, and not the protection of expectant mothers.

This is what happens outside of the Morgentaler Abortion Mill everyday. Many young girls are forced to abort by their mothers. They're crying and desperate when they show up. You can see it on their faces. They don't want to do it. But guess what? Nobody is on their side. Except us strangers. Although we're there to help emotionally, spiritually, and financially, it would cause a major rift with their families and boyfriends if the girls backed out.

Pro-choice? Don't be ridiculous. There are so many threats and intimidation tactics going on, the abortion businesss is nothing more than a subsidiary of Mafia Inc.

The Mill keeps up a booming business which is built on fear, despair, and the intimidation of family members and the culture as a whole.

And we can't compete with that. (Source)

10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES

2008-11-17T14:25:00.001-08:00

10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 13th - 21st, 2009
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (November 13th, 2008) - The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization, which coordinated the October 18th, 2008 WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event, is pleased to announce it is now coordinating the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES effort which is scheduled to take place for nine consecutive days(January 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st). This Novena of Masses will be for the following intention: For the protection of unborn human persons.

" The 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES is being done to provide protection for innocent unborn babies," said Patrick Benedict, the president of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization and a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church(Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee). "Obviously, these babies can not have Masses offered for themselves. But, people like myself can have Masses offered, and I am hoping many will choose to do exactly that."

A person who wants to be a part of this effort may do so by asking a priest to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the protection of unborn human persons(the Mass should be offered on any day from January 13th - 21st, 2009). The date and the location of the Mass would then need to be registered with the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization. This can be done by either sending an email to PatrickBenedict@rcin.net or by sending the information by mail to P. O. Box 41257; Memphis, Tennessee 38174; U.S.A.

The website of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization is http://www.saintmichaelthearchangelorganization.org/

"There is no such thing as a 'choice' to kill an unborn baby," continued Benedict. "A person who murders an unborn baby, or a person who formally cooperates with that action, puts his soul at risk of being eternally separated from God And, that(eternal separation from God) is hell. This is a truth that needs to be repeated often."
________________________________________________________

A MESSAGE FROM PATRICK BENEDICT

Please consider forwarding the press release above to your local diocesan/archdiocesan newspaper. Of course, you may also forward it to people you know.

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to have at least one Mass offered as part of the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES effort. The total number of Masses being offered will be updated regularly on the homepage of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization's website which is http://www.saintmichaelthearchangelorganization.org/

Tremendous thanks to the approximately 25 people who contacted the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization and offered to send in a donation. If you have not done so and would like to, please let your intention be known and send your mailing address to PatrickBenedict@rcin.net. A donation envelope will then be sent to you. (Donations to the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization, a non-profit corporation, are not tax-deductible.)

I ask that you please pray one Hail Mary for the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES effort.

Sincerely,

Patrick Benedict
Saint Michael the Archangel Organization

p.s. If you would like to have your email mailing address taken off from the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization's list, please let your intention be known by sending an email to PatrickBenedict@rcin.net.

Dispatch from Ground Zero - Nov.14

2008-11-16T19:47:00.000-08:00

I arrived at the mill around 8:40 am and Maggie was already there. She told me she had already seen three women go in, one before 8:00 am. Close to 9 am, the superintendent who called the police last week walked by me, on his way to work. A few minutes later, he came out and said the tenants had complained. He again asked me to stop giving brochures to the people going into the building. He was quite hostile, though he said he wouldn't call the police today, but that the tenants might. He also reminded me of the attack on one of the vigilers during the 40 Days Vigil and said that he was "concerned" the same might happen to me. "You never know what one of those angry boyfriends might do", he said. He claims to be a Christian. I pray that God will take the blinders off so he can really see what he's defending. It was really disheartening to see an East Indian family go in, a couple with a 2 year old boy and a baby. They went in to the mill with their children. The mother took the brochure from me, but they went in anyway. I had to wonder if this wasn't a gender selection abortion. By the time I left, around 2 pm, I had counted at least 10 women going in to the mill. - Doris

Abortion Thugs on Supply & Demand

2008-11-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

MADRID, November 13, 2008 (CNA) - The Spanish daily "La Razon" has published an article on the pro-life conversion of a former "champion of abortion." Stojan Adasevic, who performed 48,000 abortions, sometimes up to 35 per day, is now the most important pro-life leader in Serbia, after spending 26 years as the most renowned abortion doctor in the country.

"The medical textbooks of the Communist regime said abortion was simply the removal of a blob of tissue," the newspaper reported. "Ultrasounds allowing the fetus to be seen did not arrive until the 80s, but they did not change his opinion. Nevertheless, he began to have nightmares."

...

"That same day a cousin came to the hospital with his four months-pregnant girlfriend, who wanted to get her ninth abortion - something quite frequent in the countries of the Soviet bloc. The doctor agreed. Instead of removing the fetus piece by piece, he decided to chop it up and remove it as a mass. However, the baby's heart came out still beating. Adasevic realized then that he had killed a human being,"

After this experience, Adasevic "told the hospital he would no longer perform abortions. Never before had a doctor in Communist Yugoslavia refused to do so. They cut his salary in half, fired his daughter from her job, and did not allow his son to enter the university."

_________________________

WICHITA, KS, November 13, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two pro-life volunteers participating in a round the clock prayer vigil were sickened last week, after being exposed to fumes from an oily substance that had been spilled across the driveway at George Tiller’s late-term abortion clinic. Operation Rescue, citing a similar incident that occurred in 2007, alleges that the spilling of the substance in such close proximity to where pro-life volunteers were participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign was an intentional “chemical attack.” One of the pro-lifers, Jennifer McCoy, was treated for four hours at a local hospital emergency room suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling of the face and eyes. Another woman, Brandi Lozier, was with McCoy praying outside the abortion clinic in the early morning hours of Sunday, November 2, 2008, as part of the 40 Days For Life event. She suffered similar symptoms, but was not hospitalized. After conducting tests, doctors told McCoy that her symptoms were the result of exposure to a foreign substance, and were not related to any viral or bacterial infection. Hazmat was called to the abortion clinic and treated the area to remove the unknown substance. After being released from the hospital, McCoy filed a complaint with the Wichita Police Department. “We suspect that this chemical attack may have been in retribution for Jennifer’s help in documenting a botched abortion at Tiller’s clinic a few weeks ago,” said Operation Rescue spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger. McCoy had interviewed Patient S. from her hospital bed after she nearly died from a botched abortion at Women’s Health Care Services. A similar incident occurred in September, 2007, when Tiller’s security guard, John Rayburn, was photographed with a “stink bomb” that also sickened those on the scene. Prosecutors refused to file charges, and efforts to hold Tiller accountable in small claims court failed. “We know whoever is responsible for endangering the health of these innocent women will only continue to be emboldened by a lack of prosecution,” said Sullenger. “The only way to stop these cowardly attacks on pro-lifers is to catch the perpetrators and put them in jail.”

It's pretty typical these days that pro-aborts and their sympathizers must resort to force and intimidation to get their way. On the one hand, the pro-life movement is gaining in strength and the demand for abortion is going to start to drop off as the light of day is shone on the grissly business of this massive human genocide. On the other hand, the abortion suppliers are dwindling in numbers so the government thugs and their allies on the ground have to ensure the abortion providers keep providing.

If things begin to heat up on this battle front, know that we are winning and we are going to win. For the last 40 years, it's been smooth sailing for the abortion industry. From here on in, it's going to be stormy weather.

News Report - Nov.14.08

2008-11-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA - Wellington Street is now reopened after being closed for several hours
Thursday as police investigated two suspicious packages found at the Bank of
Canada building at 234 Wellington St. Earlier in the morning, Wellington had
been closed between Elgin and Lyon after police and hazardous material
specialists responded to the 7:25 a.m. call about two cardboard boxes at the
bank's entrance. Ottawa Police Service Explosive Section along with
Ottawa Fire Services Hazmat Unit examined the packages and found them to be
inert and non-toxic. One police officer and five Bank of Canada security
officers, who were the first to respond, were temporarily held and assessed as a
precautionary measure. All have now being released. Though part of the Bank of Canada was evacuated earlier as a safety precaution, employees have now been allowed to return. Police say a sample from the package has been sent for
analysis. Police say it's too early into the investigation to confirm if any
charges will be laid in this case. (Source)

Remember that report where the media was trying to pin this on pro-lifers? Why isn't there a clarification on that earlier report?

Dispatch from Ground Zero - Nov.13

2008-11-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

I was at the clinic this a.m. for the 8 to 9 shift. Shortly after I arrived I noticed a police car blocking bank street at Wellington. Then another police car came and blocked the other corner near the abortion clinic. That police man was blocking people from walking down the side of the street the clinic was on. Then I noticed my side of the street was almost empty too except for a handful of people. It felt very errie and I felt uncomfortable enough that I left. I do not know what the problem was. Even the clinic was odd this a.m. because the only one that I saw go in was the clinic manager. - Maggie

Ground Zero Report - Nov. 7.08

2008-11-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

I arrived around 8:30 this morning and Noreen was already there praying. My prayer was that today, I wanted to be the Lord's mouthpiece. I asked him to show me when to speak, and give me the words to say, and also when to remain silent. Soon Nicole stopped by with some flyers for me to hand out. It started out a typical day at the mill. Some women took the flyers, some didn't. A mother rushed her teenage daughter past me. The girl seemed distraught. They wouldn't even acknowledge me. It didn't seem to me like I was having any effect. Then the superintendent of the building came out and asked me to stop giving the flyers to the people entering the building because his tenants "in the place where this stuff is happening" were getting upset. I asked what he meant by "stuff". He couldn't say the word, it seemed. I replied it was fully within my rights to do so and that I had no intention of stopping. He replied "don't make me call the cops" and left. I was able to approach a young woman going in, she took the flyers and talked with me for a while. She said that she wasn't even speaking to her parents right now, so there was no support for her. Her boyfriend had taken her there and she kept looking over to where he was standing in front of McDonald's. She was hesitant, but still went in, by herself. The superintendent came back again a little while later, with the same request as before, which I politely declined. He then called someone, and a man who looks like he might be manager of the building came over and said if I didn't stop, he'd call the police because I was loitering. I responded as I had the first time with the superintendent. Another woman went in, was very polite when I handed her the flyers, but went right in anyway. Close to noon, as the Friday marchers (with the banners) were beginning their prayer, the superintendant came back and insisted that I stop handing out the flyers. He said he had no problem with me standing there to pray, but no more flyers. Again I declined. He continued insisting. Remembering my prayer earlier in the morning, I just said that I wouldn't stop handing out flyers and then remained silent. So he called the police. When the police came over, I had the same conversation I had with the other four officers back on October 3rd, which was that they confirmed my right to stand there and distribute flyers, as long as I don't go past the door, at which point I could be charged with trespassing. I told them I had no intention of going into the building. They were nice to me. This time, though, they asked me for ID. Unfortunately, during this time, the young woman I had spoken to earlier came out, and I missed the chance to speak to her again. Throughout the hours I was there today, there was always someone there praying from across the street. Let's keep this up! I'm sure flyers alone don't have this effect. Thanks to all the prayer warriors for their support. I was greatly encouraged. - Doris

Ground Zero Report - Nov.6.08

2008-11-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Stealing the Business: A Baby Potentially Saved

This morning at Ground Zero, I received an emergency call from Nicole C. who was doing some sidewalk counselling. She met a black woman who was scheduled to have her abortion. As she talked with her, she learned that this woman already had 5 kids and could not afford another one. The woman walked back and forth, sometimes putting her hand on the door of the Abortion Mill, but not opening it.

The woman was then on her cell phone, talking to her husband. She didn't want to go through with it, but they were in a financial crisis.

As Nicole phoned around frantically trying to find financial support, we got a rude awakening that crisis pregnancy centres don't offer cash - probably because of the abuse that can happen with that situation, understandably. So we had to make a split decision and we did.

So Nicole and I bit the bullet and offered her $500 cash right now, and a pledge to help her on a continual basis until her situation stabilized.

Before anything else, the Abortion Mill is a business. That is the context in which they operate and that is the context in which we must venture at times. We have to be the Abortion Mills' competitors for the lives of the unborn. What's a child worth to us? $500? Seems like a pretty good bargain for an eternal soul, no? The early Church raised money to buy the freedom of slaves. And that's what we need to do in this war too.

The abortion mill pushes despair and extorts millions from its victims and from the State.

In response, we need to offer hope in terms of concrete assistance, and we need to show an unbelieving world that we love Christ more than our possessions.

We need to conquer with love...and cash.

I asked Nicole to give me a call to let me know what ended up happening. When I find out, I'll let you all know.

The fact that today we might have saved a human life by our sacrifice is a great privilege and grace.

Please pray hard.

____________

Update: We are not certain, but looks like the woman went ahead and had the abortion. She went into the building to phone her husband, and was in there for a couple of hours.

Still, we learned a valuable tactical lesson which we will be able to implement next time this situation arises.

Ground Zero Report - Nov.5.08

2008-11-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

I was at the mill for a couple of hours this morning. Saw the abortionist again...i think he was surprised to see me there. It was so weird to be there completely alone, the streets were empty and everything was going on as normal. I ended up getting into an amazing conversation with one of the husbands of the women having an abortion. One of them was already in the room when I was speaking to the young guy...but he didn't want to do it...it's the second child he's lost to abortion. He new it was a sin, tried to convince his wife not to do it, but she did and he was just trying to support her at that point...he didn't know what else to do. He said he had some angry feelings, needed to forgive her and others. He was so broken. I told him that He was still completely loved by God and somehow, if he lets it, God can take what happened and use it for His glory. I told him about Rachel's Vineyard, naming his child and asking forgiveness from his child and God. He was very, very open. When his wife came out, she was completely shell shocked. She seemed stunned by it all. He shook my hand and thanked me for our conversation and told me that it was God's will that we talked. There was some hope in the midst of a deep sadness. My heart continues to break over these situations...it is really hard. But, God is good...as I was leaving the mill, three people from St. Mary's arrived to come and pray!!!! I was SOOO happy...we need to keep this up! It's truly not an option...I hope people will be deeply convicted on this. - Nicole C.

__________________________

Good news - just before I was about to leave at 1pm, a dozen young adults from the National House of Prayer arrived to pray. They had just finished a prayer walk and felt led to come to the vigil site. As well, there were three other ladies in prayer (two on a work break)...so about fifteen altogether when I left at 1pm. The young adults took turns standing in a line at the site, and caught the attention of people across the street. - Sue A.

Remaining Videos From Closing Rally

2008-11-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

Nicole Campbell and Debbie Fisher (Part 1)

Nicole Campbell and Debbie Fisher (Part 2)

News Report of the Closing Rally

2008-11-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, November 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While Monday marked the official close of the North American 40 Days for Life campaign, many pro-life leaders say they expect the campaign was really the start of something much bigger. This is true especially in Ottawa, the only Canadian city to participate in the pro-life effort, where the overarching success of the campaign has spurred many campaign leaders to believe that one day Canada will host a nationwide 365 Days for Life.

40 Days for Life is an intensive pro-life campaign that features 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach. The 40-day time frame is drawn from examples throughout Biblical history where God brought about world-changing transformations in 40-day periods.

Over 500 people showed up to the closing rally in Canada's capital to hear special addresses from Archbishop Prendergast of Ottawa and Debbie Fisher from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, and above all, celebrate an incredibly successful 40 Days for Life in Ottawa. After the speeches, the vigil participants processed by candlelight from the Abortion mill to a packed St. Patrick's Basilica for Mass and a reception.

John Pacheco of 40 Days for Life was thrilled with the campaign's results. He reflected on how 750 people helped hold a 960-hour continuous vigil in front of the Morgentaler abortuary on Bank Street in Ottawa, helping change the hearts of hundreds of men and women and literally saving the lives of at least three babies.

"Over the last 40 days, some 750 vigilers braved the rain, wind, cold, snow, and sleepless nights to witness to the Dignity of the unborn," recounted Pacheco. "Some of us were violently assaulted; and many of us were verbally abused. But we did not return the insult and we didn't raise our hand. We remained in solidarity with the unborn in their silent holocaust, and, as a result, the sacred cows of the pro-abortion propaganda were exposed. Many people were touched and a few were converted."

While the tangible statistics of the campaign give great hope to the pro-life crowd, Pacheco believes the best is yet to come:

"While I was praying outside the Mill around 2AM on Saturday morning (and accompanied by at least 12 other people), I got the strange sense that while we shook things up at the Mill while we were there over the last 40 days, the final boot is going to fall now that the campaign is over."

Pacheco believes that with some dedication and extra funding, 40 Days for Life can become a 365 day per year event in many Canadian cities.

40 Days for Life also wrapped up in the U.S., where an incredible 441 (editor's note: number is now 520) lives were saved from abortion. Leaders also say that several abortion center workers quit their jobs, a number of clinics closed down for days, and thousands of hearts were touched.

Report from America: Abortion Mill Shutting Down

2008-11-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

I have a VERY important announcement at the end of this
message, but first some GREAT news!

On a day when many are stressed about elections, I just
heard from one of our 40 Days for Life local campaign
leaders who is bouncing off the walls with the exciting
news that the abortion facility that was the focus of
their campaign over these last 40 days is CLOSING!!

The "Space Available" real estate sign was put in front
of the building on Thursday -- day 37 of the campaign.
Yesterday, the local leader confirmed with the real
estate company that the abortionist is shutting the
business down for good.

We will have more details, including the location, as
soon as the facility is closed -- which should happen
very soon. But I knew you'd want to know that your
prayers have produced an amazing result!

And another INCREDIBLE victory: as reports continue to
roll in from around the country about the impact of the
40 Days for Life campaign that just ended, the number
of confirmed lives saved during the 40 days is...

...520!!

This number surpasses the previous total for all
earlier 40 Days for Life campaigns COMBINED!

The total number of lives saved through 40 Days for
Life, from 2004 in College Station, Texas, through
today, has now topped 1,000. Amazing, isn't it?

Let's praise the Lord for what He has done!

And, speaking of victories...

...The 2008 elections will be decided TODAY.

We all need to pray, fast, and do everything we can to
ensure pro-life victories at every level -- federal,
state, and local.

Right now, our entire family is actually at a local
campaign headquarters here in Florida, helping with the
"Get Out The Vote" effort.

After voting for life today, please do everything you
can to help get every other pro-life person you know to
get out and vote.

The stakes have never been higher.

The 41st Day: The Next Step

2008-11-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

My dear friends,

During the past 40 days, we've tasted the fruit of God's grace in confronting abortion on the front lines. But now that the campaign is officially over, many people are asking where to we go from here?

The challenge today in the pro-life movement in Canada is that it needs a focused, results-based initiative, a micro, "on-the-ground" effort, similar to the one we just had with 40 Days for Life. What has been clear to me in this endeavour is that the personal "one-on-one" approach in the abortion war is sorely needed in Canada. At least 3 babies were saved during this campaign, and much disruption in the abortion business occurred. People were challenged and converted. At the very least, hundreds of seeds were planted. This indicates to me that this sort of prayerwar/sidewalk counselling approach WORKS. We see the results first hand. And even the results we don't see, we know they are happening. We can actually see it in people's faces as they walk by. We can see it in the depressed faces of the abortion workers when they see us there everyday. And we can see it in the agitated face of the abortionist each morning when he comes to work. This micro level approach to fighting abortion is successful. And that, in the end, is the bottom line.

But for this kind of work to bear fruit, we need devoted leadership in this field. At this stage in this burgeoning movement, we can plant a seed that can grow beyond our wildest dreams -- not only here in Ottawa but across Canada in every major city where abortion is performed.

But for that to happen, we need to financially support someone to take what we've done in Ottawa and grow it - both here in Ottawa and across the country.

There are a number of options we will be looking at in the coming days.

So the purpose of this notice is simply to ask you to consider financially supporting such a ministry. We have many great "ground zero" initiatives planned to bring down abortion. But those initiatives can only move forward with your help.

So, at this point, all I need to know is one thing from each of you: would you be willing to financially commit to such a venture?

Regards,

John Pacheco
40 Days For Life Campaign

Closing Rally Report

2008-11-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the official ending of the 40 Days for Life Campaign in Ottawa. Close to 500 people attended tonight's rally and they heard special guest speakers, Archbishop Prendergast of Ottawa and Debbie Fisher from Silent No More Awareness Campaign. After the speeches, the vigilers processed by candlelight from the Abortion Mill to St. Patrick's basilica for Mass and a Reception. The Basilica was packed, to say the least.

Over the last 40 days, some 750 vigilers braved the rain, wind, cold, snow, and sleepless nights to witness to the Dignity of the unborn. Some of us were violently assaulted; and many of us were verbally abused. But we did not return the insult and we didn't raise our hand. We remained in solidarity with the unborn in their silent holocaust, and, as a result, the sacred cows of the pro-abortion propaganda were exposed. Many people were touched and a few were converted. The reverberations of this campaign are hard to assess. Certainly, the stats were very impressive indeed:

Number of Participants: 750
Blogged Stories: 70
Consecutive Hours: 960
Babies Saved: 3 (minimum)
Volunteers: 60
Volunteer Hours: 2000
Abortion Mill Disruption: Very High

But the real progress will not be known for some time, if ever, since it is often hidden - hidden in peoples hearts as the seed of life is planted within them only to bear fruit at a later date in God's providence. And still, even if we don't know these particular victories on this side of heaven, we know that babies were saved, hearts were changed and moved, and we all became better persons for it. Not only did the Campaign convert others; it converted us.

While I was praying outside the Mill around 2AM on Saturday morning (and accompanied by at least 12 other people), I got the strange sense that while we shook things up at the Mill while we were there over the last 40 days, the final boot is going to fall now that the campaign is over. Not sure why this is since we won't have the same kind of presence, but I just think that is what's going to happen.

Tonight as the reception was ending, a lady approached me and she told me of a dream she had the night before. She said that in the dream, she was holding a small baby in her hand. She thought the baby was not alive, but then noticed that it was breathing slightly. She turned her gaze away in the dream and then looked back at her hand, where she now saw the baby in pieces. The message of the dream? What we've done is giving life and hope to the unborn, but if we stop, the heinous evil of abortion will resume and continue in this culture of death. We must not let this happen, and that's why we must continue the vigil in some fashion. Please pray for the leaders of the 40 Days for Life Campaign and for Nicole Campbell, in particular, that God will continue to use her in the front lines of the abortion wars in this country.

On behalf of the 40 Days for Life Organizing Committee and Campaign Life, I wish to extend our deepest gratitude to all those people who volunteered in the parishes to promote this at the church level. We also want to thank the Archbishop for his support and encouragement. And finally, we want to thank the prayer warrior vigilers who stuck it out these past 40 days, 24/7 around the clock. Your witness will only be truly rewarded on the other side of eternity. In honour of your dedication and commitment, here is a small tribute video just For You, while just below that, I've posted some pictures and videos from tonight's closing rally.

God Bless You All. And let's keep it going.

John Pacheco
40 365 Days For Life

"FOR YOU"

Debbie Fisher, Silent No More:

Nicole Campbell and Debbie Fisher (Part 1)

Nicole Campbell and Debbie Fisher (Part 2)

Ground Zero Report - Day 40 [11.02]

2008-11-03T09:17:00.001-08:00

I know the Vigil's main purpose is for the clients at the mill and the babies, but it has also had such an effect on my by participating in it. The excellent speechs at the opening rally really inspired men to get involved with keeping it going 24/7, and it just helped me grow so much:

1. I got to practice bringing my faith into the public 'square', being bolder about saying what I believe, which is practice I really needed.

2. I got to endure insults and ridicule for Jesus... what in incredible honour... Jesus said those who endure that are blessed, and I really haven't had that opportunity before, at least not since I was a little kid anyway.

Also

3. I was blown away at seeing how others reacted to insults and even the assault... how they are so full of love for everyone involved. Even for the abortionists. It was really a reminder that I have to work on loving others even our 'enemies'... an example of how to live the faith.

So the whole thing has been such a blessing and an opportunity to grow closer to God. Thank you so much again for helping organize it!

- Neil

Report from America - Day 41

2008-11-03T06:16:00.000-08:00

What a day !!

We finished out the fall 40 Days for Life yesterday
at a concluding event in Sarasota, Florida, that was
attended by more than 300 people (along with the
local Planned Parenthood CEO, who was furious as
hundreds of people gathered outside her new 40,000+
square foot abortion mega-center that is nearing the
completion of construction.)

This day after 40 Days for Life has finished, there
are more blessings than we can count, and I thank you
for every contribution you've made to this largest
coordinated pro-life outreach in history.

It's a good day to look at where we've been -- and
where we're going.

For one thing, 40 Days for Life has gotten far more
media attention than it's ever gotten before, meaning
more people in more cities saw for themselves what
this effort is all about. Here are a few of the many
newspaper articles local teams have generated: >> Washington Times
http://snipurl.com/4ymh0 >> Chicago Sun-Times
http://snipurl.com/4ymf6

And here's what 40 Days for Life looked like on local
TV newscasts (be sure to watch the video clips!): >> WREG-TV Memphis
http://snipurl.com/4ymkn >> KFSN-TV Fresno
http://snipurl.com/4ymlo

>> WPTY-TV Fort Wayne
http://snipurl.com/4ymnn

We've had numerous reports of clinics shutting their
doors on days when abortions are usually scheduled.

Other abortionists apparently decided to take time
off. "There's a sign on our clinic door -- closed
until November 5," wrote one vigil participant.
"God is moving."

In Oklahoma City, Karen reports that someone called
the clinic and was told the abortionist won't be back
until November 6. "That's two whole weeks plus two
days of closure for the clinic," she said. "I know
our prayers had an effect on him!"

The abortion businesses expect that we will simply
"go away" after 40 Days for Life is over. But they
don't know the hearts of the people who've stood
vigil and seen the results.

"Why not 365 days for life?" asked Pablo. "We could
keep the pressure on ... I'm sure we can find
volunteers."

"I agree with Pablo," wrote Ed. "Why not a perpetual
vigil for life? My wife and I drove 3 1/2 hours each
way to pray for two hours at an abortion clinic last
Saturday. We're going again tomorrow."

One of the local teams has been praying for the
security guard at an abortion center. They wave at
him, and he waves back. This has been going on since
the start of 40 Days for Life.

Just this week, he finally approached the group on
the sidewalk. "I heard that you help women if they
need food or clothes or anything for their babies. If
I find women in need, can I send them to you?"

"How do I tell the security guard no? That 40 Days
for Life is almost over, so if you find a woman in
need we won't be here anymore?" asked the local
campaign director.

"It was such a clear sign that we can not stop. If he
would have just quit the job we would have thought
our work done, but because he wants to help us with
our work it was a clear sign that we have to keep
going."

And keep going, we will. As to what form that will
take, and what specific needs we'll address -- we're
already praying hard for discernment and the Holy
Spirit's guidance.

We encourage you to do likewise. The conclusion of
this 40 Days for Life campaign is just the end of a
chapter, not the end of the book.

"I am hearing the same thing over and over," said
Jennifer. "40 Days for Life may be over, but it is
only a beginning. A volunteer told me today the
clinic workers are not going away and neither are we.
We will not quit until this clinic closes down."

Here's today's "bonus" devotional from Fr. Frank
Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and
President of the National Pro-life Religious
Council...

-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 41 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------

Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears
abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to
storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into
the gates of heaven.

-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hell will not prevail against it.

-- Matthew 16:18

-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
-----------------------------------------------------

When we read this verse, we usually think that the
Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body,
will withstand all the attacks launched against it.
Of course, that is true.

But when we think about it more carefully, we realize
that in a battle, the gates do not run out into the
battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, they stand
still to defend the city from the enemy attacking it.

So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not
prevail against the church, who is doing the
attacking? It is the church storming the gates!

The church, all of God's people in Christ, is called
to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory,
and to gain ground for Jesus Christ. We do not wait
for an invitation; we already have a command. We
prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be
perfect; we already have one who has gone before us.

During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We
have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the
boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so,
in numerous ways.

Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates
of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The
gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The
gates of death will fall in the presence of the
church, the People of Life!

-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------

Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of
your Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard.
We have done battle with the power of evil, and
therefore we can have compassion on those still
within its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom
of darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to
your Kingdom of Light.

May the witness of all your people through these 40
Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin
again each day to storm the gates of hell until You
welcome us into the gates of heaven. We pray in the
victorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

-----------------------------------------------------

With just one day remaining before Americans go to
the polls to decide the most critical election in
recent history, here are some things that ALL of us
can do to positively impact the outcome on Tuesday,
November 4:

1.) PRAY AND FAST

If ever there was a time for massive, unified prayer
for our nation -- that time is NOW! Please commit to
pray fervently, and if you feel led -- fast these
last two days.

2.) EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE

Here are several short, but highly effective videos
that underscore what's at stake in the elections:

For all Christians:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwLY_HRt-AM

For Catholic Christians:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61wj4tJICcc

3.) EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

A great resource to learn about the candidates and
where they stand on life issues is:
http://www.politicalresponsibility.com

4.) GET TO THE POLLS EARLY TO CAST YOUR VOTE

Find your polling place by visiting:
http://www.vote411.org/pollfinder.php

Go early in the day and be willing to wait in a line,
if necessary, due to likely high voter turnout.

5.) GET LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE OUT TO THE POLLS

This is not the time to argue and debate with people
who do not understand the importance of protecting
life. We must use every available minute to encourage
pro-life friends, family members, co-workers, and
fellow believers to turnout to vote.

Also, be sure to contact the offices of pro-life
candidates and ask what you can do to help with "Get
Out the Vote" efforts. For a short video that reminds
us WHY this is important, watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5SXjYkQpDk

By each of us investing time and energy into these
activities, we can ensure that we will wake up
Wednesday knowing we did all we could to "speak up
for those who could not speak for themselves."

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Rally Tonight!

2008-11-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

This is your friendly reminder that TONIGHT at 6pm, we will be meeting at 65 Bank St.(corner of Sparks St.) at the Morgentaler abortion facility where we will be greeted by the Archbishop of Ottawa and Debbie Fisher from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, who will share her story of abortion.

We will then process to St. Patrick's Basilica with candle light where Mass will occur at 7pm. ALL denominations are welcome. After the Mass there will be a reception. Evangelist Faytene Kryskow sent a video message for us which will be viewed at the reception, along with a slideshow of memories that occurred over the last 40 days!

It's hard to believe the 40 Days for Life is coming to an end, at least officially! :) A special "thank you" for all who have participated in the 40 Days for Life Campaign by either prayer and fasting and/or spending time on 65 Bank St. It was an amazing experience that saved lives and changed hearts! THANK YOU for all your hard work, sacrifice and efforts. I'm truly overwhelmed by all of the people who came out, some from far distances to be present with the little ones. This is the only human love they new on this earth & I know God is greatly pleased with you for being present and bringing them dignity!

HOWEVER, This is just the beginning! We will be praying outside the abortion facility every Wed, Thurs and Friday from 8am to 4pm, the day of the abortions, until their facility shuts down for good! We can't stop the fight for life until all children are safe in their mothers wombs. Please join us in this! More information to follow soon!

SEE YOU TONIGHT at 6pm!!! :)

God bless!

For LIFE,

Nicole

Report from America - Day 40

2008-11-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

It's Day 40 -- the final day of this fall's 40 Days
for Life effort.

Margaret, Claire, Patrick, and I just arrived in
Sarasota, Florida -- the 51st city I've traveled to
during this 40 Days for Life campaign.

When I logged onto my computer and began to read the
hundreds of e-mail messages reporting victories from
across North America, a wave of emotions swept over
me: joy, relief, excitement, peace, thanksgiving.

Together we have witnessed God accomplishing amazing
miracles through His people.

I'll share some highlights of these reports with you
over the next few days (before taking a MUCH needed
break from e-mail :-)

I just recorded a 9-minute "wrap-up" audio message
that will be played at many of the concluding events
for local campaigns across North America today. You
can listen to it online at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=170

Though this campaign is coming to an end, we know
that there is much work still to do before the day
when no more babies die and no more women cry.

Susan in Maryland realizes that as well, offering her
thoughts after spending time in prayer at an abortion
center -- citing the importance of being there today,
tomorrow... and as long as it takes.

Susan and two friends left church to pray at the
vigil outside Whole Woman's Health -- it's hard to
imagine a more erroneous name for a place of death.

This particular abortion facility is tucked away in
the back of a shopping center and many people don't
even realize it's there, even though it's near busy
highways in metropolitan Baltimore.

As the three drove towards the vigil, the sky got
progressively darker. "So much so," she thought,
"that I wondered in my heart if a 'cloud of darkness'
permanently existed over the clinic," which has been
in business for more than 25 years. What does it
take, she asked her friends, to close down such an
abomination?

Seven others were praying at the clinic. When the
three friends arrived, so did the rain. "It seemed
like the sky had exploded with a storm fierce and
powerful," Susan said. "Torrents of rain pelted our
faces, saturated our clothing, but we did not flinch
but held steady in unified prayer for the unborn."

The wind picked up, blowing signs out of vigil
participants' hands and turning umbrellas inside out.
Some ran for rain gear, but no one stopped praying.
"The wind blew," said Susan, "over and over, with
countless gusts that whipped our faces and with
debris that stung our skin."

As she prayed, Susan thought about why she was there.
"Just the night before, I had visited Whole Woman's
Health web site. They have the most attractive women
pictured with such luring lies as, 'We care about the
whole woman.'" For extra fees, this clinic offers a
"VIP abortion" package with a private room, light
meal and herbal tea.

The thought of that just led Susan to pray even
harder. "Again the wind blew and the rain pelted our
faces."

She and her friends finished their prayer time at the
40 Days for Life prayer vigil with wet hair and
soaked socks, feeling drenched but not drained.

"Perhaps, this day, back in the parking lot, God
touched a heart from the power of our prayers and had
a young mother turn away from the clinic," said
Susan.

"Perhaps, the abortionist felt our presence and
thought for a moment what our signs said. Or maybe a
nervous parent took their pregnant daughter back to
the car and just drove them home. In any event, we
pray and continue to pray that we all will see the
day when this moral crime will stop. We pray for a
country where all will be protected -- born and
unborn. No matter what weather, we stand with God.

"Pray today for an end to abortion," she added. "Just
do it!"

Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone,
National Director of Priests for Life and President
of the National Pro-life Religious Council...

-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 40 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------

Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem,
where death will be no more.

-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for
the old order of things has passed away." He who was
seated on the throne said, "I am making everything
new!"

--Revelation 21:4-5

-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
-----------------------------------------------------

Every activity we undertake in defense of the
sanctity of life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points
to the day when "death will be no more."

Every victory we have when an act of abortion is
prevented is prophetic of that day when death itself
will be definitively conquered.

Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someone
is brought to see the value of life and given the
strength to welcome it, is a breaking into our
history of that definitive future in which the old
order of things will have passed, and all things will
be made new.

As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on
heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the
day is coming when all evil will be conquered. It is
the future that shapes the present; it is victory
that informs the battle; it is the destination that
determines the journey.

Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven. When we
weep, we are to think of the day when every tear will
be wiped away.

When we face the destructive power of death, we are
to think of the day when death is swallowed up in
victory.
When we labor against abortion, we are to think of
the day when we will have the rest and peace of the
final triumph of life.

Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be as
real as our present sorrows.

-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------

Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us
with the vision of the world to come, when every tear
will be wiped away, and death will be no more.
Father, how we need that hope, how we are
strengthened by that vision!

Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in
the labors of earth. As we struggle against the
culture of death, root our souls in the assurance of
victory. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

-----------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- I, like you, am very concerned about our
national elections that happen this Tuesday, November
4. The stakes have NEVER been higher. Over the next
two days, I will suggest simple -- but highly
effective -- things you and I can do to make a
lifesaving impact in these crucial last few days.

Ground Zero Report - Day 39 - [11.01]

2008-11-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

Last night's Vigil from Midnight onwards reminded me of the Bible story of the loaf and the fishes. Having been on this watch midnight to 2AM for most of the Vigil with a few people attending each night I was pleased to find many more prayer full people showing up on Halloween night . On the West side of Bank St across from the abortion mill saying our rosary (as our true costumes ) and the East side was crowded folks in all kinds of make-believe Halloween costumes. Praise the Lord I am sure our prayers did get through in many ways. Thanks to all the Christians who have participated in the 40 Days for Life I am sure we have made a huge differance in our own lives and the lives of many others and we probably will never know on this earth, how many babies our prayers-- fasting and volunteering to stand watch outside the Abortion Mill have saved. Long Live 40 Days for Life. - Frank J. Barrett, A.K.A. FrankO a Grin N' Barrett Klown

___________________

This is the first time I have the honour to be a voice for the unborn, I'm sad to see it end. My dream would be to see the vigils extended until the abortion mills are closed down. My life was marked by abortion and this campaign help me heal because for the first time I didn't feel helpless toward the slaughter of babies. Thank you for letting me be part of your campaign for life. God Bless! - K.

___________________

You're probably getting the news from others, but here goes; we had a good turnout for Halloween. At 0200h there were about 15 there, at 0300h, about 13, by 0320h there were 7, and half an hour later there were 6 (which was good because it took quite a while before the streetswere really clear; McDonald's was very busy, and there were quite a few people just hanging out). Eric and I left shortly after 0500h and there were 4 others there at the time - things were pretty quiet. It was good to have such a big crowd (who stayed so long); there was a HUGE number of revellers out - with quite a few barbs, taunts, and negative comments thrown our way. To see them all was really more sad and pitiful than amusing. Those caught up in the culture of death try to hide their pain - but it really just shows up as pain or insecurity. Luckily there were no excitable types among us. We did receive some positive comments as well. God Bless! - Bill

__________________

I can't believe we're at the end of the forty days. Count me among those for whom this has been a life-changing experience. I thought I was only going to go down to the vigil once with my church. I ended up going many times and still felt that it wasn't enough. It was as though the Lord was speaking to my heart over the past few weeks - "Give me your time and I will take care of all your needs and all the things that you feel that you need to do instead of going to stand vigil. Tonight between 7 and 8pm there were two groups praying the rosary, one of whom included a man in a large electric wheelchair, and a few of us praying on our own. As the fellow prayed the rosary with two ladies, a man walked up beside them and stood quietly for a few minutes. He asked if he could join them in the rosary. After they finished the rosary, he said that he was just walking around downtown killing some time, when he saw us and decided to come over to find out what was going on. (The north end of Bank St. sees little activity on a Saturday evening.) It was a moment of grace. It was bitterly cold, with the wind blowing down Bank St., but I kept thinking that it was a small sacrifice in order to be able to stand vigil. Time enough to warm up at home - the babies need us now! See you tomorrow. - Sue A.

Report from America - Day 39

2008-11-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

Today is Day 39, and we're in the home stretch of
this fall's 40 Days for Life effort.

Amazing things are still unfolding all across North
America and many people are looking to keep the
momentum building beyond the end of this campaign
(See the press release we sent out yesterday at:
http://snipurl.com/4w8j5 )

I had a daily e-mail message planned for you today
until something happened a few hours ago that changed
all of that...

...I watched in shock as a 16-year-old boy was hit by
a car just a few yards in front of me.

Here's what happened...

All day, our family had been visiting 40 Days for
Life locations along Florida's Atlantic coast. In the
evening we finally rolled into West Palm Beach to
spend the night before heading out to visit more
vigil sites in the morning.

A sweet local family had invited us to their house.
While driving over to meet them, we stopped at a red
light at a busy intersection.

As we sat there in the dark, a boy shot past us on
his bicycle and rolled right out into the traffic in
the middle of the busy street.

Before I knew what was happening, an SUV going 40
miles an hour plowed into the young man, sending him
and his bike flying through the air before they
crashed to the pavement.

The driver slammed on his brakes and narrowly missed
running over the boy.

I jumped out of our rental car (as Margaret, Claire,
and Patrick began to pray) and was the first one to
the boy's side. Within 30 seconds, nearly a dozen
other people had stopped to help.

The boy was injured, but thankfully not in a
life-threatening way. He had cuts and scrapes all
over, and his leg was in severe pain -- probably
broken.

He told me that his bike's brakes had failed.

The police and paramedics arrived quickly and were
able to rush him to a nearby hospital to begin
treatment and healing.

Having seen the accident from about ten yards away, I
can tell you it is a miracle he is alive.

While driving away from the accident scene, Margaret
and I were reflecting on what we had just witnessed,
and came to two realizations...

*****************************************************
1.) WHEN ANOTHER PERSON'S LIFE IS AT RISK, HONORABLE
PEOPLE STOP EVERYTHING ELSE AND TRY TO HELP.
*****************************************************

I was impressed by how many people stopped to assist,
and by the response of the police and paramedics.

Nobody was worried about being late to where they
were going. Nobody was thinking about how their stock
portfolio was doing. Nobody was concerned about what
church anyone else attended. Nobody was worried about
each other's political affiliations.

When another person was at risk, people set aside
everything else to help save a life.

*****************************************************
2.) WE WERE REMINDED OF JUST HOW FRAGILE -- AND
PRECIOUS -- EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS.
*****************************************************

In what seemed like a millisecond, this boy went from
happily riding down the road to lying bleeding and in
pain on the pavement next to the twisted remains of
his bicycle in the middle of a busy intersection.

He certainly didn't expect that to happen to him.

In the same way, none of us knows exactly how much
time we have left on this earth and, as a result, we
need to make the most of every single moment.

These two realizations made us immediately think of
YOU, John, and the tens of thousands of other
faithful believers participating in 40 Days for Life
all across North America.

When the lives of innocent, pre-born children have
been at risk of death, and women have been at risk of
devastation from abortion, you stopped to help by
participating in 40 Days for Life.

And your heroic efforts to "speak up for those who
cannot speak for themselves" demonstrate that you ARE
making the most of every moment and showing the world
how precious and sacred every human life really is.

Let's pray for the swift healing of the young boy who
was hit by a car, and let's press forward together in
our efforts to protect every human life.

Ground Zero Report - Day 38 - Part 2 [10.31]

2008-10-31T19:47:00.001-07:00

Today, Friday, I felt like I was standing at the foot of the cross. For most of the hour that I was at the vigil, I stood all by myself and held a sign. David and another man walked back and forth with their signs, but there I stood, alone. People walked by me and shook their heads, some muttering things I couldn't hear. Very few looked me in the eye. I watched as teenage girls, most with boyfriends, walked into the clinic and others walked out. My heart broke as I watched one girl come out alone, face ashen. I prayed for Doris as she watched for women with whom she could speak before they walked into the clinic, prayed for courage, wisdom and protection for her. A couple of times as young girls walked into 65 Bank, Doris looked across the street in my direction and we shared knowing looks. I watched as people chatted with the security guard and mocked the people who were walking around the block praying the rosary. I thought of Jesus on the cross - alone, mocked, people passing by and shaking their heads, treating Him as something to be despised. For a brief moment, I felt like I knew just a tiny glimpse of Jesus' pain. But Sunday's comin', like Fr. Frank Pavone has reminded us. Sunday's comin'. We need to be people of hope, and not ever stop praying for the end to abortion. Our work isn't done after 40 Days for Life. It has just begun. - Sue A.

Ground Zero Report - Day 38 [10.31]

2008-10-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today was a very busy day at the mill. Lots to tell you. We think there may have been another save....Doris talked to a couple who were lingering around for a long time as do most people before going in for their abortions. I asked Doris to email you the story! But I believe there was a live saved! :)

There was a guy this morning 21 years old smoking outside near the security guard, his wife was upstairs getting prepped for her abortion and the young man became very angry that we were outside. He initially started by talking to the security guard really loudly talking about how we are making women feel guilty and that it's better for people to have abortions rather than having homeless children on the street. When he came out for his second cigarette, I asked him if he'd like some information...he became very angry, swearing at us, telling us that it's awful that we are making women feel guilty, etc. It was very obvious to me that he was the one feeling very guilty, but it was being misdirected at us. He calmed down and after a while we had a brief dialogue. He started the conversation and I told him that if he'd like to listen, I would tell him why we were there. He listened briefly and I told told him we were there because 85% of women having abortions are there because of pressure from their girlfriends/parents, and that we were there to help provide a better way. He already has a 2 year old son whom he bragged about to the security guard. You could see this young man had such a father's heart...I told him so. Doris tried to share with him with him as well, but he quickly became aggitated, so I left the conversation alone. He continued to be beligerent and left very angry into the abortion mill. Please continue to pray for him and for all of the couples/women who need healing from their abortions.

Lots more to tell you about today...i just don't have time right now...hope to be able to write more later. God bless! - Nicole

__________________________________

I just want to relate to you a little ray of hope I experienced this morning at Ground Zero. There was a young couple who were hanging around in front of the McDonald's. They looked like they might be going in for an abortion - she was wearing track pants (the abortuary suggests they wear loose clothing). Anyway, they stayed there for some time. Thinking to myself it would be easier to talk to them there, rather than to try and get a few quick words in as they are being ushered in by the security guard, I decided to go and talk to them. They said they were against abortion and said they were just waiting for her ex to come and see her baby (she showed me a picture of him on her cell phone). I'm not too sure I buy their story, they didn't have the baby with them. She then said she was two weeks pregnant, and that the father of this baby was going to stick around this time. The young man chimed in, saying "I have every intention of being a father to this baby". I asked them to take some brochures anyway, saying they probably knew more young people than I do, and could have a positive impact on their friends. They took them and stayed around for a while and then left. I figure this was a win-win situation. Either they weren't planning on an abortion and I was preaching to the choir, in which case they now find themselves with some good pro-life information and will be able to pass it on to someone who needs it, or they were headed to 65 Bank St. and they changed their minds. God bless them both! Now the bad news. I saw at least 3 women come out from their abortions alone, unaccompanied. One of them was obviously still very drugged. She had been sick earlier (she actually vomitted in the garbage on the sidewalk) so they probably gave her a higher dose of sedatives to calm her. When you go for a flu shot, they don't let you leave before the required time to make sure you're OK. That's only a flu shot. This woman had clearly been sedated, and they let her leave unaccompanied. There was also a very angry young man who had taken his girlfriend in. They already had a two year old, but this one was too much for them to handle. He let us know in no uncertain terms what he thought of us and told us we had no right to upset the women going in for abortions. So much anger, so much pain. My heart aches for them. May God's grace be on them. - Doris

_____________________________________

As I arrived in front of the clinic I noticed a man with a professional video camera and an announcer using us as a backdrop for their video. They didn’t look like news media, so I drifted over and asked them if they minded me asking them what they were shooting. The cameraman said, “I’m a student and this gentleman is a professor of science who is passionate about the environment, and we are shooting a documentary about how old the earth is and we wanted to show that others have a different opinion.”

He seemed a bit old to be a student but I didn’t question that. I simply asked him, “what makes you think that everybody in the prolife movement is a ‘young earth’ proponent, isn’t that kind of presumptuous?”

He shrugged. Then I asked the scientist “You are a man who has strong opinions about the value of science, do you mind me asking ‘when does life begin?’”

He looked at me and said, “I don’t know.”

I said “really?”

He replied “do you know?”

I said “yes, and there is not one biologist on the planet who will disagree, it’s fertilization. Could it be the reason you don’t want to answer is because you, like Obama, don’t want to face the moral implications of that answer?”

He said, “I don’t want to get into this now and waste 10 minutes talking about it”

I said, “But you are willing to spend hours working on a video that portrays prolifers as a bunch of science denying fundamentalists, and you can’t even answer a simple science question found in any grade 7 biology book? Who is the one denying science?”

With that they sheepishly packed up their camera gear and walked away.

Oh Lord, save us from those who are trying to use science as a political weapon against you. Show them that you created all science, and that your mysteries are completely consistent with science.

- David MacDonald

_____________________________________

As I was walking slowly back and forth a woman approached me and said.

I work in the office building here and have been watching your group for several weeks. I want to let you know that I’ve been hoping and praying something like this would happen here. I was in that clinic 2.5 years ago. I was 44 years old, already had 3 children, and my husband and I work. This pregnancy was inconvenient and unexpected. My husband and my mother wanted me to have an abortion.

It was a cold Thursday in February. Inside the clinic, it was dirty and dreary and the chairs were all stained. There were several other couples there. I was alone because my husband was working. We were all given forms. As I began to fill in the form, I heard a woman, who had just had an abortion and was crying. I looked at the other women writing quickly, as reviewed the questions about my health, I got a sense the something was terribly wrong. I called my husband and said “I can’t do this, I’m not going to.” And then I walked out.

I never looked back. My daughter is 2 years old today. She is healthy and beautiful, and I can’t believe I was considering taking her life. She is a precious gift from God. I often stand out here on my work breaks and think about that day and pray for the women inside. There were sometimes protesters on Friday mornings, but there were abortions happening on Thursdays, Fridays, and now Wednesday. I’ve been praying that more people would come and pray in front of this clinic. You guys are an answer to my prayers. Thank you.

I was very moved. I said to herm, “what you did was very courageous. I wish I had the same courage when I was in a similar situation in 1984. Abortion was the worst mistake I’ve ever made.” We prayed together and I thanked God for the life he saved, and I pray that in some small way I’ll be able to help others make a decision for life.

- David MacDonald

Death of a Pro-Life Hero

2008-10-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Frank Mountain was a pioneer of the pro-life movement in Ottawa. It was through a car accident twenty years ago that he was paralysed. As he was driving his wife and five children to a pro-life demonstration along a road under construction, he veered to avoid an oncoming car and rolled the car off a road. His wife and children quickly recovered but Frank was permenantly disabled and he has been in a wheelchair since, but this never stopped him from being a mover and shaker in the pro-life movement. His ingenuity brought about many initiatives such as the Hike for Life, Pennies for Life and National March for Life.

Frank has been a solid rock of support and guidance for Campaign Life Coalition Ottawa. Recently his health has gone downhill and he passed away this morning (Friday October 31) at 1:00 am. The funeral will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kemptville Ontario (505 Clothier St. W.) on Monday November 3 at 11:00 am.

Report from America - Day 38

2008-10-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the number 5 and number 8 teams in college
football meet for a huge showdown in Jacksonville,
Florida: the Florida-Georgia game.

A few hours ago, I spoke at a fundraising banquet for
a pregnancy resource center here in Jacksonville,
after visiting the local 40 Days for Life campaign
that has mobilized 1,500 people and saved 6 lives.

At the banquet, I shared the platform with Pam Tebow,
mother of Florida quarterback -- and Heisman trophy
winner -- Tim Tebow.

She shared her amazing testimony about how doctors
had actually advised her to abort Tim when she was
pregnant with him...

...And why she refused.

She also shared how ESPN broadcast their amazing pro-
life testimony around the world, saving other lives.

After the dinner, Pam and her husband Bob sat down
with me to record a short audio clip to share their
story and to encourage YOU to persevere in your
40 Days for Life efforts.

I think you'll be blessed by the picture and seven-
minute audio I just posted online at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=168

Today's devotional calls us to become vessels of
hope. It is indeed hope that you are bringing to the
abortion centers.

Women who are on the brink of abortion see no hope,
unless you're there to bring them hope: hope in God,
and hope in the form of better options for themselves
and their children.

Christ warned of those who would call good evil, and
call evil good.

We saw that firsthand in some pictures Bob sent from
an abortion center in Michigan. The clinic staff
posted four large message boards in the building's
windows -- three panels were an open letter to
"persons of faith" and the fourth was titled "a
blessing."

See picture online at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=168

The letter began, "We forgive you for your
infringement into what is a deeply personal and
difficult time in our lives... We forgive you for
your lack of understanding, your blind assumptions
and your lack of faith in us."

The whole point of the letter is to make 40 Days for
Life vigil participants question why they stand
outside and pray, attempting to create confusion
about the very clear difference between right and
wrong that is central to the effort to end abortion.

The letter continued with a rehash of worn-out
abortion rhetoric. It suggests that in addition to
praying for an end to abortion, vigil participants
should "pray for universal health care, a living wage
and affordable child care," as if any perceived lack
of support in those areas offers justification for
terminating the life of innocent unborn children.

In short, this set of posters was an abortion
movement manifesto, suggesting that we have no right
to stand up -- as Christ commanded us -- in defense
of the least of our brothers and sisters.

"We are honoring our selves, our partners, our
families and our pregnancies with a wise decision,"
the letter stated.

That's enough to turn your stomach or rip your heart
-- or both. Sin honors no one.

What was truly reprehensible was the final poster,
the "blessing," which begins, "Let us be blessed as
we go forth. Choices have been made in some of the
hardest moments of our lives. May we leave this place
free from guilt and ready to live with conviction and
clarity of purpose." It ends, in classic prayer
style, with the single word, "Amen."

I prefer to think of this ploy as a desperation
measure by an abortion industry that knows its time
is running out.

That feeling is echoed in a message I received from
Marti in Little Rock.

"I cannot really describe the sense of relief I felt
when I arrived at 7:45 Saturday morning and found an
empty parking lot," she wrote. The abortion center
was closed.

"I just stood at the entryway of their lot and
praised God and claimed that someday this lot will
always be empty. I was standing there with the
perfect vision of what we are praying for -- days
upon days where no babies have to die in this place."

To that, we can truly say, "Amen!"

David MacD has a message from Ground Zero

2008-10-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

National Days of Prayer & Fasting for U.S. Election

2008-10-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

Check it out:

http://www.fastforhope.com/

This will have a definite effect even here in Canada. We cannot afford Obama to get in.

Please join with our American brothers and sisters in praying and fasting for a McCain/Palin win.

Gound Zero Report - Day 36 [10.29]

2008-10-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

It was a very cold down at ground Zero this morning. When I arrived at 8:30 Maggie from Saint Mary's was praying and had been for some time The councillor was already handing out pamphlets across the street. Within the next hour, 4 or 5 more prayer warriors arrived . Jennifer wasn't on the schedule but decided to drop by for a couple of hours as well. Around 11:20 Jen and I took a short break at 240 Sparks to warm up and recharge our batteries The councillor dropped by to talk with for a short while and told us how it just breaks her heart to see these women so often pressured into having abortions and often it is the woman's mother ( the baby's grandmother) who is doing the pressuring. How can this be I thought.
When we returned to pray the numbers were dwindling. We were unable to leave at noon as planned because by then we were alone. Jennifer stayed with me as long as possible but she had an appointment to keep at 1PM so she had to leave by 12:20 Since I was unable to leave because I was by myself , I decided pray to my guardian angel and ask him to send someone to take my place . Within 10 minutes he sent me this wonderful young man and seeing how cold I was David insisted that I go home and he would stay on until someone came by no matter how long it took. David MacDonald wasn't on the schedule today but just decided to stop by after work. Thank you David ( and to my guardian angel) I was just so happy to see you! I want to thank all those courageous and faithful souls who come out to pray day after day. God bless you all! - Maureen W.

Report from America - Day 37

2008-10-30T09:10:00.001-07:00

Today's Scripture verse from Romans beseeches us to,
"present your bodies a living sacrifice."

This is exactly what faithful volunteers have done
several times during this 40 Days for Life campaign,
when the police have been called -- either by
abortion facility workers or abortion supporters --
to investigate bogus complaints about those who are
peacefully standing up for life.

The mere sight of people quietly standing in prayer
outside an abortion center or Planned Parenthood
office is considered a reason to call the police.

In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the 40 Days for
Life team has seen squad cars pull up at their vigil
more than once. Toni said the officers are always
nice and supportive, "and they are clearly annoyed
with the petty complaints about us being a
disturbance."

Toni said the local group has permit for its
activities, and they're in compliance with every
requirement. "We are just being effective in what we
are doing."

And what they're doing is raising awareness and
telling the entire city of Winston-Salem that there
is indeed an abortion center in their community.

"That appears to be the main topic of discussion when
patients enter the surrounding doctors' offices" in
the medical complex where the abortion center is
located, she said.

"That is what is bothering the doctors. We can only
hope and pray that neighboring doctors and other
businesses will unite to confront the owner of the
building leased by Planned Parenthood -- and maybe
Planned Parenthood themselves. Pray for this!"

Those who are "presenting their bodies a living
sacrifice" are also getting to know the local police
in California's San Fernando Valley. Patti describes
a "police drama" at one of the abortion centers where
a 40 Days for Life is taking place.

"We had five squad cars pull up, with officers going
inside the building, walking back to the driveway and
watching us out on the corner," she said.

"Early on, one asked me if we were staying peaceful,
and if anyone had been physically preventing people
from walking into the building, blocking cars from
getting into the parking lot, or -- get this --
jumping on top of car hoods!"

After about 20 minutes, the officer in charge spoke
to the group and acknowledged that everything they
were doing was perfectly legal. With that, they left.

Why the upsurge in calls to law enforcement?

The obvious answer is that the 40 Days for Life
prayer vigils are working. Powerfully. And the
abortion industry doesn't like it.

"The folks inside are getting frustrated and recently
called the police - twice - to 'report' [erroneously,
of course] that we were throwing things at the women
going in and were blocking the sidewalk," said Major
in Huntsville, Alabama. "This activity is definitely
the result of the continuous 40 Days for Life
presence."

Thanks to all of the police officers who've responded
so professionally to vigil participants in the wake
of these unfounded "disturbance" calls which are
clearly meant to harass and discourage participation
in 40 Days for Life!

And thanks to all of you for continuing your
prayerful witness against the evil of abortion,
presenting your bodies a living sacrifice, at the
very places where this unthinkable horror continues
to occur.

Ground Zero Report - Day 36 [10.28]

2008-10-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Supply Side Abortion Economics

Readers of this blog are familiar with a notice I posted some time ago regarding Morgentaler's Abortion Mill advertising for a "counselor". You can read about it here. In that post, I expressed some doubt whether that ad had anything to do with our vigil. I figured it was merely routine given the date of the announcement.

Now I am not so sure.

I just got this message from Ground Zero.....

Great news! I heard that the Morgentaler Abortuary is now advertising for NURSES!!! It was on "Peters News". A pro life nurse passed this on to one of our vigil participants, as she gets the job postings! She said, "I don't know what you're doing, but you're doing something right!" Isn't that awesome!? Wow! Just wanted to pass that on! God bless!

To be honest, I'm quite shocked. Can a quiet, prayerful vigil really cause such havoc on the abortion industry?

If so, then I think we have just stumbled upon the next pro-life strategy to be implemented across this country.

We need to devote some resources towards the "micro level" option to fighting abortion. For too long, we have been focusing too much of our time, energy, and resources on the politics of the issue which is really a "macro level" strategy. That still has to happen, of course, but the actual results are happening on the ground, in front of the abortion mills. That's where we can squeeze the life right out of abortion industry.

We need to duplicate, replicate, and multiply this strategy again and again in every province in this country where abortion is present.

A big part of defeating abortion is all about "supply side abortion economics": cut the suppliers and the economics takes care of itself.

Pics from Last Night

2008-10-29T14:16:00.001-07:00

Pics from the Suitcase Scare

2008-10-29T14:07:00.001-07:00

Like A Rock

2008-10-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

So last night I ventured out to Ground Zero. The blowing snow was very violent. Around midnight, there were about 5 people there, even though it was fit neither for man nor beast. Pedestrian traffic was decidedly reduced, understandably. So, for the most part, it was mostly a spiritual exercise since there wasn't much witnessing going on. I couldn't help but recognize the symmetry between the storm we were experiencing in the flesh with the storm happening in the Spirit.

There we were...the five of us in the freezing cold with the snow and wind bearing down on us. What fools we must look like out there when no one would see. No publicity, no passerbys, no TV cameras or reporters. Alone in the dead of night being pummelled by the inclement weather. Fools indeed. But better to be fools for Christ than the fools of this age.

I shifted from side to side so I could deflect some of the wind and cold. But there was one older gentleman behind me that wasn't even flinching.

"Man", I thought to myself, "this guy is tough".

As the hour went on, I would look back once in a while and still, the man, had not moved one inch. Not even a twitch. I had a tuque on. He had a hat and his ears were uncovered. And still he stood there motionless like a rock despite the vicious weather hammering down on us.

Like a rock.

As I reflected on that a bit, I thought of Jesus' words:

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

This little scene was emblematic of our greater struggle. Despite everything Hell throws at the Church, it will not be overcome. It will stand and not fall. Just like the man yesterday who didn't so much as blink at the sharp snow piercing his face.

Solid like a rock.

Prayers & Fastings...

2008-10-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

In our parish sanctuary, we have a vigil candle burning, just to the left of the altar, for the 40 Days for Life. It is under the statue of our patroness, St. Elizabeth, shown pregnant with St. John the Baptist. The basket before the candle holds the pledge forms of those who are praying, fasting or witnessing on Bank Street. We lit the candle at the beginning of the campaign and will extinguish it this Sunday evening. - David D.

Report from America - Day 36

2008-10-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I returned from Indiana, where I
visited the 40 Days for Life vigil in Ft. Wayne and
spoke for a Right to Life banquet in Columbia City.

Upon landing at Reagan airport in Washington, D.C., I
drove two hours down to Richmond, Virginia, to visit
the local 40 Days for Life campaign (which was the
43rd city I've visited since 40 Days for Life began
on September 24th.)

I'm home for a moment, and in a few hours our whole
family gets on a plane to head to Florida where we
will be running hard to visit every 40 Days for Life
location in the sunshine state before this fall's
campaign ends on Sunday -- just four days from now.

The excitement we have been seeing all across America
has been simply amazing.

But you don't have to travel all over the country to
get a sense of how God is moving across our land.

If you want to see more about the impact 40 Days for
Life is having -- especially on individuals -- just
search online blogs and comments. It's incredible!

"Yesterday marked my very first time ever to pray in
front of an abortion clinic," wrote a blogger in
Vallejo, California. "I have to admit that it has
been a very moving experience. It's quite different
from praying at home or at church -- since you're in
front of a place where innocent life is slaughtered."

It is a similar reaction that gets people to return
again and again, finding time in busy schedules to
pray for an end to abortion at the place where this
evil is permitted.

"It was a blessing to be there," wrote a blogger in
Washington, DC, after she and some friends went to
pray at the vigil in front of Planned Parenthood.

"God supplied us with a parking spot right in the
middle of the day. That is a feat in itself,
considering DC traffic, possible tickets and limited
parking. The hustle of the city ran about us; people
scurried before us; prayers were calm and constant as
we stood before Planned Parenthood, a place of death
and lies."

"My girlfriend and I took our bundled babies with us
as we stood out there in 23 degree temps for an
hour," wrote a blogger in Anchorage, Alaska. "We
decided today, that even after 40 Days for Life is
over, we will continue to go and pray weekly. Just
our presence is a conscience-tugger for many."

A blogger in Grand Rapids, Michigan wrote of the
discussion she had with a driver who pulled over in
front of the 40 Days for Life vigil to see what was
going on. He asked how long the people would be in
front of that building, and she responded 40 days.
The driver then asked what was in the building, and
she told him it was an abortion facility. "That's
what I thought," he responded. "What you are doing is
great. Keep at it."

"It was a simple exchange," she wrote, "but I was
struck by the fact that he stopped. Sure, people
walking by stop to ask questions, but not many
drivers. I realized then the influence we have had.
Our example, our presence has emboldened others. Many
people have drawn strength from our vigil, knowing if
we have the courage to stand against abortion, they
can have the courage to admit they are against it
too. If anything, our impact has been silent and
subtle, quietly changing hearts with our boldness."

And who knows which hearts may be changed? 40 Days
for Life is also mentioned on abortion advocacy
blogs. Many such blogs screech with anger, but some
are taking a closer look.

"I admit I am genuinely impressed by this group,"
wrote a pro-choice blogger. They have found a way to
voice their opinion without being mean, nasty and
overly graphic."

It was especially the absence of graphic posters that
showed her 40 Days for Life was different. She said
there was "not a chance" she would change her mind
about abortion, but then listed a number of things
that could be done to help women choose to keep their
children.

Not a chance? Who knows? Maybe God is at work here,
too. Keep praying!

News Report on Final Rally

2008-10-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA, October 28, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The 40 Days for Life Ottawa campaign will conclude with a rally at Ground Zero (Morgentaler Abortion Mill, 65 Bank Street) on Sunday November 2, at 6:00 p.m. The rally will be followed by a candle light procession to St. Patrick's Basilica on Kent St. where Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Prendergast, with a reception afterward.

The 40 Days for Life Ottawa campaign has been a resounding success, with prayer for an end to abortion being offered not only by vigil-keepers on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the past 35 days, but also in churches all over the province.

A parishioner from Holy Family Church in Hanover, Ontario, wrote in to the 40 Days Ottawa blog (http://40daysottawa.blogspot.com) to say, "We are doing a daily holy hour in support of the 40 Days for Life in Ottawa as well as other cities. These Holy Hours before the Blessed Sacrament are held at 3-4am as well as 3-4pm. We have had good turnout. These hours were picked as they are the Divine Mercy Hour, 3:00, when Christ died on the cross for us. We pray for an end to abortion and for mercy on our country."

"Even though we are not physically present with you, we are there in mind, spirit and prayer."

While the pro-life vigil has on the whole been a peaceful affair, some 40 Days for Life participants have had to endure abuse at the hands of abortion supporters, including a violent attack carried out against several pro-life women (See: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08101607.html). Yesterday afternoon the 40 Days for Life campaign took another dramatic, and possibility sinister turn when a suitcase was dropped off two doors down from the abortion clinic at about 1 p.m., by an individual who immediately left the scene.

This resulted in the Ottawa police bomb squad cordoning off and evacuating the area, while police checked the contents of the suitcase, which turned out to be empty. Prior to the discovery that the suitcase was empty, some news reports suggested that the suitcase might be a bomb planted by pro-lifers.

The CBC subsequently reported, "Police reopened Bank Street between Wellington and Queen Streets around 3 p.m., an Ottawa police statement said, after determining that the large black suitcase leaning against a post on the east side of Bank was empty and had been left out for disposal."

The major media reports suggested the suitcase was left to be picked up for garbage disposal, but the suspicious manner in which it was discarded has led some to wonder if the action was intended to cause a disturbance that would reflect negatively on the pro-life demonstrators.

Participants in the campaign continue to relate the heart-warming and heart-wrenching stories that occur during their vigil in front of the Morgentaler abortuary.

"David" reported that on Friday: "I went to the 40 days for life with my large ‘I regret lost fatherhood’ sign. It was quite different than when I was carrying the ‘Pray to End Abortion’ sign. I began to get these looks of pain from dozens of men. Men looked at me as if they wanted to say something but then looked down and kept walking."

One young man stopped. He said, “I’ve been living on the streets, I have a bunch of kids, from different girls. I’ve been in trouble with drugs, bank robberies, and my girlfriend and I broke up when she was 4 months pregnant. She went and got an abortion. She killed our kid just because we broke up. I’ve since stopped all drugs and I’m going to a church now. I’m cleaning up my life. I want to be a good father.”

Campaign organizer Nicole Campbell encourages pro-lifers to come not only to the closing rally, but also to the vigil site during these last few days.

Mention has been made of the possibility of continuing the prayer vigil at the abortuary in a scaled-down fashion after the campaign comes to an end. More details of this may be made known at the rally and reception.

Bomb Scare Not Too Rare

2008-10-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

From A Reader...

There was another bomb scare near Bank Street just two days before. Bank, Lisgar, Nepean, Kent and O’Connor were closed to circulation from 10:45PM on Saturday, 25 October, until 1:25AM. This was reported in The Sun and Le droit (27 Oct08, p. 10; see below), but I cannot find a record of this incident reported by The Citizen or the CBC.

The police were probably hyper-sensitive to this kind of incident when the suitcase was discovered on Monday. Odd that the CBC and The Citizen found the Monday “empty suitcase” incident worthy of reporting and not the Saturday incident, which according to The Sun involved actual explosives. Hmmmm.

Colis suspect a Ottawa

La découverte d'un colis suspect a nécessité la fermeture de plusieurs rues dans la nuit de samedi hier à Ottawa. Un piéton a logé un appel au 9-1-1 samedi vers 22 h 15 après avoir trouvé une glacière a proximité d'un site de construction situé à l’angle des rues Bank et Nepean. La glaciaire contenait finalement des échantillons de carotte de béton. Les rues Bank, Lisgar, Nepean, Kent et O'Connor ont été fermées à la circulation pendant près de trois heures soit de 22h45 à 1h25.

Ground Zero Report - Day 35 - Part B [10.28]

2008-10-28T19:06:00.001-07:00

I was at Ground Zero this morning for my shift and for this first hour I was mostly alone. I was standing there, young girl, shivering a little in the wind, looking like a drowning rat, holding the "women need support not abortion sign". One guy walked by me and as he did so commented in a sing-song voice, "harrassment". I couldn't believe it. At that moment I could not think of anything less threatening than myself. I just think it is so hilarious, especially after yesterday, that people are labelling us as terrorists and suicide bombers when I've never seen a more innoculous bunch. It is also amazing how the most opinionated people seem to always be those in the biggest hurry. - Megan M.

Ground Zero Report - Day 35 [10.28]

2008-10-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday evening between 9 and 10 pm I was at Ground Zero. There were probably 5 other people there and we had to witness a demonic attack. A young couple in their early twenties had a video on a tripod and taking turns drop kicking a baby doll. This doll would then fly in the air and they were laughing and yelling absenities. They also took the camera in their hands and zoomed in on us praying. I and others said nothing. It gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. - Anne E.

___________________________

My friend, Bill M., his wife Carmelita and I were with the group Monday, from 1:15 to 2:45 at ground zero, during the bomb scare. The Police didn’t take long in roping off the area along Bank St. from Queen to Sparks, taking in sidewalks on both sides of the street. This meant our group had to back away from the sidewalk, the location where we always position ourselves and move in back of the large cement flower planter and against the building. At this point the bomb squad arrived and ordered everyone to completely clear the whole block, isolating entrances to all the buildings and extending their yellow tapes blocking off all entrances to Sparks where it crosses Bank St. All the while this was happening our small group of 10 continued displaying their signs and praying Our Lady’s rosary. The media with their portable video and tripod mounted cameras, would put one in mind of a movie studio, ready to capture a great scene about to take place. One of the cameramen came over to where my 2 friends and I were standing displaying a picket and saying our rosaries. He must have been meditating on the text “I formed you in your mother’s womb”, because he rolled his camera for quite a while on us. With the viewing by the large number of people who have had to be evacuated from the buildings facing Bank St. and the 200 or more curiosity seekers who gathered, coming and going, and publicity by the Ottawa Citizen Tuesday Oct. 28/08 (one would have to say, our pro-life message was well promoted). Regarding the finishing of our 40 days of prayer, fasting and vigil on a “high note” on Sunday 6:00 p.m. at Ground Zero. What better way than through starting with the Holy Rosary, Eucharistic Celebration, Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and uniting our trials with our Lord on His 14 Stations of the Cross. This takes place monthly at Holy Rosary Church - 20 Grant St. The First Saturday Devotion of November will take place on Saturday November 1, rosary beginning at 8:40 a.m., (which is the day before the wind-up.) Perhaps you could publish this in your next blog. Abortion is caused and carried out, mainly through violation of God’s 6th and 5th commandments respectively. During the 3rd apparition of Fatima July 1917, Our Blessed Mother showed the children a vision of hell where poor sinners go. “In order to save them God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.” The suggestion was made that our prayer vigil should continue, rather than saying goodbye to each other at the end of the 40-day program. Our Blessed Mother told the children “If you do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, there will be peace”. Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was started in St. Teresa’s Church over 35 years ago, -- to St. Mary’s,-- Our Lady of Perpetual Help-- and presently in Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. Since at Holy Rosary, Father John Likozar has dedicated himself to carrying on this Devotion, and has been doing so since September 2005. Wouldn’t it be fitting for anyone or group to gather once a month, to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, through Her First Saturday Devotions, and beg Her intercession to overcome the evils of abortion from conception to natural death. - Bernie

Report from America - Day 35

2008-10-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Today's devotional deals with post-abortion healing.
With that in mind, here's a story from Mike Stack
from the 40 Days for Life in Southfield, Michigan
that shows the importance of our outreach to those
who are hurting following an abortion experience...

***FROM MIKE STACK, 40 DAYS FOR LIFE SOUTHFIELD***

I'm still a bit awestruck and emotional at what I
encountered at the vigil site today.

We had invited several post-abortive women and men to
stand with the "I Regret my Abortion" and "I Regret
Lost Fatherhood" signs from the Silent No More
campaign. Several of them shared their testimony of
hurt and healing. I am still trying to process the
intense emotions I have from this experience.

Here we have women and men deliberately ripping off
their band aids and exposing their pain for the sake
of those entering the abortion facility and those who
work there. I have never seen a greater act of love.

Their self sacrifice is changing hearts and saving
their sisters and brothers from making the same
mistake they made so many years ago. My heart breaks
not only from the sorrow of listening to their pain
but from the joy of seeing the healing that they have
experienced through God's Mercy.

One of the most remarkable stories we heard this
morning was shared by a woman that providence brought
to us today.

She is well acquainted with the abortion facility
where the 40 Days for Life vigil is taking place. She
had an abortion there several months ago.

She told us how she was ambivalent about her abortion
decision and had gone back and forth between the
abortion facility and the crisis pregnancy center
just down the road.

At that time she had been given a diagnosis of HIV
and the abortion facility convinced her that her only
option was to abort to avoid passing the deadly virus
to her baby. Even though her husband objected, she
initially consented to the abortion.

She was well into her second trimester and would need
the two-day procedure for her abortion. She wanted
time to think but the staff insisted she stay for the
abortion and tricked her into doing the entire
procedure in one day.

Meanwhile her husband was doing every thing he could
to talk to her and get her out of the abortion
facility but the staff locked him out and forced her
to turn off her cell phone so he couldn't communicate
with her.

With the abortion completed she left and was later
rechecked for HIV. It was found that there had been
some mistake at the lab and she had been given a
false positive report for HIV.

Today God has given her a healthy pregnancy -- twins!
-- a renewed marriage commitment and some good
lawyers to bring prosecution against the abortionist
and his staff. She freely admits that these are all
good things but nothing will bring back the child she
has lost to abortion.

We pray in thanksgiving for the courage these women
and men have demonstrated in exposing their hurt and
healing and we pray for blessings on all those that
hear their courageous words.

Closing Rally of the 40 Days for Life

2008-10-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

WHERE: Ground Zero (Morgentaler Abortion Mill, 65 Bank Street) & St. Patrick’s Basilica
WHEN: November 2, 2008
TIME: 6:00PM

We are meeting at Ground Zero, and will hear from a few speakers, then will proceed with candle light to St. Patrick’s where we will celebrate Mass with the Archbishop, with reception to follow.

Faytene Kryskowwill be sending along a video message that will be viewed after the Mass.

All are welcome!

If you need more information call Nicole Campbell at Campaign Life Coalition at 613-729-0379.

Suitcase Scare at the Abortion Mill

2008-10-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

CANWEST: OTTAWA - A busy block in downtown Ottawa was evacuated Monday after a suitcase, intended for the garbage heap, raised suspicions when it was dropped off near an abortion clinic - a short distance from Parliament Hill. An Ottawa police bomb squad was called in and the area was cordoned off while bomb technicians assessed the situation. Sgt. Rick Giroux said the suitcase was left in the area at about 1 p.m. by an individual who immediately left the scene. A large suitcase was left outside the abortion clinic early Monday afternoon. The suitcase was deemed harmless and the area was cleared by 2:45 p.m. The section of Bank Street houses an abortion clinic that has been the site of constant silent protests, with many people gathering directly across the street, carrying pro-life placards. As soon as the police tape was removed, about a half dozen protesters continued their silent action. (Source)

CBC: A suitcase that prompted a bomb scare Monday afternoon outside a downtown Ottawa abortion clinic turned out to be empty. Police reopened Bank Street between Wellington and Queen Streets around 3 p.m., an Ottawa police statement said, after determining that the large black suitcase leaning against a post on the east side of Bank was empty and had been left out for disposal. The streets had been closed earlier in the afternoon. Anti-abortion protesters often march and wave placards outside the clinic. (Source)

Editor's Note: Please excuse us for posting from the CBC, but it could not be avoided since they have reported on some new information. According to the red highlighted section above, it appears there was not even any intent to cause a disturbance.

_____________________________________

Discussion over at CBC's website here. We encourage our readers to join the discussion. For those visiting this website from the CBC discussion, a reality check that no mainstream media bothered to report:

OTTAWA, October 16, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Yesterday at about 2 p.m. several women participating in 40 Days for Life Ottawa and keeping vigil at the Bank St. abortuary were violently assaulted. A woman began yelling obscenities at the pro-life volunteers and then became physically aggressive, throwing food at one of the vigil participants and then throwing punches and kicking. Eyewitnesses said that the woman came with her lunch and sat between two ladies who were praying. She then shouted out repeatedly, "You've had your protest, now I'm going to have mine," whereupon she threw her food at one vigil-keeper and then began pushing, screaming obscenities, and swinging her fists. The belligerent woman approached an elderly lady and said, "You're old, why don't you die," according to an eyewitness. Suzanne Poulin, age 51, was one of the women who bore the brunt of the attack. Suzanne told LifeSiteNews.com that the attacker threw her to the ground and began pummeling her face. She suffered bruises to her face and nose, a cut lip and her ear was torn, possibly by a ring the assailant was wearing. Just before this Suzanne was advising the other vigil-keepers to remain silent and not engage the abusive woman. Suzanne emphasized that none of the vigil-keepers touched or hurt the assailant. The police were called while the security guard from the abortion mill and some men from the gathering crowd tried to subdue the attacker, who was described as about 30 years old, and well dressed and groomed. Four police cruisers came to the scene, at which point the attacker to fled into an adjacent building. She was apprehended by police and arrested. The assailant continued to scream insults and obscenities as they took her away, while a paramedic attended to Suzanne and the other women that had been injured in the attack. Suzanne told LifeSiteNews.com that she will press charges against the attacker, but that she also forgave her and will continue to pray for her. "As a mother, I have developed good judgment to know when someone needs correction. This woman needs not only to be corrected, she needs anger management. Her actions will probably have a very negative effect on the rest of her life. With prayer, this incident may help her to see the truth and turn her toward life," Suzanne said. Suzanne returned to the Bank St. abortuary for her vigil today. For updates from the vigil site go to: http://40daysottawa.blogspot.com/

Report from America - Day 34

2008-10-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

"The Oklahoma City clinic has been closed five days
in a row now," Karen told me. "No word on why. Praise
God! It's not like him to close during the week."

That quick message says so much. The "why" really
isn't that important; what's important is that for
numerous days during this 40 Days for Life campaign,
the doors were locked -- and no babies were dying in
one Oklahoma City abortion facility.

In Ottawa, Ontario, the 40 Days for Life team spotted
a want ad for the Morgentaler Clinic, the center run
by Canada's most infamous abortionist.

The ad is for a counselor. The clinic is looking for
someone with a university degree to work 15 hours a
week. The job pays $24 an hour, and it's an immediate
opening.

Does that mean the previous counselor quit? There's
no way of telling at this point. But that could well
be the case.

It's noteworthy when clinics close or lose staff
members, but it's your presence outside the abortion
centers that is, has been, and will continue to be so
critical to changing individual hearts and minds.

And that's why we continue to rejoice in the many
reports we're hearing of saved lives.

The latest tally of confirmed lives saved as a result
of this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign is up to...

...384!!

Here are just a few of those stories:

"Another turnaround!" notes Major in Huntsville,
Alabama. "That makes six here since 40 Days for Life
started. This one was 18 to 20 weeks into her
pregnancy. Please pray for her!"

"A pregnant woman came to speak to me after having
left the abortion clinic," said Joanne at 40 Days for
Life in Providence, Rhode Island. "She changed her
mind because people were praying outside. She has
decided to have the baby."

A couple spoke to a 40 Days for Life volunteer
outside the abortion facility in Louisville,
Kentucky, then went in. A while later, they two came
back out and the man said, "You got to me. We
couldn't do it!" Jenny said there is so much to be
thankful for. "Isn't it so humbling that God has
called us to be a part of this?"

Luke in South Bend, Indiana tells of praying at the
40 Days for Life vigil on a day he was tired, hungry
and really looking forward to taking a break. About
that time, a woman drove up and asked if he worked at
the abortion center. "No, I'm working for the Lord,"
he said, "and praying."

The woman told Luke she was under extreme pressure to
have an abortion, and then asked him, "Can I have
your advice? What do you think I should do?"

Luke prayed for the Holy Spirit to give him the right
words. He then asked the woman, "Who gave you this
child?" Those were indeed the right words; she
responded, "God did."

He asked her how she could reject such a gift. She
thought about that for a moment and said, "You're
right. I could never have an abortion." Luke told her
she could find help at the nearby pregnancy resource
center, and then she drove away.

"I broke down and cried for joy," he said. "Blessed
be God forever!"

Ground Zero Report - Day 33 [10.26]

2008-10-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was just talking to Maureen on my return, with my friend Carmel, from the prayer Vigil at the abortion clinic at Ground Zero this afternoon and related to her this incident that she suggested I send to you.

It was close to 45 minutes after we arrived at the abortion clinic. A young couple arrived and the young lady sat on the cement. So I reminded her that we are not allowed to sit there.

She said she could not stand for long because of pain in her leg. I suggested she use one of the folding chairs. I asked her if this was their first visit to Ground Zero and she said yes, because they are from Montréal. She found out about "The 40 Days for Life" on the internent and arranged for half a day off work to come to Ottawa. They were returning to Montréal after their vigil.

In my excitement I mentioned to another lady prayer warrior that these 2 young people had come from Montréal and this lady said she was from Edmonton, visiting in Montréal, and had also come to Ottawa to pray today.

The sacrifices people are ready to make to fight this evil!!!!

Praise God,

Marie

Report from America - Day 33

2008-10-25T21:53:00.001-07:00

With only one week left of the fall 40 Days for Life
campaign, I wanted to share a touching story with you
that appears in the current issue of the National
Catholic Register.

It's about two of the local 40 Days for Life leaders
in Massachusetts. Until reporter Gail Besse called me
about this story, I had no idea what Stephen Marcotte
and Paul Fullen did for a living.

It turns out they do the same thing in their
full-time jobs as they do with their local 40 Days
for Life campaigns -- they save lives!

Here, thanks to the National Catholic Register's kind
permission, are excerpts of their story...

-----------------------------------------------------
HEARTS ON FIRE FOR LIFE
BY GAIL BESSE
-----------------------------------------------------

Ever since the day he responded to an emergency at
the Four Women Clinic in Attleboro, Mass.,
firefighter Stephen Marcotte has looked at lifesaving
in a new way. The crisis was abortion-related.

"I asked the patient's name like I do on all medical
runs, but nobody knew," he recalls. "Here they had
just aborted this 19-year-old girl's baby, and I saw
them scrambling to find out who she was. To them, she
was just a procedure, a paycheck. That really
bothered me."

An eight-year veteran Attleboro firefighter and
emergency medical technician, Marcotte found himself
contemplating Pope John Paul II's call to build a
culture of life.

"It just didn't sit right with me that I was just
sitting by with this in my back yard," he says.
Marcotte, 34, prayed about the situation at
Eucharistic adoration.

The result: He's now helping coordinate a 40 Days for
Life vigil outside that same clinic. The vigil is one
of 174 planned across the United States and Canada in
the lead-up to Election Day, Nov. 4.

The 40 Days for Life campaign seeks God's power to
end abortion. It consists of 40 days of prayer and
fasting, community outreach and peaceful public
witness outside abortion facilities. The effort is
modeled on biblical 40-day periods when God worked
miracles through Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jesus and the
disciples.

In Worcester, Mass., firefighter Paul Fullen will
head up another of the five Bay State vigils. Fullen
and his wife, Crystal, both 37, will coordinate
efforts outside Planned Parenthood there.

"We could have other firefighters involved that I
just don't know of," says David Bereit, founder and
national director of 40 Days for Life. "I get to know
people around this shared mission rather than by
their occupations, but it's certainly a natural fit.
Firefighters have already demonstrated they're
willing to sacrifice and risk their lives. Now
they're willing to sacrifice and risk embarrassment
and persecution.

"There's just as much heroism involved in trying to
save a life in the womb as in fighting fires in
burning buildings," adds Bereit.

Fullen, a 10-year veteran of the fire department,
sees the connection between his occupation and his
pro-life prayer work with new clarity. "Our job," he
says, "is to protect life and property."

"This is stepping out into the trenches," says
Marcotte. "Prayer is so important, but it's combining
prayer with getting out of my comfort zone that drew
me. I just bought into the whole campaign. The Holy
Spirit put it on my heart to trust that the Lord is
in charge -- and I'm excited about how he continues
to bless this campaign."

Bishop George Coleman of the Diocese of Fall River,
Mass., is among more than 20 Catholic bishops
nationwide actively supporting this pro-life
mobilization.

Bereit, says he, too, is energized by the campaign's
momentum. Since it began in Texas in 2004, two
Planned Parenthood centers have stopped doing
abortions and a third clinic has closed. At least 500
babies are known to have been saved.

"This comes at a crucial time now that abortion is in
the forefront of the political debate," Bereit points
out.

Marcotte admits he was wary of going public with his
convictions. "I knew I'd get razzing from some of the
guys, and I was a little nervous," he says. "Then I
thought: Whoa -- if I like being out of my comfort
zone by praying outside the clinic, then I shouldn't
worry about my comfort zone when it affects other
parts of my life. I've got to be consistent."

Fullen concurs. "My wife is expecting our seventh
child," he says with a smile, "so the other guys
think I'm crazy anyway."

"Many firefighters I know are not afraid of standing
up for what they believe in," says Father Michael
McNamara, a Boston archdiocesan priest who has headed
numerous pro-life prayer vigils. "Maybe it's because
when they understand their role in the protection of
life as a vocation from the Lord, they seek God's
guidance in their everyday lives.

"It's so in their character to view a situation with
a clear mind and logical thinking," adds Father
McNamara. "They're used to reflection and then action
as normal responses on the job."

Volunteers in their 30s like Marcotte and the Fullens
are typical nationwide, Bereit notes.

"You know, until I started with 40 Days for Life, I
was just like many people are now," says Fullen. "I
was uninformed. Hopefully, this will get people to
realize how the life issue is right up there in the
forefront for the upcoming elections."

Although 40 Days is ecumenical, Bereit says, it's now
almost 75% Catholic, thanks to early support from
pro-life leaders like Father Frank Pavone and Father
Thomas Euteneuer, along with coverage in the Register
and other Catholic media.

"Evangelicals are being inspired by their Catholic
brothers and sisters," Bereit says. "It's beautiful
to watch people who don't see eye-to-eye
theologically stand arm-in-arm to speak up for life."

Especially when they put their actions where their
words are, extinguishing the fires of the culture of
death -- one vigil at a time.

Read the whole article online at:

http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/16302/

-----------------------------------------------------

I thank Stephen and Paul for their willingness to
answer God's call.

And I thank God for raising up people -- just like
YOU -- all across North America who are also
answering God's call to "speak up for those who
cannot speak for themselves."

Together we are making a powerful impact!

Ground Zero Report - Day 31 [10.24]

2008-10-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

I went to the 40 days for life with my large “I regret lost fatherhood” sign. It was quite different than when I was carrying the “Pray to End Abortion” sign. I began to get these looks of pain from dozens of men. Men looked at me as if they wanted to say something but then looked down and kept walking. One young man stopped. He said,

“I’ve been living on the streets, I have a bunch of kids, from different girls, I’ve been in trouble with drugs, bank robberies, and my girlfriend and I broke up when she was 4 months pregnant. She went and got an abortion. She killed our kid just because we broke up. I’ve since stopped all drugs and I’m going to a church now. I’m cleaning up my life. I want to be a good father.”

Another man came up and said “what you are doing is incredibly courageous.” I said “It doesn’t feel that way.” I wish I had been courageous when I was 24. I wish I’d kept my children. He said “I’ll pray for you guys, it’s amazing what you are doing.” On the other end of the spectrum a man came up behind me without seeing my sign. He said, “Why are you here?” in an angry tone. I turned around and looked him in the eye holding my sign. “I’m here because I was involved with abortion, and it was the worst mistake I ever made in my life.” He started to argue. I said, “I don’t really want to argue here, but I’d be glad to meet with you any time to talk.” He said, “Why aren’t you open minded about abortion?” I said, “I was open minded, and I paid for it. Now I have perspective and I’m here.” He turned around and walked away in a huff. I could understand his pain and his angry cover-up.

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and I still had my sign over my back as I walked around the grocery store. A woman in a wheel chair said, “good for you!” Another woman came up to me and told me she had had an abortion many years ago and just got clean and sober in 2006. She said, “No smoking, no toking, no drinking or poking.” I said “Congratulations, I’ve been sober for many years and it was a great decision. At some point in your recovery you may find yourself experiencing some pain over the abortion.” She stepped back and looked indignant saying, “don’t you assume you know me, I’ll never regret my abortion and it had NOTHING TO DO WITH MY ADDICTION!” Denial is deep. Lord have mercy.

All in all what I found is that each one of us can make a difference, one person at a time. “Oh Lord help me find favour with those who I talk to about abortion. And help us together build a Civilization of Love. Amen.”

David MacDonald
http://www.davidmacd.com/

_______________________

I went to do a couple of hours of sidewalk counselling today. Here's a breakdown of how it went.When I got there around noon, a young couple (@18 yrs) were waiting by the door. I went over and gave them some flyers. She looked them all over and seemed upset. Then they walked towards McDonald's. I was elated, thinking they had changed their minds. Unfortunately they came back. I went over to try and talk to them, telling them that I knew of a place where they'd see her through her pregnancy. She basically said thanks, but no thanks. Then she said she was waiting for her mom. She seemed nervous, it really looked like she was having second thoughts. When her mom showed up, they made a beeline for the door, her mom made to shield her daughter from me. Later, the mother and the boyfriend went out of the building, they were obviously talking about me. The mother gave me a dirty look when she came back in. In the meantime, there was a young woman with a pink/punkish hairstyle who often came out to speak to the security guard. I'm not sure what she does, but she seems to be involved with the abortuary. At one point, she came out and told Lucas that there was a woman who needed to come out for a smoke, but she was too upset to come since I was standing there. Lucas shielded her from my view. She was crying. There was another couple who went in, and she was also teary eyed, obviously had been crying. They didn't take any leaflets. Out of the four women I saw going in for abortions between noon and two o'clock, three of them had clearly been crying, seeming reluctant. So much for choice. - Doris

Report from America - Day 32

2008-10-25T07:45:00.001-07:00

The call to participate in 40 Days for Life is a call
to sacrifice.

Whenever I read the hundreds of daily e-mails in my
overflowing inbox and see the comments on the 40 Days
for Life blog, it always amazes me to see how many
people are hearing that call and taking it to heart.

Praying outside an abortion facility is not a
convenient thing to do. Yet many are embracing this
sacrifice with faith, hope -- and joy.

Bill is finding such joy in the witness of Patrick,
with whom he prays in front of an abortion facility
in Southfield, Michigan.

"He walks with the help of a cane or a walker," said
Bill, "but he is at this site several times a day and
for several hours each time. Patrick participates in
the wee hours of the morning when many others just
can't. Patrick is an inspiration."

Susan in Greenland, New Hampshire finds similar
inspiration from Vicki, a woman of around 80 years of
age who prays at the abortion center every day. "She
has a tremendous amount of physical pain but is on
her knees at the entrance to the driveway, usually
for an hour or two. This woman prays -- through tears
-- for this abortion clinic to close, as this is her
dying wish."

Pat needed someone quickly to fill a vacant hour at
the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil in Jacksonville,
Florida. So she called Marie's cell phone and asked
her if she could get over to the clinic and help.

Marie laughed, because she was attending her
husband's high school reunion in Las Vegas. But she
figured that if Pat was calling her to stand vigil,
she was meant to do so. Pat looked up Las Vegas on
the 40 Days for Life web site and gave Marie the
vigil location.

"No matter where we are, we are united in our
commitment to life," Pat said, "even on vacation."

There is no abortion center in Walker, Minnesota. But
that hasn't stopped the faithful people of this small
town from gathering together and holding a 40 Days
for Life to pray for an end to abortion.

"We are a town of approximately 1,069 people and have
been able to go 24/7 without much trouble," said
local 40 Days for Life coordinator Beth Bohannon.
"People are coming from minutes to hours away. God's
graces have been flowing in abundant amounts allowing
many people to be touched in special ways. We have a
cozy little white tent on the lawn of the courthouse
that provides for a peaceful atmosphere with a touch
of heaven. Many people of all faiths are uniting and
praying together like never before."

Beth said it's an awesome thought that a little town
in Northern Minnesota could be used in such a mighty
way to help transform the culture of death into a
culture of life. "God bless you all for listening to
the Holy Spirit's call to action in saying 'yes' --
by using your hands, feet and mouth to help us to be
part of this exciting movement in ending abortion in
America once and for all."

Report from America - Day 31

2008-10-24T09:41:00.001-07:00

WOW!

I just got off the phone with Shawn Carney on our
national team who is in the midst of 40 Days for Life
visits to New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

He also just returned from visits to Michigan,
Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Shawn gave me an electrifying report on what he is
experiencing at all these sites, and fortunately I
was able to audio record the call so I could share it
with you.

During this 17-minute high-energy update, you will
also hear a deeply touching story of something that
happened to Shawn earlier today related to a special
needs child and the Special Olympics. Powerful.

Before doing anything else, take a quick listen to
Shawn's amazing update at:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=161

Since well before this fall's 40 Days for Life
campaign began, I've been saying this is a critical
time for the United States.

It seems it is also a critical time for the entire
world, judging by the fact that two local campaigns
are under way in Canada, and I am receiving notes of
support from all around the globe.

Here are just a few...

There is much pro-life fervor evident in Latin
America. Monica in Mexico City sent greetings and
thanks to everyone participating in 40 Days for Life,
asking God to "bless this campaign and all people
involved. You have my prayers with all of you!"

"I live in Guatemala," wrote Geraldine, "but I am so
grateful for the 40 Days for Life campaign. I will be
accompanying you in prayer." Geraldine notes that a
number of nations in Latin America are being pressed
to legalize abortion. "Mexico has already begun
falling into it, and Ecuador is faced with the
approval of its pro-abortion constitutional
amendment. But God has raised up soldiers to fight in
Christ's name all over the world."

In Puerto Rico, Brunhilda has been praying and
fasting. "We have also spread the word among
Christians from different churches and they joined us
in our prayers to end abortions," she wrote. "Keep
going and God bless you all!"

There are signs of hope in Europe. Gabriella wrote to
salute her 81-year-old mother, who taught religion in
Hungary for many years. "We started praying and
fasting together for 40 Days for Life," she said,
"and now she is organizing two praying groups in
Budapest."

And there is breaking news coming out of Northern
Ireland. We had received numerous requests for prayer
for this country, where 40 Days for Life vigils were
conducted in the spring. Abortion is not legal in
Northern Ireland, however there was an aggressive
effort to extend the United Kingdom's abortion law to
Northern Ireland to legalize the barbaric practice.

Eric Scheidler, the leader of the current 40 Days for
Life campaign in Aurora, Illinois was there on the
ground in Northern Ireland with Bernadette Smyth, the
leader of the previous 40 Days for Life campaign, who
organized a massive rally in Belfast on Saturday.

Following the rally, Eric e-mailed me this report:

"Victory in Northern Ireland! The U.K. Parliament in
Westminster chose NOT to impose abortion on Northern
Ireland. They could see that such a move would
endanger the fragile political situation there."

Praise the Lord!

In the Pacific region, many of the cultural
indicators Americans are concerned with are also
being noted in New Zealand, where Sue Rowe has been
working to organize a 40 Days for Life effort.

"All these pointers have brought abortion back into
the public's attention," she told the New Zealand
Catholic newspaper. "With all these things tying
together, now is the time."

"Thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity
to be involved in 40 Days for Life," said Fe in the
Philippines. "God is so good! I know and I trust that
with this worldwide effort, abortion will finally end
in America and throughout the world!"

Isn't it amazing what God has done with the tiny
seeds that were planted just four short years ago
with the first 40 Days for Life campaign in Texas?

WOW!

Never Too Late To Stop the Killing

2008-10-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

The 40 Days for Life Campaign has passed the 30 day mark. Our prayers and sacrifices have produced tangible results, by the grace of God - not only in terms of saving the lives of unborn children, but also bearing witness to the public at large who have been surprisingly and overwhelmingly supportive. Even the early morning crew from 12-4AM have stories to share, and their witness is even more powerful when there are few people around to notice.

And so now we turn to the abortion workers at the Abortion Mill, from the abortionist himself who is actually doing the killing to the "abortion counsellor" to the manager, Ms. Joan Wright.

All of us here at 40 Days for Life have a simple invitation to all of you:

LEAVE.

Just get up from your chairs. Drop your instruments. Walk out the door. Come across the street to meet us. Let us pray with you. Let us help you find true freedom that only God can give you. Come, find mercy and forgiveness.

You can be free from all the guilt and the weight of sin on your conscience. Listen to that still, small voice. You know that what you are doing is very wrong. God can forgive you of everything you've done so that your sins might be as white as snow. But you must ask. You must make that first step.

We're here with open arms. It's never too late. Yes, God can be that loving and merciful. Just think...all the abortions you've ever committed or counselled...all the pain and suffering inflicted on your victims...can be forgiven.

Walk away and never look back.

_____________________

No person, no matter how "enmeshed in vice, ensnared by the allurements of pleasure, a captive in exile… fixed in mire… distracted by busyness, afflicted with sorrow… and counted with those who go down into hell—every soul, I say, standing thus under condemnation and without hope, has the power to turn and find it can not only breath the fresh air of the hope of pardon and mercy, but also dare to aspire to the nuptials of the Word." — St. Bernard of Clarivaux

Abortion Fight at the U.N.

2008-10-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

C-FAM PUSHING BACK THE PRO-ABORTS -- SIGN ON TO HELP!

On December 10th, radical pro-abortion groups will present petitions asking the UN General Assembly to make abortion a universally recognized human right.

We have met the challenge and you can help.

We have initiated a petition drive that calls for governments to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as protecting the unborn child from abortion. Along with a coalition of pro-life groups from around the world, we will present our petitions at a press conference at UN headquarters.

So far, in only three weeks we have generated 46,417 names endorsing our petition; that is 15,000 a week! I now fully expect that we will present 100,000 names on December 10th, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In order for this to happen, though, I need your help and I need it now.

If you have not signed the petition, do so now HERE or by going directly to http://www.c-fam.org/ and clicking on the icon "UN Petition for the Unborn Child." Then, after you have signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

If you have already signed the petition, send this email or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS and urge them to sign it.

What we are trying to do is create a real global internet campaign that will shock the pro-abortion radicals at the UN on December 10th!
So, please act now. Go HERE or here and sign the petition. Then send this message or one of your own to ALL OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Ground Zero Report - Day 30 [10.23]

2008-10-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

I must say, this morning at the mill was tough. There was an African couple and the woman looked to be around 5 months pregnant! Her belly protruded so much and I was shocked when she went in. They took the information, but they didn't talk to me. Every abortion is horrific, but there is something about knowing the tremendous pain that this little child will go through because of his/her size...and the horror this mom will face for years after delivering a dead baby. I can't imagine how she is going to feel as she walks out of the mill, womb empty, her stomach visibly smaller and knowing her little one will never see the light of day. She will never forget her child, and I can't imagine how that must feel. All of these mothers are forever separated from their children...Let us pray hard for these parents. "Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do." - Nicole

_______________________

At Holy Family church in Hanover, Ontario we are doing a daily holy hour in support of the 40 Days for Life in Ottawa as well as other cities. These Holy Hours before the Blessed Sacrament are held at 3-4am as well as 3-4 pm. We have had good turnout. These hours were picked as they are the Divine Mercy Hour, 3:00 when Christ died on the cross for us. We pray for an end to abortion and for mercy on our country. Would you be able to give us an update of any babies saved at the Morgentaler abortuary? We would publish them in the Sunday bulletin encouraging more people to come and pray for this cause. Even though we are not physically present with you, we are there in mind , spirit and prayer. - Helen W.

Report from America - Day 30

2008-10-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

When I sent you the prayer request yesterday about
the woman who is trying to get out of her job as a
medical worker at Planned Parenthood...

...I had NO IDEA how incredible -- and generous --
your response would be!

E-mail messages poured in from people all across the
country who are praying for this lady and nearly 100
people asked where they could send money to help her
get out of the abortion industry.

Your compassion and willingness to help this woman is
deeply touching!

I am in communication with the local 40 Days for Life
leaders to see if funds are still needed, and if so,
where to send them. I'll let you know as soon as I
hear anything.

With the overwhelming response we have received over
the last 24 hours, maybe a fund should be set up to
help many more people escape their jobs at Planned
Parenthood! :-)

You know, whenever I mention Planned Parenthood in
one of these messages, my mailbox immediately
overflows with more stories about the abortion chain.

A 40 Days for Life volunteer in Memphis, Tennessee
reports that four people were standing in prayerful
vigil outside the building in which a Planned
Parenthood abortion center is located.

A man walked up to the group and introduced himself
as a Planned Parenthood employee. "He became upset
and said they were harassing his 'customers' and
blocking access. They assuredly were not," said the
volunteer. "The man said if he received one more
complaint, he would call the police."

The group remained in prayer, and no one called the
police. "Note how the Planned Parenthood worker
referred to these mothers as customers," said the
volunteer. "He was upset because he was losing
business. Evidently, our prayerful presence is
affecting Planned Parenthood's 'customers,' and in
turn, Planned Parenthood's bottom line. God is
melting mothers' hearts. We are saving lives. Planned
Parenthood is losing business."

Don't ever think for a moment, however, that Planned
Parenthood is ready to throw in the towel. It is a
huge, resourceful organization that always finds
something else to try if one tactic fails to generate
a response. It's important to remain faithful, in
spite of whatever Planned Parenthood does in an
attempt to discourage you.

Mary in Sacramento focused on faithfully responding
to the call to pray, even though she felt a bit
overwhelmed when she first arrived outside a Planned
Parenthood facility as part of 40 Days for Life.

She quickly noticed that only two people were
standing vigil against this outpost of America's
abortion giant -- herself and her 2-year-old
daughter. "I thought I must look a little weird just
walking back and forth with no other prayer
warriors," she said. "But I did it."

Not long afterward, an 18-year-old girl arrived with
her boyfriend. "They talked to me for a long time and
were very open to listening," she said. "They still
kept their appointment. But I know she wants to have
this baby."

Mary felt like she needed some help, so she went to
the building next door, looking for a man there who
had been kind to her earlier. "I found him leaving
his shift with five other men, so I asked them all to
pray with me for the young girl. Immediately, they
all bowed their heads and prayed."

Mary told one of the men that abortion days at this
Planned Parenthood center were Tuesdays and
Thursdays. He sighed and said, "I wish I hadn't known
that. But those days will be different for me now."

"It was a great experience," Mary said. "These men
stopped to pray for one of God's special girls, and I
know Christ was with all of them. I thought my time
of quiet prayer would be uneventful -- but I was
wrong."

Victory Over Abortion

2008-10-22T21:30:00.001-07:00

Dropping Like Flies?

2008-10-22T18:56:00.001-07:00

COUNSELLOR INTERESTED IN WOMEN’S HEALTH
Ad ID: 79854617 Visits: 203
Street address: 65 bank st, ottawa, on, k1p5n2 View map
Location: Ottawa Date Listed: 10-Oct-08

The Morgentaler Clinic
65 Bank Street, 3rd Floor
Ottawa, On
K2P 5N
(613) 567-9128 Fax

ATTENTION:
COUNSELLOR INTERESTED IN WOMEN’S HEALTH
$24/per hour
Required Immediately

We require a Part Time Counselor. If you are interested in working in the area of women’s reproductive health, are pro-choice and would like to join our team, this is a part-time position working 5 hours per day Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays to begin immediately. The preferred candidate has excellent patient assessment skills, experience in crisis intervention, and incorporates a woman centered approach to care. Please fax your resume to 613-567-9128 or by e-mail to mailto: jwright@yenott.com

Responsibilities:

· Assessment of patients prior to abortion
· Providing information, support, and advocacy for patients
· Discussing any issues that arise in a sensitive and compassionate manner
· Assisting patients with referrals to other relevant social services or health care providers.
· Providing contraceptive counseling

Qualifications:

· 3-5 years of counseling experience or equivalent.
· Demonstrated communication and problem solving skills
· Self motivated and ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
· Family planning experience
· University degree in related field required

SOURCE
___________________________

I don't know if this ad is a result of our vigil campaign or not. It's unlikely, but possible. We don't know. The posting date is October 10. That would have been Day 17 of our campaign.

As for the ad itself, what's required is having good problem solving skills and being self motivated. Yeah, I guess to recommend the crushing of an unborn child, you'd have to be pretty motivated. If that's not the understatement of the year, I don't know what is.

As for shedding innocent blood, I guess now we know what $24/hour was worth 2000 years ago...about 30 pieces of silver.

Helping Pregnant Women

2008-10-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Crisis Pregnancy?

Check out the Miriam Centre.

The Trash Babies

2008-10-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had an opportunity to head down to Ground Zero for a late evening shift. During the evening time slots, I like to go over to the other side of the street - just outside of Hell's entrance - to pray. After saying one decade of the Rosary, I made my way towards the entrance to the abortuary and started to pray. During this particular night, there was a pile of garbage bags just outside of the Abortion Mill. I guess it was garbage night for the Mill. As I was praying, my mind wandered a bit and my gaze eventually fell on those garbage bags. Normally, garbage would not be that remarkable, but in the context of the grizzly act of abortion and our vigil campaign, it could not help but take on an added level of significance for me.

Where, I wondered, do the "doctors" at the Mill deposit unborn children for "disposal"? Are they burned in some incinerator somewhere? Or are they simply added to the regular "medical waste" pile? Who picks them up? Is there a company that specializes in disposing of aborted babies? Do the Mill workers deposit the little bodies in some kind of "industrial, medical garbage bag", and let the collectors in from the back door? Have back alley abortions been replaced with back alley disposals?

Or, is it more lucrative than that? We know there are big dollars in the abortion business. According to research by the paper Le Droit in 2002, Morgentaler has grossed an estimated $11 million a year from his private, for-profit abortion facilities across the country. I wonder how much the one on Bank Street scrapes in? And that's only on the front end. What about on the back end? Are there buyers for unborn children's organs or baby parts? It's not implausible considering the current state of embroyonic stem cell research. I'm sure that if it's not happening now, it could very well happen in the future. It's an emerging market, you know.

As I sat there gazing at those garbage bags, and waves of grief and disgust blew over me, I wondered about the expression on their little faces as they were murdered. The horror...the pain...the sadness. What is it like, I wonder, to be unwanted and unloved to such a degree that someone wants to kill you while someone else profits from it? Our elderly people will soon be finding out when euthanasia is legalized, no doubt. And even when the abortionists do it, they don't afford you even the slightest human dignity, as your sacred little body is carted off like some piece of garbage, thrown to the curb, to await your final trip to the dump or to the incinerator or to some labratory or to God knows where.

But you are not garbage, even if they treat you like you are. As long as we witness to your dignity and worth, little one, they will never be able to completely erase your humanity or your personhood. They'll forget you, but we never will.

These 40 Days is a small reminder to that.

- JohnP.

Report froom America - Day 29

2008-10-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday a medical worker at a Planned Parenthood
abortion center where a 40 Days for Life campaign is
happening approached the prayer volunteers outside.

She said that Planned Parenthood had told its workers
that they would be immediately fired if they ever
talked to those on the sidewalk, but she felt drawn
to them -- and she shared that she desperately wants
out of her job.

She explained that after she started working at
Planned Parenthood earlier this year, the abortion
business assigned her the gruesome task of counting
the baby body parts following each abortion to make
sure everything was removed from the mother.

What she has seen inside the walls of Planned
Parenthood is horrific.

She then shared that several weeks ago a young woman
sat before her registering for an abortion and said,
"I'm so conflicted, should I do this or not?"

She leaned forward and quietly told her, "Don't do
this." The girl left, her baby alive within her.

A co-worker overheard and reported her to the
abortion center's supervisor who wrote her up and put
a stern warning in her employment file.

She asked the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers if
she could meet Monday with someone who might be able
to help her -- and the time she had available was the
exact time that Jim Pinto, pastoral associate for
Priests for Life, was there in town for his visit to
the 40 Days for Life location.

Jim stopped everything else to pray for her, with
her, and over her. He also connected her with an
organization called The Centurions that helps to
bring abortion providers out of the abortion industry
where they can find forgiveness and healing in Christ
and restore their sense of self-worth.

The 40 Days for Life volunteers are now taking up a
collection to provide for her short-term needs so she
can leave her job immediately and they are helping
her find another job quickly since she is the sole
provider for her four daughters and needs income.

There is a real possibility that these
faithful 40 Days for Life volunteers may be able to
help her walk away from the abortion industry TODAY!

Praise God for what He is doing in this woman's life,
and please keep her -- and this situation -- in your
prayers throughout the day.

Open Season on Infants Just Born

2008-10-21T14:13:00.001-07:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ground Zero Report - Day 28 - [10.21]

2008-10-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

I was at 40 days for life today. Had an interesting experience. A man came up who had been selling Girl Guide cookies. He said, “I really admire and appreciate what you people are doing. My wife died giving birth [to our child].” Then he gave us “Girl Guide” cookies. I couldn’t help but think it was a sign from God because we are a “guide” for “girls” to make the right choice about their baby. The box of cookies had pictures of young girls smiling. - David M.

Report from America - Day 28

2008-10-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

The focus of many of these daily messages has been
prayer and fasting, as well as the constant vigils
which are being held outside the doors of abortion
facilities -- things that are central to the 40 Days
for Life effort.

But there's a third component of a 40 Days for Life
campaign as well -- grassroots community outreach,
especially through door-to-door advocacy.

This requires stepping outside one's comfort zone,
but it's an effort that has contributed significantly
to bringing pro-life concerns to the forefront in a
number of communities.

In College Station, Texas -- where 40 Days for Life
began in 2004 -- the door-to-door campaign has
reached thousands of households and always generated
positive impact. That effect is being noted yet again
in this fall's local campaign.

"Pro-life advocates who were already aware of the 40
Days for Life campaign were even more excited to see
us at their doors," said one volunteer. One man in
particular laughed as he noted a Halloween display
right next to a 40 Days for Life yard sign, which
suggests that this life-saving campaign is making
inroads with people who might not normally be at the
forefront of pro-life work.

Allison said the door-to-door campaign has helped
raise awareness for those who simply have not taken
notice of the issue in their towns and at the
national level. "Several people have asked for more
information simply because they feel they have not
heard enough about it," she said, "and admitted they
had not acknowledged it as a serious issue until we
approached them about it at their front doors."

There are, of course, a few who disagree. Erin found
this out when she knocked on a door and was greeted
by a man who told her that "babies are polluting the
planet and Planned Parenthood offers good
preventative services." Erin gave him some
information about Planned Parenthood that made him
think, and seeds were planted.

Another volunteer knocked on a woman's door and told
her the story of 40 days of prayer, fasting and
peaceful vigil. The woman ran inside and came back
with a 40-day prayer packet, something that has been
provided by a faith-based group for another 40-day
prayer effort (40 days of prayer is a biblical
concept; it's wonderful that others also embrace it).
She enthusiastically agreed to offer her prayers for
the campaign and learn more about 40 Days for Life
through the web site.

The door-to-door effort can also help strengthen
existing relationships within the pro-life community.
Robert saw a board member of a local pregnancy center
who was working in her garden as he passed through
her neighborhood. She expressed excitement about the
relationship that both the pregnancy center and the
local Coalition for Life share and without hesitation
asked about the 40 Days for Life yard signs she keeps
seeing all around town.

Yes, prayer at the abortion center or Planned
Parenthood location is crucial; this is where the
evil is centered, and this is where the prayerful
vigil must be focused.

But there are many people in your town who never
drive by those places who still need to know how
abortion is harming the community. And door-to-door
outreach helps to bring that message home --
literally.

Ground Zero Report - Day 27 [10.20]

2008-10-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

I have been down to ground zero 5 times now, every time I come up to Ottawa I make sure to head there! It is the most amazing experience and privilege to pray outside the abortion facility! 3 of the 5 times I've been there were in the hours when young guys like me should be there, when the bars let out! It is incredible the types of people that come by and either hate us or are super interested in what we are doing! There is so much hurt in these people and so many lies that they believe about themselves and about abortion. I feel such a great sense of accomplishment every time I am down there and I know God is hearing our prayers! - Stephen K.

___________________________

Our prayers are working at Ground Zero. Today a man approached us about how to adopt a child. His wife and him have been trying for awhile to adopt an unwanted child. One of our group gave him the name of the First Place Pregnancy Centre. May God guide his efforts to become a loving father. Also a homeless man approached us with a rosary in his hand. He wanted help to pray the rosary. Three women started praying with him and one gave him a pamphlet on how to pray the rosary. He stayed and prayed with us. We are reaching hearts as God's witnesses for life. I am grateful to be a part of 40 Days For Life! - Cynthia

Hundreds of Thousands of Students from 22 Countries to Take Part in Silent Pro-Life Protest Tomorrow

2008-10-20T20:47:00.001-07:00

Stand True hosts 5th annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity Tuesday, October 21st

TROY, Ohio, October 20, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Stand True, Christ-Centered Pro-life, will hold its fifth annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity on Tuesday, Oct. 21. As of this morning hundreds of thousands of students from over 4,000 campuses worldwide have registered to take part in this groundbreaking event. Stand True expects more than 200,000 students to stand in solidarity with each other to bring attention to the holocaust that is killing almost 4,000 babies every day in the United States alone.

"The students are speaking loud and clear, they want an end to legalized child killing" said Bryan Kemper, president of Stand True Ministries. "We are getting thousands of e-mails, comments and internet messages from students thanking us for giving them a peaceful way to stand up and be counted."

One student who wrote in to Stand True ministries related how the silent protest had saved the life of an unborn child. "I got one girl to not get an abortion because I took a ZERO in class for this and she started crying,” wrote the student. “She pulled me into the bathroom and told me she was pregnant and was going to have an abortion and she said because of how much this meant to me she didn't! We both sat in the bathroom and cried for a few min. and she put the baby up for adoption!"

Other students shared similarly powerful stories about their experiences. "All of my friends want to do this,” wrote another student. “I was going to be killed by my birth mother but she kept me and I am now adopted and have loving parents!"

"Thousands of American babies are permanently silenced every day by the violent act of abortion," said Bryan Kemper, President of Stand True Ministries. "This day is in honor of those children, and we will stay silent as an act of solidarity with these innocent victims."

Students will not only remain silent but will also wear red armbands and/or red duct tape on their mouths, and distribute educational flyers to anyone who asks why they are silent. Many home-schooled students will also participate in the event by visiting local malls and other public areas to distribute flyers.

Participating students are instructed to be respectful to teachers and other officials and to speak with them when required.

Over the past few years many schools have tried to stop students from participating and quash their First Amendment rights. Every year, attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund defend these students and file lawsuits to protect their rights.

"Thousands of American babies are permanently silenced every day by the violent act of abortion," said Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life. "This is a day for pro-life students to honor those children as they stay silent as an act of solidarity with these innocent victims."

There is no cost to participate in the event. Flyers are available for download in PDF format at http://www.silentday.org or http://www.standtrue.com.

Legal help for students involved is available from the Alliance Defense Fund ( http://www.telladf.org or 1-800-TELL-ADF).

The Battle for the Sacrifice

2008-10-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

...I suspect that the 40 Days for Life team in Spokane, Washington is having a similar impact. Why else would Planned Parenthood send eight of its own employees outside with signs promoting "choice"?

"Two or three more joined them within the next half hour," said Inga. "They lined up on the curb on either side of our prayer volunteers, with an 'in-your-face' attitude, mocking us with their looks and laughter. This was the first time in either campaign that we have encountered this kind of persecution."

Inga said only two people were signed up to pray at the vigil when this happened, but God had other plans. The people who were scheduled to leave the vigil stayed and kept praying -- and other people kept arriving to join them until more than two dozen faithful believers were gathered in prayer outside of Planned Parenthood.

When 5 o'clock came, the Planned Parenthood employees gave up and went home. But the 40 Days for Life team continued to pray. (Source)

The above report came from one of the Reports from the American front on Day 23.

If you ever want to know where this culture stands on any issue, you have to know what their underlying philosophy is all about. The culture of death is built on one simple principle which binds and fuels its whole movement: the anti-sacrifice principle. A couple of years ago, I wrote an article called "Brother's Keeper" for Challenge Magazine. Here is an excerpt from it:

These people hold to the same typical leftist causes, but few of us know the real reason for their unanimity on social issues. What is the connection, for instance, between the Left’s opposition to the war in Iraq and their support for abortion? In some respects, these positions are contradictory, but the Left has no problem with internal contradictions as long as they serve their self-interest and self-preservation. The reason why the social Left in this country is able to hold these seemingly contradictory positions is because of their collective abhorrence to sacrifice. A soldier laying down his life for his country or a woman accepting an unwanted pregnancy is anathema to these people. These two scenarios both involve individuals who sacrifice for a supreme good, yet they are rejected precisely because they put “the other” ahead of themselves.

And so when I read the above report from the 40 Day Campaign, my eyes naturally fixed on the last sentence. When 5pm rolled around, the Planned Parenthood employees left and went home while the 40 Days' vigilers stayed on. That scene is so emblematic of the whole situation surrounding the two sides of the abortion issue. Why didn't these employees stick around past 5pm? Don't they really believe in their cause? Are they not willing to sacrifice for it? Even an hour on their own time? No. Not really. Because, there's nothing in it for them. They're OK with showing up on the Planned Parenthood's dime, but expect them to sacrifice a bit of themselves and their own leisure time? No way.

That's what happened at the midpoint rally on Sunday as well. A couple of guys popped up across the street with hastily made cardboard signs with some pro-abort rhetoric written on it. They must have stood there a whole 10 minutes and then left. Sometimes I really wonder whether they even really believe in what they are doing.

Earlier in the Vigil campaign, the following video was shot by some of our opponents during the October 13 evening vigil at Ground Zero. You'll notice at the 1:28-1:34 mark, the young man makes this statement after reading a sign which said "Abortion Hurts Women",

"...but sure does make life more simple".

Or, in other words, less sacrifice, more pleasure.

This should give us great encouragement since it shows that the desire for abortion is indeed vast but very weak. And there are simply not enough people who support it who are willing to sacrifice anything meaningful. That's why we are going to win in the end. We want to sacrifice for our cause, but they do not want to sacrifice for theirs.

Midpoint Rally: A Huge Success

2008-10-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

40 Days for Life Vigilers in Ottawa attended a midpoint rally today at Ground Zero between 2-3pm. Enjoying a brisk and bright October Sunday afternoon and properly supplied with Tim Horton's coffee and timbits, over 150 attendees heard from various leaders and participants of what God is doing to break down the wall of death surrounding the abortion mill at 65 Bank Street.

This was an important day because most of the vigilers don't personally know each other. By the time it's all said and done, there will probably be over 1000 participants in the campaign. Even when we see one another, rarely do we introduce ourselves when we arrive. We just get down to the business and the battle. There's no time for chit, chat. We're not there to talk. We're there to make spiritual war. So, it was good for us to congregate and get to know one another, to listen to the amazing stories that have occurred thusfar, and to draw encouragement and confidence as we enter the final two weeks of the campaign which will end on Sunday November 2 at midnight.

We will have a closing event and end the Campaign at the Abortion Mill at midnight two Sundays from today. Details will be forthcoming in the final week of the campaign.

Christians are a people of hope. If you were at the rally today, you could probably sense it. The Holy Spirit is moving boldly among the body of Christ, and when the Spirit moves, thing start to shake. And when things shake, cracks begin to appear, and where there are cracks, walls start to come down. That's what this 40 days is about: bringing down the walls of Abortion Jericho.

As I strolled around the crowd today and took some pictures and video footage, I would occasionally glance over across the street to see the pedestrians. Many stopped to listen to the speeches. There was one man who was yelling some kind of pro-abort rhetoric in the middle of one of the speeches. Near the end of the rally, I saw him talking to Nicole Campbell, our remarkable and fearless pro-life heroin. She said he told her that his mother had aborted her first child. Some of us on this side of the aisle sometimes don't realize that if people have been personally touched by abortion, sometimes the evil has a way of keeping them from opposing it. In this man's case, he had preferred to justify abortion rather than to confront his mother's tragic choice, and grieve his lost brother. This is why we must take on the cloak of humility and understanding when dealing with our opponents. More times than not, there's always heavy baggage that they are dealing with. Please pray for that young man, that God's love and grace will heal and sustain him, and give him the courage and fortitude to bring healing to his mother and his whole family.

Here is the some video footage of the rally:

Here are some pictures:

Nicole Campbell, the 40 Days for Life Ottawa Director, giving a passionate and compelling speech:

Susan Laroche sharing her story about Bishop Reynald Rouleau from the Diocese of Churchill Hudson Bay who was moved to tears by the Vigilers presence at Ground Zero:

Father Galen Bank, our Spiritual Shepherd, offered a few encouraging words to the faithful assembled. He shares a light hearted moment with the crowd in this shot.

Here are a couple of pictures of the banners that were held during the rally...

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy being prayed as the rally ended at 3 PM. The Chaplet was amplified with speakers. Come Monday morning, the spiritual battle will be a hornet's nest.

A picture of some of the pedestrians taking an interest in what we were saying....

The new faces of feminism, three of the Pacheco girls, will give Canada a new direction and a new appreciation for Life! Below that, a young devotee to the Rosary!

The vigilers mingle, sharing their stories and getting to know one another....

Tim Horton's Coffee and Timbits sent from on high to refresh and reinvigorate the troops!

We'll be back. Count on it.

Just a friendly reminder....I count too!

Life Site Report of the Rally

Report from America - Day 26

2008-10-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

How about some GREAT NEWS to start off your new week?

The total number of confirmed reports of lives saved
since the beginning of this fall's 40 Days for Life
campaign is now up to...

...306!!

And here are just a few of the amazing stories
pouring in from across North America.

An abortion worker wrote a long letter to the local
40 Days for Life coordinator in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The
writer began by admitting there should be more
adoptions, and then she made an unusual request:
"Would you please stop calling here and pretending
you are pregnant? We have had a lot of girls
canceling their appointments."

"Personally, I don't know anybody calling and
pretending they are pregnant," said Cynthia in Tulsa.
"So those can celled appointments are the real deal."

It isn't just Tulsa.

"The most noticeable thing for us has been a 50
percent decrease in abortion patient visits from the
first week," reports Audra in Boulder, Colorado. "We
saw five or six women go in two weeks ago. But last
week, we only saw three. The abortionist and staff
all left rather early last week, too. He usually
stays until 5, but he left around 2 pm. The staff was
mostly gone by 4:30. Business must be slow, huh?"

In Fargo, North Dakota, Colleen points out, "The
normal amount of abortions each week is 20-30. Since
the 40 Days for Life campaign started we have seen no
more than 10-15 girls go inside the building on
abortion days."

"We have seen a 30 percent decline in patronage of
the abortion facility," said George in Charleston,
South Carolina. "Saturday is generally the busiest
day." But on a recent Saturday, the clinic was closed
-- the first time this has happened.

Tim in Bakersfield, California is noting the same
trend. "In fact, the number of abortions at this
point in this campaign -- based on our best estimates
-- is exactly half of the number of abortions at this
point in the spring 40 Days for Life campaign."

This is amazing news! But what's happening? If these
women aren't going to the abortion facilities, where
are they going?

Well, there's good news here, too. They're often
turning instead to pro-life pregnancy centers and
keeping their babies.

In Jacksonville, Florida, the 40 Days for Life vigil
is at an abortion facility just down the street from
a pregnancy resource center. Pam said a girl had come
to this center after seeing the volunteers praying
outside the abortion clinic.

"She decided not to go to the abortion clinic first,
but went to the pro-life center and asked for an
ultrasound. We continue to pray that she will keep
the baby after seeing the little body on the screen."

At another such center in Falls Church, Virginia,
"The phone has been ringing off the hooks," said
Ruby, the local 40 Days for Life coordinator. "About
18 women have come by for pregnancy tests this week.
Normally they have one person coming in a day."

Of the abortion-minded women who came in, 60 percent
have decided to keep their babies. "Praise be to
God!" said Ruby.

This follow-up work is crucial to make sure that
these women have the support they need to take care
of their children -- and themselves.

Report from America - Day 26

2008-10-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

It is not unusual for people standing vigil outside
an abortion facility during 40 Days for Life to be
the target of "drive-by anger." You may think the
people who offer you an unkind word or gesture simply
don't care for you or what you're doing.

But often, there's much more to it.

"We have had the expected negative response from
passersby," said Kelly in Severna Park, Maryland,
"but I just like to call this response 'ripping off
the band aid.' People are angry because they are
trying not to think about the pain they are in. By us
being there, we are ripping their band aids off and
so they project their anger at us."

Who's doing this? People who had unresolved abortion
experiences -- sometimes decades ago -- that may have
left them with feelings of guilt and anger. So they
lash out.

"I know that this may in fact be their first steps to
healing and so I don't mind," Kelly said. "I've
noticed that when I hold my sign with the personal
statement, 'I regret my abortion,' people get really
upset. So upset they feel the need to call me mean
names and yell to me that they don't regret their
abortions, but their anger tells me otherwise."

Through 40 Days for Life, however, many of these
people are taking that first step towards healing.

"A woman heard an interview I had done at a local
radio station about our 40 Days for Life campaign,"
said Alejandra in Orange County, California. "A
couple of hours later she called me, saying that she
wanted to be part of this campaign and that this was
what she needed."

The woman told Alejandra that 17 years ago, she had
two abortions. Ever since then, every time she sees a
17-year-old she wonders about her children. "It is a
scar she has in her heart and that she hasn't healed.
She is now ready to go to an abortion recovery group
and has begun to find healing."

With 50 million abortions over the past 35 years,
there is an unfathomable number of people who need
healing -- including people who didn't have abortions
themselves, but somehow participated in one.

Marti in Little Rock, Arkansas said one of the local
40 Days for Life volunteers confided in her that
shortly after Roe v. Wade, she took a friend for an
abortion. "She has struggled with guilt for all of
these years," Marti said. "She feels 40 Days for Life
has given her a way to begin to make amends for
assisting in an abortion."

This woman became excited about 40 Days for Life --
and much more. "She told me she went to church this
weekend for the first time in nine years," said
Marti. "She will be at the vigil for the first time
tomorrow. 40 Days for Life has given her renewed
passion for life, both hers and all of the yet-to-be
born babies."

Thank you for all you're doing to bring the healing
hand of Christ to those who've held so much guilt
inside for so many years.

For more information about post-abortion healing,
please see the online resources of Abortion Recovery
International at:

http://www.abortionrecovery.org

Ground Zero Report - Day 25 [10.18]

2008-10-18T21:45:00.000-07:00

The Tsunami At Ground Zero

I ventured down to Ground Zero today to pray the Rosary. There was supposed to be 1 person there according to the official registration. There must have been closer to 10 people praying when I arrived shortly after 9AM. That's the amazing thing about this Campaign. People just show up and there is very little risk of at least one person not being there, at least during the daylight hours. Most of the vigilers were across the street from the abortuary (as is our custom), but there was one man on the side of the Mill. He was kneeling in prayer, about 8 feet from Hell's entrance itself. He must have stayed kneeling for about an hour on the interlocked sidewalk. When he finally rose to his feet, he sat down on the bench for awhile, probably because his knees were so sore to walk. For most of the time he was kneeling, he kept his head down low, fingering his rosary beads. He had a roped sign around his neck which read, "Women need Support not Abortion." Sometimes he would raise his head ever so slightly but rarely did he make eye contact with people as they passed by. Anyhow, I thought it was quite interesting how people reacted, as they walked pass. Some people didn't notice him. Others quickly glanced and kept right on walking. Still others would walk by with their friends and colleagues. There were furtive glances, and some discomfort I think. One of them was likely pro-life; the other pro-abortion. There were people who would slow down to see what he was doing, but then quickly picked up the pace and moved on. Still, others would almost stop, perhaps wanting to engage the man but none of them ever did. There were a few of them like that. You have to wonder what was going through their minds.

We should ask ourselves what kind of spiritual tsunami have we unleashed in side of them? In the case of the pedestrians, no doubt many of them were rather shocked that a man would be kneeling outside of a building in broad day light while behind him stood another 10 in silent prayer. How fitting is this passage from St. Luke:

"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." (Luke 2:34-35)

This child...will be spoken against. What an appropriate passage for our times! That even a little baby, life itself, would be spoken against! And that the very existence of an innocent baby in the womb and, particularly, those that publicly bear witness to her would cause the thoughts of many hearts to be revealed.

As I pondered these reactions, I also thought back to the violent attack on Suzanne Poulin by the well-groomed 30-something year-old woman. Do not suppose that this incident is finished. It is not. There is the woman herself, of course. We pray for her healing and deliverance. Maybe she had an abortion. That would explain her violent reaction. It's a reaction from her pain and guilt. But then there is her immediate family. They will have to face the consequences of her violent assault and work through why she did it, and hopefully get to the bottom of her issue with abortion. But then there is Joe Public who watched the assault. There were many people who witnessed the violence. A few male bystanders had to restrain the woman until the police arrived or she would have continued on her rampage. What do you think was going through their minds and those other people who witnessed it? Maybe some of them were mildly pro-life; others ambivalent towards abortion; others still pro-abortion. What power and effect did our vigilers and their reactions have on them? Pretty significant, I should think. What about the woman's co-workers? Imagine the kind of chattering going on around the water cooler in the afternoon when they found out that their co-worker wouldn't be coming back to work after lunch, or even in the succeeding days or even weeks. And the cops? The Abortion Mill security guard? The McDonald's employees? The Abortion Mill Manager? The Abortionist? And on and on it goes. While the violent act is finished, the effects of the spiritual tsunami are still rippling around Ground Zero and well beyond. - John P.

Report from America - Day 25

2008-10-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

The term "abortion clinic" gets thrown around so
freely that we sometimes lose track of the fact that
not every abortion takes place in what the multi-
billion-dollar abortion industry refers to as a
"reproductive health center."

Some abortions take place in hospitals and others in
private doctors' offices. This makes it harder to
reach the women who may be seeking abortions there,
but a prayerful pro-life presence at these locations
is just as crucial.

Matt in Alexandria, Virginia is taking part in one of
the 40 Days for Life vigils that is not being
conducted outside a stand-alone abortion facility.
The location is in an office park near a gynecology
clinic and an infertility clinic, both of which
perform abortions.

"A young married couple came up to us and asked us
what we were doing," Matt said. "We explained that we
were praying to end abortion and that the clinics
behind us performed them."

The woman said she had an appointment for a routine
exam and she didn't realize that they performed
abortions. She said, "You just don't think about it."
She couldn't understand how a doctor who delivers
babies could also end their lives. She canceled her
appointment and is now searching for a medical
practice that does not do abortions.

"Not only are we saving babies and mothers from
abortions," said Matt, "but we are also helping to
raise awareness about the ob/gyn facilities. It is
becoming a bad business decision to incorporate
abortions in these practices!"

The 40 Days for Life vigil in Halifax, Nova Scotia is
taking place on the public sidewalk outside the fence
of a large parking lot surrounding the very large
hospital. It makes it much harder to reach abortion-
minded women, but the local team knows there's a
reason to be there.

"Whether we actually impact any women going for
abortions, we do not know," said Julie, the local
campaign director. "It seems that our main purpose is
to bear public witness to the fact that abortions are
occurring here -- which many people don't know."

Julie said 40 Days for Life in Halifax is a big walk
of faith because there is so little feedback. "We
trust that the results will come in the future and
may not be in the form we are looking for. If we
raise awareness of abortion here, that will be good."
Many of the passersby are students, so the vigil team
is able to witness to them.

A number of the students at that local university in
Nova Scotia are from China. "I can't help but think
that this is a double whammy for these young Chinese
students," Julie said, "first, that we have the
freedom to do this in public, which they wouldn't
have in China, and second, most of them will be
single children whose brothers and sisters have been
aborted. Many of the girls may have had abortions too
-- a fact of life that is routine in China. Perhaps
we are there for them."

Ground Zero Report - Day 24 [10.17]

2008-10-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

So last night near the end of my shift at midnight, one of the clients of the Gay Bathhouse, which is located next to the Abortion Mill, approached me and another vigiler. He had frequented the establishment about an hour earlier, left and then came back for another go. On exiting the building this time, he crossed the street and stood by my male companion. I was sitting down on a lawn chair about five feet away. He came right up and stood beside him and mocked him. Then he brushed his arm, trying to provoke a reaction from him. He taunted us and let us know that he had a good time with his sexual exploits.

It was not a particularly peaceful night so I wasn't in the mood to take much more of this abuse, especially when our opponents began to physically intimidate and mock us. My first natural reaction when the provocation started was to stand up and challenge this fool, but I know if I had done that, it would have potentially escalated into an ugly scene. So I sat there praying and my friend bore the mocking and insults, and we both accepted it with resignation and humility, powerless to do anything, lest any action on our part would give our opponents an excuse to shut us down. I thought of Suzanne Poulin the day before who was violently assaulted and did not raise her hand even in her own defense. I thought even of Our Lord, God Incarnate, who accepted the humiliations of his persecutors in order to defeat Sin. I thought of other pro-lifers who have had to endure much worse:

That gave me strength. Their example showed me what true strength was, but it also showed me that I had a long way to go in dealing with what is surely to transpire in the coming years. - John Pacheco

Report from America - Day 24

2008-10-16T22:42:00.001-07:00

One of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil participants
in Kalamazoo, Michigan tells an amazing story of what
God can do with two guys standing in the rain.

On a recent morning, he went to spend time in prayer
in front of the abortion facility. When he got there,
it was pouring.

"I decided I would stay in the car and pray and when
it lightened up I would get out and to stand in front
of the abortion clinic and pray," he said. "After
all, I could pray just as well in the car as in front
of the clinic."

But then his prayer partner arrived. "I told him to
get into the car -- we could pray here."

"No," he said politely. He wanted to pray in front of
the clinic. "I didn't need any more convincing." As
they stood there praying in the rain, "we must have
been an odd sight! What were we thinking? What good
could be accomplished standing in the rain?"

The rain came down even harder as a young couple
drove in with a baby in a car seat. One of the men
made eye contact with the woman and he knew
immediately -- she was there for an abortion.

She went into the clinic, but came out ten minutes
later. The two men rushed to her with their
umbrellas. She was pregnant, she told them, and the
child was not her husband's. It was he who insisted
on an abortion.

"She was a fallen away Christian who had just
returned to God," said the volunteer. "We told her
that God had never left her and that He was always
with her and would always be with her in all of her
decisions. She felt pressure from her husband, the
abortion staff and the doctor and that's when she
asked to go outside to see us."

It turns out the woman had made an appointment with
her pastor that morning but something came up and it
was canceled. So she kept her appointment for the
abortion. Her pastor was her last chance, she
thought, and that had fallen through. Maybe God did
not hear her prayer. Now, she said, it was too late.

"But just as they were turning into the abortion
clinic she had seen us," said the volunteer. "Two
guys standing in the pouring rain, wet and soaked --
praying. She knew we were praying. She couldn't
believe it; God had answered her prayer after all! He
sent two strangers to stand out in the rain and wait
for her!"

The men consoled her, told her God loved her and that
she was not alone. "We held hands and the three of us
prayed the Lord's Prayer." She went back inside, and
two minutes later, they all came out and drove away.
She waved to the men as they left.

"What a powerful God we have!" said this 40 Days for
Life vigil participant. "God had made his love and
presence known to all of us that morning. Many lives
were touched; a life may have been saved."

Meanwhile, it kept raining. College students passed
by as they ran to a nearby bus stop. "Some of the
students looked at us kind of funny," he said. "After
all, we were just two guys standing in the rain."

Newsreport on Assault at Ground Zero

2008-10-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA, October 16, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Yesterday at about 2 p.m. several women participating in 40 Days for Life Ottawa and keeping vigil at the Bank St. abortuary were violently assaulted. A woman began yelling obscenities at the pro-life volunteers and then became physically aggressive, throwing food at one of the vigil participants and then throwing punches and kicking.

Eyewitnesses said that the woman came with her lunch and sat between two ladies who were praying. She then shouted out repeatedly, "You've had your protest, now I'm going to have mine," whereupon she threw her food at one vigil-keeper and then began pushing, screaming obscenities, and swinging her fists.

The belligerent woman approached an elderly lady and said, "You're old, why don't you die," according to an eyewitness.

Suzanne Poulin, age 51, was one of the women who bore the brunt of the attack. Suzanne told LifeSiteNews.com that the attacker threw her to the ground and began pummeling her face. She suffered bruises to her face and nose, a cut lip and her ear was torn, possibly by a ring the assailant was wearing. Just before this Suzanne was advising the other vigil-keepers to remain silent and not engage the abusive woman.

Suzanne emphasized that none of the vigil-keepers touched or hurt the assailant.

The police were called while the security guard from the abortion mill and some men from the gathering crowd tried to subdue the attacker, who was described as about 30 years old, and well dressed and groomed.

Four police cruisers came to the scene, at which point the attacker to fled into an adjacent building. She was apprehended by police and arrested. The assailant continued to scream insults and obscenities as they took her away, while a paramedic attended to Suzanne and the other women that had been injured in the attack.

Suzanne told LifeSiteNews.com that she will press charges against the attacker, but that she also forgave her and will continue to pray for her.

"As a mother, I have developed good judgment to know when someone needs correction. This woman needs not only to be corrected, she needs anger management. Her actions will probably have a very negative effect on the rest of her life. With prayer, this incident may help her to see the truth and turn her toward life," Suzanne said.

Suzanne returned to the Bank St. abortuary for her vigil today.

Ground Zero Report - Day 23 - Part B [10.16]

2008-10-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

On Wed 15 Oct, I arrived at the site at 2:40 and what I saw were people praying peacefully. One lady made a statement that the police did not want us to sit on the cement planter but other than that all was normal.

I saw two young men sitting on the bench in front of 65 Bank. One approached us and spoke to a couple who were praying; he left with two pamphlets. Upon returning to his companion he handed a pamphlet over. The companion dropped it to the ground but it was picked up and handed back, only to be methodically torn in two dropped again and this time repeatedly spit upon, stomped upon and used as an ashtray. Meanwhile the first young man read the information and then placed the paper on the bench. A short time later a young woman came out of 65 Bank and joined the two men. This woman kept looking at me and even though I did not make eye contact, I couls see her looking each time my eyes raised from prayer. I was holding the sign that reads "pray to end abortion" I intentionally did not invite her to approach me because the young man who appeared to be hostile was there with her and I did not feel it was safe for me to make contact. Remember I had no idea what had happened just a short time prior to my arrival. In the end the woman re entered 65 Bank St. and the men walked away. I just kept praying to the angels and to our Lady of Guadalupe for the safety of any baby that was at risk. I had the sense that another woman may have been inside the facility and those I saw were companions. One of the men and the woman I saw were wearing sweat pants with the letters SWL on the hind end. I believe these letters refer to a high school in Orleans. I had to leave at 3:30 so I did not see what happened after that. I can say that what I witnessed was deeply disturbing. I left the site feeling numb. This is a reminder that as John keeps telling us to keep praying and to have sacramentals with us at all times. Yes, we are making a difference. - Jennifer S.

Hell Has An Address

2008-10-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

The 40 Days for Life Campaign has not been particularly spectacular for me thusfar. Not, of course, that I was expecting there to be fireworks, mind you, but I was expecting to spend more time at the Death & Dismemberment Dive, affectionately dubbed as "Ground Zero" by vigil participants. It's Day 23 and I had spent about seven hours in total before tonight. That's not even near the number I was anticipating at this juncture in the campaign. I just have not been able to do it -- mostly because the administration of the Vigil Schedule has taken up too much time for me to justify more time at the Abortion Mill. It's really frustrating for someone like me who likes to mix it up on the front lines. Of course, this is not because I am particularly effective, but there is something in my bones that just wants to be there. I know many people feel the same way. So I have had to offer my silent frustration and my "office work" to God, and hope that he will use this small sacrifice somehow. So far, it's really not been that satisfying to be honest, but last night I got a little reminder that all sacrifices offered for the Vigil count. A good friend of mine phoned me to make a donation to the 40 Days for Life Campaign. He said he'd been working for Elections Canada for the past month, but felt disappointed he couldn't make it out to the Mill as much as he would have liked. So he's going to pony up $2000 instead! This should be an important lesson to all of us out there who just can't make it out as much as we would like. Keep offering those daily sacrifices and humiliations to further the Work. God honours it. It all works towards the cause.

But tonight, I did have a chance to venture out to Ground Zero. I stood there and prayed fervently that the abortion juggernaut that has ridden roughshod over our nation would be tripped up and derailed. With virtually no hope in the political scene, it's really in God's hands now. We're coming as beggars with no human hope to change things. Our hope must be divine. It must be supernatural. It must surpass the despair and the brutal reality we face in this time and place in history. Hope is the means for us to face this present darkness and desolation. And we must hold on to it, or else we risk being suffocated by this overwhelming and relentless evil. Yesterday, that evil was unleashed on innocent people who were praying for an end to abortion. Here is an account of what happened earlier in the day:

One of the participants told her that a woman came with some food and sat between two ladies who were praying. The lady was mumbling and finally she yelled out, "You've had your protest now I'm going to have mine." Then she started attacking people by swinging at them. This is when Frances came upon the scene, she said the attacker was quite strong and she kept yelling and swinging at those praying. She also threw her food at them. The security guard from across the street came over and tried to block her, but she was very aggressive and strong. The security guard didn't really know how to deal with her. Someone, Frances is not sure who, called the police and some police cars came. One of the police officers told the prayers not to sit on the cement wall. They put the screamer in a car and she was still yelling insults out the window as they took her away. The people at the vigil were quite shaken and one woman was visibly trembling and crying.

Here is another account of the same incident by another vigil participant:

She became verbally abusive, then quickly became physically abusive. She pushed her lunch onto the front of one of the ladies praying, as she pushed her back and shouted at her. The attacker became hysterical, screaming obscenities and swinging fists, at one point even kicking one of the ladies. Several of the ladies asked the onlookers to call the police, and for the security guard at the facility to help. A couple of men from the gathering crowd and the security guard eventually helped restrain the attacker until the police came. A paramedic came and attended to the two ladies that had received the brunt of the attack. Although, even restrained in the police car the attacker continued to scream her obscenities, the prayers continued. Many people came forward to offer their testimony as witness to the attack. The two ladies most physically hurt continued to express prayers for the healing of their attacker.

We sometimes think of hell as a supernatural state. This is, of course, true. But there is another kind of hell, a hell that we make on this earth for ourselves and for others. It's a prefigurement of the existence to come for many. The effects of conventional war are sometimes described in such a way. War is indeed hell. It's a hell that is born of sinful pride. But abortion is hell too. It is the hell of lust and selfishness. It is the hell of objectivization and abuse. It is the hell of coercion and threats. It is the hell of murder and unfathomable pain. It is the hell of the silent scream. It is the hell of guilt and remorse. It is the hell of barrenness and disease. It is the hell of unforgiveness and self-loathing and despair. And finally it is the hell of an eternal death.

Tonight, I looked across from hell. It wasn't particularly mysterious or spiritual. It wasn't particularly dark or shadowy. There weren't any sounds emanating from it. No smoke was rising from the ground. Nothing ostensibly sinister about it. It wasn't hidden from sight.

No, you see, it was right there on Bank Street, next to McDonald's. It's right in the heart of the city, among the government buildings and corporate offices, among the hustle and bustle of downtown and the legitimate business and work that's going on. It's all so serene, so natural, so sterile, so ordinary, so accepted and so respectable. But behind the veneer of slick marketing and inflated euphemisms is a deadly reality. Few understand what really goes on in the dismemberment room. No one sees the heinous crime. No one is bothered by the dead little bodies - or, at least, the pieces of them. Nobody hears their screams, except God and the other little martyrs that have gone before. The slaughter of the innocents - thousands upon thousands of them every year - are brought to the Bank Street Altar. It's the altar of the god of lust, money, and good times where the great anti-Sacrifice, the great anti-Eucharist of the age is offered. For a price...of course.

Nothing to see here, folks, move along. And, for the most part, we do. We live our comfortable little lives. Don't like to rock the boat much. We go to church and, if we're lucky, we'll hear 1 or 2 sermons on abortion in the year. It'll go in one ear and out the other, and we'll still vote for the pro-abort politician when the elections come around. Because they protect our jobs, our health care, our environment, and our pensions.

But God has other plans, friend.

He's going to overturn our tables, take the whip to our favourite money changers, and bring us to our knees. And when the time of judgment comes, He is going to separate the sheep from the goats and ask us all one simple question, "What did you do, what did you say, what did you sacrifice to stop the murder of the innocent?" And then you will hear God say to many, "throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30)

My dear friends, hell is not just a supernatural existence. It exists right here and right now. It exists because of our sexual sin, our complacency, and our worship of false idols. Few of us understand or perhaps want to understand that hell need not be something epherial. It's real and present and physical. It even has an address and a door handle, which, when pulled, usually means that a baby goes in but doesn't come out.

In Ottawa, hell is located at 65 Bank Street.

- John Pacheco

Ground Zero Report - Day 23 [10.16]

2008-10-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

The same people walk by every morning (between 6-7:00 a.m.) and you can see the Lord working in each of them. Some are becoming more friendly and others are beginning to hurl insults. It is interesting that the same man comes out of the building almost every morning and yells at me for sitting on what he calls "the wrong side of the street". Every morning he stands beside me, calls someone on his cell phone, and tells them to call the police. Every morning, the police do not come. I am incredibly encouraged by the courage of the people who were attacked. "Where sin abounds, grace abounds more". We get a tremendous amount of grace at ground "0". I experience this grace every morning in away that I never have before. It is beautiful. Thank you John for giving me and so many others the opportunity to serve Jesus in this way and especially to save lives the lives of his little ones. - Pam

Editor's note: For Catholics, Oct. 16 is a special day. This day is the 30th anniversary of John Paul II's election to the papacy. Please pray for his intercession.

Report from America - Day 23

2008-10-16T09:07:00.001-07:00

Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion
chain, does NOT like 40 Days for Life.

The billion-dollar organization -- that rakes in
$336.7 million tax dollars each year while aborting
289,750 children -- is always fighting to protect its
bottom line.

And it has brought out one of its tired old ploys for
this fall's 40 Days for Life -- a campaign it calls
"Pledge-a-Picket."

Planned Parenthood supporters are asked to make a
donation for each person who prays outside its
facilities, claiming that pro-lifers are helping
to raise money for the abortion business.

Planned Parenthood has been using this tactic in
numerous cities across the country where 40 Days for
Life campaigns are disrupting customer income.

To further demonstrate how much 40 Days for Life is
impacting Planned Parenthood's revenue stream, the
organization has now rolled out a national campaign
attempting to counter the impact of 40 Days for Life
while raising funds for the abortion operation.

They use a web-based blog called, "I am Emily X,"
which uses a made-up character that represents, "a
small group of Planned Parenthood employees," who
continually accuse 40 Days for Life participants of
harassing clinic workers and customers.

To give an example, the blog reported this Tuesday
from Nebraska where the abortion workers have counted
more than 350 volunteers participating in the 40 Days
for Life campaign thus far. (Great job, Nebraska!)

"Emily X" then condemns a group of Catholic priests
and lay people who came out to peacefully pray the
rosary together outside their doors, saying, "I worry
about how intimidating the sound of all those voices
at once can be," before claiming that the rosary,
"has been corrupted as a tool to frighten women."

That's what they call intimidation?

First of all, if Planned Parenthood tries
Pledge-a-Picket in your community, please don't
change what you're doing!

You are NOT raising money for Planned Parenthood.
This is a deceptive campaign meant to dissuade
faithful people whose prayers are cutting in to the
abortion chain's bottom line. You are praying to end
the evil of abortion -- PLEASE DON'T STOP!

Devanie Cooper, the local 40 Days for Life
coordinator in Memphis, gave a great answer when a
WREG-TV reporter asked her about Pledge-a-Picket.
"Prayer and fasting works better than money does,"
she said. "We're going to win this; God's going to
win this."

The 40 Days for Life team in Manchester, New
Hampshire is noting the real effect this campaign is
having on Planned Parenthood.

Mike and his wife pray outside near the end of the
business day. "We observe that the people working at
the clinic leave all at once and very quickly in
order to avoid any interaction with us," he said. "I
believe that deep down in their souls they know that
what they are doing is evil."

I suspect that the 40 Days for Life team in Spokane,
Washington is having a similar impact. Why else would
Planned Parenthood send eight of its own employees
outside with signs promoting "choice"?

"Two or three more joined them within the next half
hour," said Inga. "They lined up on the curb on
either side of our prayer volunteers, with an
'in-your-face' attitude, mocking us with their looks
and laughter. This was the first time in either
campaign that we have encountered this kind of
persecution."

Inga said only two people were signed up to pray at
the vigil when this happened, but God had other
plans. The people who were scheduled to leave the
vigil stayed and kept praying -- and other people
kept arriving to join them until more than two dozen
faithful believers were gathered in prayer outside of
Planned Parenthood.

When 5 o'clock came, the Planned Parenthood employees
gave up and went home. But the 40 Days for Life team
continued to pray.

"We all felt great cause for rejoicing that we had
been found worthy to suffer for truth and life," Inga
said. "Truly, this is a sign that we are somehow
getting under their skin, disrupting business,
causing women to not keep their appointments,
possibly even saving lives of babies and keeping
women from a lifetime of regret."

Please keep Planned Parenthood and its employees in
your prayers. A call to conversion can be extremely
unsettling to those being called. But the call is
strong, and it is real.

Ground Zero Report - Day 22 - Part B [10.15]

2008-10-15T16:25:00.001-07:00

I was at the vigil less than an hour before this happened. I have been at the site several times, but never have I felt such heaviness and darkness as I did today. The number of teenage girls going in the clinic during the hour that I was praying was more than the two previous Wednesdays combined. The security guard outside the clinic is practically acting like a doorman now, directing young women to the correct door and holding the door open for them. With the many victorious stories of babies saved across North America, I guess we have to expect that the battle is going to heat up. May God bless the ladies who were at the vigil this afternoon, bringing them His consolation, healing and strength. St. Michael the archangel, defend us in this day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander now throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. - Sue A.

Special Ground Zero Report - Day 22

2008-10-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Assault at Ground Zero

There were two pro-life vigil keepers attacked at the vigil about 2pm today. One received a black eye and broken glasses from a women who attacked them. 4 police cruisers came and arrested the lady.

______________

Frances W. has since called. She was also down on Bank street and while approaching the vigil and said she heard a lot of shouting. One of the participants told her that a woman came with some food and sat between two ladies who were praying. The lady was mumbling and finally she yelled out, "You've had your protest now I'm going to have mine." Then she started attacking people by swinging at them. This is when Frances came upon the scene, she said the attacker was quite strong and she kept yelling and swinging at those praying. She also threw her food at them. The security guard from across the street came over and tried to block her, but she was very aggressive and strong. The security guard didn't really know how to deal with her. Someone, Frances is not sure who, called the police and some police cars came. One of the police officers told the prayers not to sit on the cement wall. They put the screamer in a car and she was still yelling insults out the window as they took her away. The people at the vigil were quite shaken and one woman was visibly trembling and crying. The devil is raging. We should remind our people to say the prayer to St. Michael.

____________________

Hello folks,

I'm sure you'll hear this from others, but I felt compelled to notify you. This afternoon, during what began as another peaceful vigil, several of the ladies were attacked. A woman sat herself down with her lunch among the women praying, sitting along the concrete wall facing the facility. She became verbally abusive, then quickly became physically abusive. She pushed her lunch onto the front of one of the ladies praying, as she pushed her back and shouted at her. The attacker became hysterical, screaming obscenities and swinging fists, at one point even kicking one of the ladies. Several of the ladies asked the onlookers to call the police, and for the security guard at the facility to help. A couple of men from the gathering crowd and the security guard eventually helped restrain the attacker until the police came. A paramedic came and attended to the two ladies that had received the brunt of the attack. Although, even restrainted in the police car the attacker continued to scream her obscenities, the prayers continued. Many people came forward to offer their testimony as witness to the attack. The two ladies most physically hurt continued to express prayers for the healing of their attacker. May God bless them. We must not let this incident inhibit the vigil. Prayer is stronger than fear. The unborn need us, need our prayers! Just thought I'd share that with you. Take care and God bless.

Ground Zero Report - Day 22 [10.15]

2008-10-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

Jennifer and I decided on Monday that we needed to pray together at the abortion site on Tuesday. I arrived Tuesday morning at approximately 9:10 . Jennifer was already there.

We met Peter from Saint Elizabeth Parish who had been at the site for some time. Shortly afterwards a few others came by. Jennifer decided to join the two faithful men who were praying the rosary in front of the abortuary while I stayed near the cradle. As I was praying silently, a man walked by and looked at me thanked me and continued on his way. When Jennifer came back we said our Legion of Mary prayers together and others joined us as we prayed the rosary. We began with this prayer that we always say before doing our Legion of Mary work, and how appropriate we thought are the words.

Mother of us all, Help me as I go to the front today as a solider in your
army. Keep my attitude towards people as one of infinite sweetness and patience.
Remind me always that I stand before people in your place, doing your work.
Remind me how much you love each of your children. Let me disappear, and let my
voice, my attitude and my thoughts be yours. In this way, the will of God, who
is your Son and my Lord, will be done. I pray with all my heart for the
conversion of the souls that I am about to meet. Dear Mother, Queen of Peace,
Queen of all Graces, Our Lady of Guadalupe, I am in your service, and I thank
you in advance for having listened to my prayer. AMEN

After saying our Legion prayers we decided to sit on a bench in front of the abortuary while holding our signs. A few passers by stopped to talk with us. Two elderly women were unaware that the abortuary was right there and expressed there sadness at the ugliness of it all and how women are so hurt by this and so often it is others who pressure them to end the life of their child. They expressed their gratitude for those who were praying at the site and told us they would pray for all of us.

Shortly after that, two young men in their teens stopped by and looked at our signs and asked us if we thought our prayers would work and we said "yes we do, that is our hope" They smiled and wished us good luck. Jennifer commented on how Jesus was using all of us who were at the site this day and every day as instruments in evangelization.

I thought of the beatitude "Blessed are the Peacemakers" Marcus Grodi from the Journey Home on EWTN explained this beatitude as "being Christ in the world"

Around that time it started to rain and believing the weatherman's prediction of a sunny day we were not prepared. No problem however, because in no time at all we were handed an umbrella from dear Noreen who was praying with about 8 others on the other side of the street. God bless her and the others. We left around noon in order to attend mass at Saint Patrick Basilica and we thank God for His grace and His mercy. - Maureen

Ground Zero Pics from Oct.11 weekend

2008-10-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Report from America - Day 21

2008-10-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Does God still offer signs and wonders in our present
day? Some people say He doesn't do that sort of thing
any more. Or does He?

Back in January, I posted a short video on YouTube
that I had taken during the March for Life in
Washington, DC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsD5Jv_mmL0

It was a cloudy day... until the very end of the
march when the sun came out and a rainbow appeared
over the Supreme Court building. I -- and many others
in attendance -- saw this rainbow as a sign of hope
that God was watching over and blessing our efforts.

Earlier during this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign,
I shared with you the story of John and his family,
who were driving through a pouring rain to pray at an
abortion facility in Methuen, Massachusetts. When
they got to the abortion center, the rain stopped --
and a rainbow appeared.

Would you believe we now have two more rainbow
reports from 40 Days for Life vigils?

In Southfield, Michigan, Bishop John Quinn was going
to join the 40 Days for Life team for a rally. When
the bishop arrived about 15 minutes before the start
of the event, it was pouring.

"We brought an umbrella over to him but he said that
the Lord would stop the rain for us," said one member
of the local team. "Sure enough, five minutes prior
to start time the rain cleared up and a huge rainbow
came out -- a sure sign from God."

Sue reports the 40 Days for Life team in Birmingham,
Alabama had a particularly rough day recently. "We
were present at Planned Parenthood while so many
children were being aborted," she said, "while the
Planned Parenthood employees laughed and mocked our
people." She said the team really struggled under a
very oppressive weight all day.

The next day, however, Ed -- another member of the
local 40 Days for Life team -- saw something that
restored his hope. "It was a beautiful rainbow. After
feeling so overwhelmed the previous day and praying
almost constantly for hope and an increase of peace,
this beautiful rainbow showed me the way home."

God can show us what is beautiful -- and He can also
show us what is ugly.

Janet notes that while she was praying in front of a
Planned Parenthood location during 40 Days for Life
last fall, landscapers planted some tall shrubs in
front of the building. One of the people she was
praying with took note -- "How ironic. Those plants
are arborvitae, which means tree of life."

"One of the first things I noticed this fall when I
first prayed at Planned Parenthood was that all of
those evergreen trees were dead -- brown as brown can
be," Janet said.

She added, "I marvel at God's sense of humor. All the
other landscaping looks just as it did last year. But
arborvitae can't thrive at Planned Parenthood!" A few
days later, a man with an ax came and chopped down
the dead trees and hauled them away. "What a metaphor
for all that Planned Parenthood stands for!"

Ground Zero Report - Day 21 [10.14]

2008-10-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

I filled the 5-6 pm time slot today and want to share something. A young woman approached the vigil area and slowly looked around at our signs and then picked up a pamphlet and started reading it. I decided to go up to her and ask her if she knew about the 40 Days for Life. She said that she had heard about the campaign through a brochure received in the mail from 'Crossroads Family Ministries in Burlington, USA." http://www.crossroads.ca/index.html

She said that she had no computer at home and would not have known about this campaign except for this brochure. She was surprised that it was taking place in Ottawa and so I gave her some information on the whole campaign along with info on our mid-point rally while she wrote down the dates. She provided feedback by saying that if we ever do this again, we need to ensure that consideration in the advertising of the campaign is also given to those who don't have computers. She suggested church bulletins, billboards in senior citizen homes, posters in and around the City limits, etc. I explained that this was the first time that a Canadian City hosts this campaign and that we welcomed feedback to ensure a better campaign the next time. She then asked if the 40 Days for Life included life issues such as euthanasia and if not, then perhaps it should. I reassured her that I would pass on her message, questions, suggestions to the organizers of the campaign. She then asked me if she could pick up a sign and join us in prayer for awhile and of course I said yes.

To continue with this story about this same young woman. A male tourist approached me and started to ask me a question about the right of parents to choose to abort a severely handicapped child who would bring nothing but anguish and heartache to Parents. He went on to say that he had friends back in his country who had such a child who is now grown and consuming all of the Parents time and energy into their old age. He said that had they had the technology then that we have now, perhaps his friends would have aborted their child. Before I had a chance to speak, the young woman who I referred to earlier, heard the conversation and jumped right in to say that her brother is severely handicapped and that he deserves the right to live just as much as anyone else. She further went on to say that rather than our Government paying for abortions, they should be introducing health care programs to help families who have children with disabilities. Needless to say, she had other good arguments on this subject. She had an answer for every question asked and left him and I speechless. When all was said and done, the man thanked her and then went on his way. I don't think it was a coincidence that she stumbled across our campaign on this night. I see that she was at the right place at the right time to address this tourists question on aborting children with severe disabilities. Without a doubt, she knows this subject first hand as she lives with it every day. She will no doubt help with the conversion of many who remain unsure about the right to live if you are diagnosed with a disability while living and growing in your Mother's womb. Thank you Lord for sending us yet another great soldier to help with this battle. - Sue L

Media Alert

2008-10-14T09:06:00.001-07:00

This morning at the vigil, Frank told me that Mark Iype of CKCU came to Ground Zero and interviewed him and two other vigil keepers. The interview is scheduled to air this Wednesday. Mark said to google the "Carleton University- radio" to find the time it is scheduled to air. According to Frank, Mark seemed to be impressed with the campaign and the commitment of the vigil keepers. - Nora

Report from America - Day 20

2008-10-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

The enthusiasm about 40 Days for Life is contagious,
and it's had a profound effect during the first half
of this fall's historic campaign.

The number of "turnarounds" -- women who arrived for
abortions but left the clinic without going through
with it -- has jumped dramatically in the last week,
reaching record levels.

We'll have the latest number of lives saved thus far
to share with you on tomorrow night's midpoint tele-
rally and web simulcast. More on that in a bit...

"We know we have saved a 17-year-old who was at first
determined to abort her 5-month-old baby," Barbara in
Fayetteville, Arkansas said. This young woman could
not get at abortion at this point in her pregnancy in
Fayetteville, so she was going to make the three-hour
drive to Little Rock, home of Arkansas' only other
abortion center. "She turned around one block before
she reached the abortion facility! We are now are
planning her baby shower."

It isn't just mothers and babies receiving positive
attention during 40 Days for Life -- it's also the
people who work at the abortion centers.

At the 40 Days for Life vigil in Toledo, Ohio, Ann
reports that four clinic employees put up yard signs
on the building's lawn and taped posters in the
facility's windows -- as a result of the prayer vigil
going on outside. "This was disconcerting at first,"
she said, "but then you come to realize that their
consciences are at work. This is a good thing!"

"It seems as if the workers are looking a little
grimmer as they enter the building in the morning,"
said Jean, speaking of the staff at the Planned
Parenthood in Burlington, Vermont. "The ones that do
smile are few and far between, and they almost seem
to have fake smiles on their faces."

They also can't find anyone to do abortions! Planned
Parenthood has gone so far as to run want ads in the
local paper, looking for someone to assist with
abortions, starting immediately.

"Imagine that!" said Jean. "It seems as though they
have lost two employees -- one might be the
abortionist herself. Today is the normal day for
abortions, but it looked as if there were none
preformed."

Patsy in Orange County, California also notes the
difference 40 Days for Life can make for people in
the abortion industry. "One of the Planned Parenthood
employees came out, encouraged our prayer warriors
and asked them to display a sign the women can see
with a number where they can get help," she said.
That's incredible!

If you find such a person, please continue to offer
encouragement and Christ's love. It pays off!

"I learned this morning that one of the abortion
center nurses quit," said Jenny in Louisville,
Kentucky. "Mary, one of our counselors, kept telling
this worker that she would help her find another job.
Last Saturday was the nurse's last day in the
abortion center. Praise God!"

To hear the latest breaking news about the cumulative
results of the first half of this fall's 40 Days for
Life -- and to learn how you can help make a profound
impact during the second half of this campaign -- you
won't want to miss Tuesday night's 40 Days for Life
MIDPOINT teleconference rally and web simulcast.

Join more than 1,100 people who are already signed up
for Tuesday's nationwide call. Register now at:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/midpoint

Here's today's devotional from Rev. John Brown, the
Director of United Friends for Life (United Church of
Christ)...

Ground Zero Report - Day 19 - [10.12]

2008-10-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

We were told that we would not be the same after participating in the Forty Days for Life. I can vouch to that. It has affected me in many ways to be a more active Christian. I would like to relate a little story about my shift Sunday Oct 12 -Midnight to 2am.

First, the gentleman who was to go off duty at 1AM asked me if I wanted him to stay as he would be leaving me alone. I thanked him but said I had no problem being alone that some one would be alone soon.

Sure enough three young man joined me shortly. Around 1:30AM, a lady came by in a wheel chair, drinking a coffee and said "hello" to me. As she was passing by, she stopped to talk to one of the young men. I did not hear their conversation but it appeared to go well. The lady put her coffee down to light up a cigarette and stayed with us a while.

The most beautiful thing happened then. It was cold, and we were all dressed warmly. The lady had only a short sleeve, light sweater on. One of the young men left and returned with a warm jacket and asked the lady if see wanted to put it on. She agreed and one young man held her coffee and the other held her cigarette as she put the jacket on. If this isn't a story right out of the Bible I don't know what is.

It made me so thankful on Thanksgiving weekend: to be associated with Christians who truly follow Christ. - Frank

Report from America - Day 19

2008-10-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

The night shift at a 40 Days for Life vigil has a
special character all its own. The abortion center is
usually closed and the surrounding area is quieter --
perfect conditions for silent, prayerful reflection
on the evil that we seek God's intervention to end.

At a number of vigil locations, the night shift is
also known as the Knight shift -- men of the Knights
of Columbus are signing up for the nighttime hours.

In some cases, it's because of safety concerns. In
others, it's simply a reflection of the fact that
this is the time that folks who work during the day
can participate.

At any rate, the Knights of Columbus have been
extremely successful in getting more men involved in
this important outreach.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Michael reports 40 Days
for Life vigil participation has been steadily
increasing in numbers as the men of the Knights of
Columbus have contributed their prayers and presence
at the larger of the city's two abortion clinics.

"We're not witnessing the saves that are seen in the
daytime," he said, "but we are on the sidewalk near
at least five colleges in the downtown area. There is
still a lot of traffic at night, both cars and foot
traffic. We've had some negative responses late at
night, but we've had some powerful 'Praise God'
moments as well."

Michael says his 17-year-old daughter accompanies him
sometimes, so he refers to this as the Knight and
Princess shift. "A young couple was walking up the
street returning after an evening on the town," he
said. "As they approached us and saw us praying, the
young woman asked, 'What are you doing here?'"

He was mentally preparing for a confrontation, but
his daughter spoke up and said, "We're praying to end
abortion." The young woman asked, "Is that what this
place is?" As Michael started to answer, the
boyfriend started pulling her away, not wanting to
engage them in any further conversation.

They walked about 20 yards and the young woman turned
and yelled back, "I'm against abortion, too!"

"We on the Knight shift are praying for young men,
too," Michael said. "We pray that they step up to the
plate and be true men of God who protect the young,
protect the mothers, protect their role as father and
act in the true image of our heavenly Father."

Hearts are being affected, he added, and awareness is
being raised. "Abortion clinics that are shielded by
non-descript buildings and/or deceitful names are
being illuminated. Brothers and sisters in Christ are
uniting in fervent prayer."

Thank you for your witness, Michael. Thanks also to
all the men on the Knight shift at 40 Days for Life
vigils across North America this fall -- and special
thanks to the Knights of Columbus organization, which
proclaims itself "uncompromisingly pro-life," and for
listing 40 Days for Life as a recommended pro-life
link on its national web site.

Report from America - Day 18

2008-10-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

During nine hours of driving today -- heading from
Shreveport, Louisiana, to Jackson, Mississippi, to
New Orleans, and then arriving in Pensacola, Florida
a few minutes ago -- I had quite a bit of time to
reflect on how much I respect you for standing strong
for righteousness, even in the face of adversity.

Christ tells us, "Blessed are you when they insult
you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil
against you falsely because of me" (Matthew 5:11).

Well, through this fall's 40 Days for Life, some of
you are finding out firsthand exactly what He was
talking about.

At each of the 40 Days for Life locations my son
Patrick and I visited today, people driving by the
vigil site angrily screamed obscenities at the prayer
volunteers -- including the young children who were
there praying with their parents.

The volunteers did not respond to the vitriol. They
simply prayed harder.

Rita in Amarillo had an interesting experience with
an abortion advocate. A young man arrived outside the
40 Days for Life vigil with a sign. On one side, it
said, "freedom of choice." On the other side -- an
obscene message.

What kind of person pickets a prayer vigil with a
vulgar sign? "He believes animals have souls and it
is wrong to kill them so we can have fast food, but
believes a mother should be able to choose to kill
her child before it is born," said Rita. "He is
obviously just a very confused young person who is on
a crusade against his parents' Christian faith."

Please keep this young man -- and far too many others
like him -- in your prayers.

After a fender-bender near the 40 Days for Life site
in Sacramento, someone who lives across from the
abortion center told participants that she was going
to call the police to complain that the vigil had led
to an increase in wrecks.

"We just listened and explained the peaceful
presence," said Sally. "The fact is, people are known
for speeding on this street. Police are constantly
issuing speeding tickets. It's a 35 mile-an-hour
zone, but many are going 45 plus."

Sally said she doesn't think the police will buy the
neighbor's argument. "In fact," she said, "one female
police officer expressed her appreciation that we
were there praying peacefully and that our signs were
positive, and not graphic in nature."

Doyle in Knoxville tells of a dentist whose office is
in the same complex as the abortion center where
people are praying as part of 40 Days for Life. "He
came out to register his complaint that our signs
were making his customers uncomfortable."

One of the men praying at the vigil suggested that
this building might not be the best place for his
office, but the dentist protested that he was there
first, before the abortion clinic leased space.

It seemed quite amazing to Doyle that this man who
works in the healthcare field did not seem too
concerned that babies were losing their lives right
next to his own office. "I'm always astounded at the
caviler attitude people can take towards our mission
-- and towards innocent human life."

But as Christ also reminds us, remain faithful --
even cheerful -- in the face of such reactions:
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great
in heaven" (Matthew 5:12).

Here's today's devotional from Randolph Sly of the
National Pro-life Religious Council...

-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 18 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------

We pray for a flowering of the joy of parenthood.

-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the
fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the
hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's
youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of
them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with
their enemies in the gate.

-- Psalm 127:3-5

-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Randolph Sly
-----------------------------------------------------

I still vividly remember the day my first child was
born. As she came into the world I gazed upon the
most beautiful little baby I'd ever seen.

Later I was driving home from the hospital for a
shower and a fresh change of clothes when a song came
on the radio, "The Men in My Little Girl's Life" -- a
ballad about being a father as he watches his
daughter grow through childhood to womanhood.

I wept as I listened, knowing those years would go by
very fast... and they did.

Being a father, whenever I read the Psalm quoted
above I'm always captivated by one word - "heritage."
It basically means "something passed down from a
preceding generation."

That little girl I watched being born and wept for is
not mine to give to God like a product of our
fertility, but rather His, which he has entrusted to
us. So are all her siblings.

My wife and I share a great treasure: precious lives,
which are placed in our lineage that His life with us
might be perpetuated.

To the psalmist, this was a blessing from the
Lawgiver, God Himself, who blessed Israel with
another generation intended to continue their
covenantal promise.

For us in Christ, it is his gift of succeeding
generations for His Church and her families.

These days I'm looking upon my grandchildren, and
rejoicing that my children and their spouses will
pass on the greatness of Christ's gospel to them and
thus will continue the work of God in the world. What
a blessing. What a heritage!

-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------

Heavenly Father, please keep me from taking for
granted the gift of children. Help us to remember
this heritage that you have given us. Make us
faithful stewards of these precious lives, that each
generation might be raised in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. We ask this through Jesus
Christ our Lord, Amen.

-----------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- AMAZING! Within the first few hours after
announcing this coming Tuesday night's "40 Days for
Life Midpoint Tele-rally and Web Simulcast," more
than 700 people were already registered to join the
live event -- and the number is climbing rapidly.

We lined up even more surprise speakers today (you
will not want to miss some of these inspirational
presenters!) This call is truly shaping up to be one
of the most powerful pro-life events of 2008 -- and
it's absolutely FREE to participate.

If you haven't already registered, it's not too late.
We expanded the number of phone lines to accommodate
more people, so you -- and your friends and family
members -- can participate in this high-energy event
to mark the middle of these 40 Days for Life.

Spread the word and grab your spot now at:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/midpoint

40 Days For Life Mid Point Rally!

2008-10-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that we will be hosting a Mid-Point Rally At Ground Zero next Sunday...

WHERE: Morgentaler Abortion Facility
WHEN: October 19th, 2008
TIME: 2:00-3:00PM

*Please come by for our midpoint rally for some encouragement, great talks and coffee/timbits! Everyone is doing such a wonderful job and we want to share some of the great things God has been doing so far! Spread the word, all our welcome!

If you need more information call Nicole Campbell at Campaign Life Coalition at 613-729-0379 or 40daysforlifeottawa@gmail.com.

Vigil Event - Rosary for the Unborn & The Chaplet of St. Michael

2008-10-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

In union with the Worldwide Rosary for Unborn Babies scheduled to take place on Saturday October 18 at 9AM, vigil participants of the 40 Days for Life Campaign are invited out to Ground Zero to pray all 4 mysteries of the Rosary and The Chaplet of St. Michael. If you intend to join us, please let us know by emailing us at pacheco377@gmail.com.

OCTOBER 18th WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES GAINS SUPPORT

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (U. S. A.) - The WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event, initiated by the Saint Michael the Archangel Organiztion, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 18th. Support has come in from various places, including Lithuania, Czech Republic and India. Information about the pro-life prayer event is available in 12 languages(English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Latin, Latvian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Tagalog) at the website www.SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org

The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization was contacted about the October 18th Rosary prayer event by Rev. Prof. R. C. Wanjohi of Kenya, who said: "Human Life International Kenya will participate in the Worldwide Rosary for Unborn Babies prayer event." Another person to contact the Organization was Clare Tallon of England who wrote: "I am glad such an event for innocent unborn babies is being held and hope that everyone who can, will take part."

Participants in the WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event will pray the Rosary during the 9:00 a.m. hour on October 18th. The Rosary will be prayed for the following intention: For an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn babies. (If necessary, one may pray the Rosary at another time on October 18th.)

"In addition to participating, people are encouraged to ask others to be participants," said Patrick Benedict, President of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization and a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee. " The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization needs much help so people throughout the world will know about this pro-life prayer event," concluded Benedict.

The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization's website is: http://www.saintmichaelthearchangelorganization.org/. The mailing address is: P. O. Box 41257; Memphis, Tennessee 38174; U.S.A.

The Gospel of Life - John Paul II

2008-10-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

99. In transforming culture so that it supports life, women occupy a place, in thought and action, which is unique and decisive. It depends on them to promote a "new feminism" which rejects the temptation of imitating models of "male domination", in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation.

Making my own the words of the concluding message of the Second Vatican Council, I address to women this urgent appeal: "Reconcile people with life".133 You are called to bear witness to the meaning of genuine love, of that gift of self and of that acceptance of others which are present in a special way in the relationship of husband and wife, but which ought also to be at the heart of every other interpersonal relationship. The experience of motherhood makes you acutely aware of the other person and, at the same time, confers on you a particular task: "Motherhood involves a special communion with the mystery of life, as it develops in the woman's womb ... This unique contact with the new human being developing within her gives rise to an attitude towards human beings not only towards her own child, but every human being, which profoundly marks the woman's personality".134 A mother welcomes and carries in herself another human being, enabling it to grow inside her, giving it room, respecting it in its otherness. Women first learn and then teach others that human relations are authentic if they are open to accepting the other person: a person who is recognized and loved because of the dignity which comes from being a person and not from other considerations, such as usefulness, strength, intelligence, beauty or health. This is the fundamental contribution which the Church and humanity expect from women. And it is the indispensable prerequisite for an authentic cultural change.

I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life.

________________________

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance" (Ps 139:16): the unspeakable crime of abortion

58. Among all the crimes which can be committed against life, procured abortion has characteristics making it particularly serious and deplorable. The Second Vatican Council defines abortion, together with infanticide, as an "unspeakable crime".54
But today, in many people's consciences, the perception of its gravity has become progressively obscured. The acceptance of abortion in the popular mind, in behaviour and even in law itself, is a telling sign of an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense, which is becoming more and more incapable of distinguishing between good and evil, even when the fundamental right to life is at stake. Given such a grave situation, we need now more than ever to have the courage to look the truth in the eye and to call things by their proper name, without yielding to convenient compromises or to the temptation of self-deception. In this regard the reproach of the Prophet is extremely straightforward: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness" (Is 5:20). Especially in the case of abortion there is a widespread use of ambiguous terminology, such as "interruption of pregnancy", which tends to hide abortion's true nature and to attenuate its seriousness in public opinion. Perhaps this linguistic phenomenon is itself a symptom of an uneasiness of conscience. But no word has the power to change the reality of things: procured abortion is the deliberate and direct killing, by whatever means it is carried out, of a human being in the initial phase of his or her existence, extending from conception to birth.

The moral gravity of procured abortion is apparent in all its truth if we recognize that we are dealing with murder and, in particular, when we consider the specific elements involved. The one eliminated is a human being at the very beginning of life. No one more absolutely innocent could be imagined. In no way could this human being ever be considered an aggressor, much less an unjust aggressor! He or she is weak, defenceless, even to the point of lacking that minimal form of defence consisting in the poignant power of a newborn baby's cries and tears. The unborn child is totally entrusted to the protection and care of the woman carrying him or her in the womb. And yet sometimes it is precisely the mother herself who makes the decision and asks for the child to be eliminated, and who then goes about having it done.

It is true that the decision to have an abortion is often tragic and painful for the mother, insofar as the decision to rid herself of the fruit of conception is not made for purely selfish reasons or out of convenience, but out of a desire to protect certain important values such as her own health or a decent standard of living for the other members of the family. Sometimes it is feared that the child to be born would live in such conditions that it would be better if the birth did not take place. Nevertheless, these reasons and others like them, however serious and tragic, can never justify the deliberate killing of an innocent human being.

59. As well as the mother, there are often other people too who decide upon the death of the child in the womb. In the first place, the father of the child may be to blame, not only when he di- rectly pressures the woman to have an abortion, but also when he indirectly encourages such a decision on her part by leaving her alone to face the problems of pregnancy: 55 in this way the family is thus mortally wounded and profaned in its nature as a community of love and in its vocation to be the "sanctuary of life". Nor can one overlook the pressures which sometimes come from the wider family circle and from friends. Sometimes the woman is subjected to such strong pressure that she feels psychologically forced to have an abortion: certainly in this case moral responsibility lies particularly with those who have directly or indirectly obliged her to have an abortion. Doctors and nurses are also responsible, when they place at the service of death skills which were acquired for promoting life.

But responsibility likewise falls on the legislators who have promoted and approved abortion laws, and, to the extent that they have a say in the matter, on the administrators of the health-care centres where abortions are performed. A general and no less serious responsibility lies with those who have encouraged the spread of an attitude of sexual permissiveness and a lack of esteem for motherhood, and with those who should have ensured-but did not-effective family and social policies in support of families, especially larger families and those with particular financial and educational needs. Finally, one cannot overlook the network of complicity which reaches out to include international institutions, foundations and associations which systematically campaign for the legalization and spread of abortion in the world. In this sense abortion goes beyond the responsibility of individuals and beyond the harm done to them, and takes on a distinctly social dimension. It is a most serious wound inflicted on society and its culture by the very people who ought to be society's promoters and defenders. As I wrote in my Letter to Families, "we are facing an immense threat to life: not only to the life of individuals but also to that of civilization itself".56 We are facing what can be called a "structure of sin" which opposes human life not yet born.

60. Some people try to justify abortion by claiming that the result of conception, at least up to a certain number of days, cannot yet be considered a personal human life. But in fact, "from the time that the ovum is fertilized, a life is begun which is neither that of the father nor the mother; it is rather the life of a new human being with his own growth. It would never be made human if it were not human already. This has always been clear, and ... modern genetic science offers clear confirmation. It has demonstrated that from the first instant there is established the programme of what this living being will be: a person, this individual person with his characteristic aspects already well determined. Right from fertilization the adventure of a human life begins, and each of its capacities requires time-a rather lengthy time-to find its place and to be in a position to act".57 Even if the presence of a spiritual soul cannot be ascertained by empirical data, the results themselves of scientific research on the human embryo provide "a valuable indication for discerning by the use of reason a personal presence at the moment of the first appearance of a human life: how could a human individual not be a human person?". 58
Furthermore, what is at stake is so important that, from the standpoint of moral obligation, the mere probability that a human person is involved would suffice to justify an absolutely clear prohibition of any intervention aimed at killing a human embryo. Precisely for this reason, over and above all scientific debates and those philosophical affirmations to which the Magisterium has not expressly committed itself, the Church has always taught and continues to teach that the result of human procreation, from the first moment of its existence, must be guaranteed that unconditional respect which is morally due to the human being in his or her totality and unity as body and spirit: "The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception; and therefore from that same moment his rights as a person must be recognized, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life".59

Source

Ground Zero Report - Day 17 [10.10]

2008-10-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share few thought from my vigils over the last weekend. We went last Friday after the evening Mass to the Ground Zero with our two sons (15 and 10). We wanted to show them the battleground and pray rosary together. The impression on our boys was so great that they began praying rosary on their knees. Older declared that he will stop by every Friday coming back from school and pray for awhile at Ground Zero. During all vigils I observed that there are no indifferent passerby. Everyone at least sends a glimpse and reads the posters. Most of them stop talking or lower their voices when passing by. I think this makes them at least pause and hopefully reflect upon the issue and the reason why we are there. Only once, last Sunday around 11:30 pm, I noticed the aggressive behavior. There was a group of 4 young people and one of them started to tear down the posters. The other young man called him and he joined them promptly showing improper gesture toward us and leaving behind two torn posters. We (there were 3 of us at that time) did not get involved but kept praying. I was there yesterday and the posters are not replaced, yet. - Joe

Mid Point Rally by WebCast

2008-10-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

I'm writing to you from Louisiana where my six-year-
old son Patrick and I are traveling to visit the
New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and Pensacola,
Florida 40 Days for Life locations over these next
two days.

And here's the BIG announcement I promised you...

*****************************************************

HELP MAKE THE FALL OF 2008 A TIPPING
POINT IN NORTH AMERICAN HISTORY!

Join the growing momentum during the
second half of 40 Days for Life and
help end the injustice of abortion

*****************************************************

This is a critical moment in history.

More than 50 million children have perished from
abortion...

Millions of women have been wounded by abortion --
some have been physically harmed, and millions more
have been scarred emotionally, spiritually, and
psychologically...

Planned Parenthood -- the largest abortion chain in
North America -- took in $1 BILLION dollars in the
last year, with one third of its income, $336.7
million, coming from the pockets of taxpayers...

...And we are facing what could be the most important
national elections of our lifetime -- ones that will
impact the United States Supreme Court, the White
House, the Senate and House of Representatives, state
legislatures, and lifesaving legislative measures.

If ever there was a time to pray, fast, and put our
faith into action, that time is NOW.

And all across North America people of faith and
conscience are doing just that.

Tens of thousands of believers in 179 cities across
47 American states, two Canadian provinces, the
District of Columbia, and one American territory,
have joined together for the largest and longest
coordinated pro-life mobilization in history:
40 Days for Life.

This initiative -- which began on September 24 and
continues until November 2 -- consists of 40 days of
prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, constant,
peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities and
Planned Parenthood centers, and grassroots outreach.

This fall's 40 Days for Life campaign is about to
reach its halfway mark and to continue building on
the unprecedented momentum, you are invited to
participate in a one-time-only "40 Days for Life
MIDPOINT Tele-Rally and Web Simulcast."

If you have a telephone or computer, you can
participate! Here are the details:

*****************************************************

* WHAT: 40 Days for Life MIDPOINT Tele-Rally and
Web Simulcast

* DATE: Tuesday, October 14

* TIME: 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain,
6 PM Pacific)

* FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via phone or webcast --
it's your choice)

* REGISTER TO ATTEND:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/midpoint

*****************************************************

On the call, you will learn about:

* The latest breaking news from the front lines of
this historic 40 Days for Life campaign

* How local campaigns across North America are
mobilizing record numbers of people and having a
powerful impact

* The up-to-date tally of lives saved from abortion
during the first half of this fall's campaign --
this alone will boggle your mind!

* The abortion industry's increasingly desperate
attempts to try and stop 40 Days for Life

* How YOU can help build the momentum and make a
powerful impact -- right where you live -- during
the second half of this 40 Days for Life campaign

During the live event, you will hear from:

* FR. FRANK PAVONE, national director of Priests
for Life

* SHAWN CARNEY, outreach director of 40 Days for
Life and host of EWTN's "being HUMAN" series

* DR. ALVEDA KING, niece of the late Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.

* Me, DAVID BEREIT, national campaign director of
40 Days for Life

* Members of the Priests for Life pastoral team
including FR. VICTOR SALOMON and FR. PETER WEST
who are visiting many 40 Days for Life sites

* Several local 40 Days for Life campaign leaders

* And some VERY EXCITING surprise guests (including
one that you will not want to miss!)

If you are serious about turning the tide in North
America and ending abortion, then you need to be on
this call or web simulcast!

There are limited slots available for the call, so be
sure to grab one now before they're all taken.

Register to attend the tele-rally and webcast at:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/midpoint

Hope to talk with you Tuesday, John!

Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone,
National Director of Priests for Life...

-----------------------------------------------------
DAY 17 INTENTION
-----------------------------------------------------

May all understand more deeply that the pro-life
message is rooted in the two basic truths of life:

There is a God;
He isn't me

-----------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-----------------------------------------------------

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life; and man became a living being.

-- Genesis 2:7

-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
-----------------------------------------------------

From the beginning of the Bible until the end, the
theme is echoed that God alone has dominion over
human life. He made it; shared it; died to save it;
will raise it up forever.

The act of creation described in Genesis 2:7, and
earlier in Genesis 1:26-27, is a sovereign act. God
did not have to do it, and would have been happy
forever without us.

Yet without our asking for it or earning it, God
brought us out of nothingness and into life, and
sustains our existence at every moment. And He does
so in Christ. "For by Him all things were created...in
Him all things exist" (Colossians 1:16-17).

"You are not your own," Paul declares in 1
Corinthians 6. God alone owns us. While He entrusts
us to the care of one another, He does not allow any
human being to own another.

A Southern California abortionist, James McMahon,
once explained how he justified killing children
after 20 weeks gestation by partial-birth abortion.
He did not deny that this was a child, but rather
asked, "Who owns the child? It's got to be the
mother."

The struggle over abortion is really a struggle over
the dominion of God. The Christian individual, and
the Christian Church, cannot sit idly by when others
declare that God is not God.

-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------

Lord, we are yours. Thank you for breathing into us
the breath of life. Thank you for claiming us as your
own. May our words and actions in defense of human
life proclaim to all the world that you alone are
Lord of life and death, Lord of our freedom and of
our choices. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

-----------------------------------------------------

Yours for Life,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- With everything that is at stake over the next
few weeks, it is crucial that we get as many people
on this MIDPOINT tele-rally and webcast as possible.
Please forward this message and spread the word to
everyone you know, inviting them to join this vital
discussion by going to:

http://www.40daysforlife.com/midpoint

Ground Zero Report - Day 16 [10.09]

2008-10-09T14:34:00.001-07:00

The abortuary hired a 'Security Guard' to be present outside of the door everyday from 8am-4pm. It is obvious that our sidewalk presence on days of the abortions are taking away some business and they are feeling the threat. I remember Father Galen's last words on the Hill..."Watch Godmove!" Indeed we are seeing that here. - Nicole

Protest the Morgentaler Order Sham

2008-10-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

A protest is being held in Ottawa at the Governor General's residence tomorrow morning (Friday) starting at 10:10AM to protest giving the Order of Canada to Henry Morgentaler.

It is not being organized by anyone specifically. It is being organized by pro-life and pro-family groups.

Click here for directions to the Governor General's residence at Rideau Hall.

Here is a short bio of Morgentaler's "accomplishments". Why don't they just say the "A-word"? Don't have the guts, I guess.

Henry Morgentaler, C.M. Toronto, Ontario
Henry Morgentaler has had a major impact on Canadian public policy. A Holocaust survivor, he has not hesitated to put himself at risk in his determined drive to increase health care options for Canadian women. He has been a catalyst for change and important debate, influencing public policy nationwide. He has heightened awareness of women’s reproductive health issues among medical professionals and the Canadian public. He is a respected volunteer who has held leadership roles in humanist and civil liberties organizations, and is the recipient of a number of national
and international awards. (Source)

Morgentaler to receive Order this Friday

2008-10-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

QUEBEC CITY, October 8, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com has learned that abortionist Henry Morgentaler will be awarded the Order of Canada on Friday at 10am in Quebec City. Official announcement is planned only for Thursday late afternoon.LifeSiteNews.com broke the story on Morgentaler's nomination to the Order of Canada two days prior to the official proclamation, launching a media frenzy. The news service has since published over 70 news articles on the subject.

Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) the political arm of the pro-life movement has led the public outcry against the nomination with a petition of over 30,000 Canadians, commissioning the largest poll in the country on the subject (finding 56% opposed), and polling all Members of Parliament (finding over 100 MPs publicly in opposition).

A National Disgrace for Canada.

But God can still turn this thing around and use it to bring about conversions.

Where ever you are on Friday, pray and fast.

For those who can, fast on bread and water only.

Ground Zero Report - Day 15 - Part 3 [10.08]

2008-10-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

I was at the vigil from 7:30 to 10:00 pm and found tonight was trying to say the least. While I was in prayer, a woman suddenly appeared in front of me and starting video taping the group. She then pointed the video camera on me and I sensed something was not right so I looked down. I then felt this presence beside me in a green rain poncho covered from head to toe. While this camera was rolling in front of me I felt someone come up behind me and stand very close to me as though trying to get my attention. So I looked at who it was and was confronted by this person wearing a grotesque mask of a distorted face. At first, I was quite startled and when he saw he got my attention he said "Guess who I am?" I did not answer and so he said "I am dressed up as an aborted fetus". I felt a chill go through my body and started praying asking the Lord to give me and the rest of us the strength to withstand this persecution. With the woman still video taping her friend in costume, he continued to persecute others with his taunts and to stand near them while his girl friend kept video taping. After about 5 minutes, they left laughing and he ripped off his mask. Although we did have to endure being cursed and sworn at tonight by a few others, I would never have imagined someone pulling such a horrible prank as that of wearing a costume of an aborted child. May God forgive them for they know not what they do. - Sue L.