Pro-life campaign saves over 800 babies during Lenten outreach

Apr 12, 2012 / 02:58 am

The 40 Days for Life spring campaign of pro-life advocacy, prayer and community outreach ended on April 1 after saving hundreds of babies from abortion.

“This was the largest number of ‘saves’ that we’ve ever had in the 40 Days for Life campaign,” director Shawn Carney told CNA April 11.

With local reports still being compiled, the pro-life group says that participants convinced the mothers of 804 babies not to have abortions.

“We’re giving God the glory for that,” Carney said.

“We saw five abortion clinic workers have conversions and leave their jobs. We are still working with a number of abortion workers who are also considering leaving their jobs,” he added. “We saw two abortion facilities close their doors forever.”

The 40 Days for Life campaign, which began in fall of 2007, gathers volunteers to pray, fast, perform pro-life outreach and hold peaceful vigils outside of abortion clinics. This spring witnessed events in 258 cities.

Carney said the events are having cumulative effects.

“A lot of these abortion facilities are having their fourth, fifth, sixth 40 Days for Life campaign in front of them. It’s wearing on the community, it’s certainly wearing on the consciences of those who work in the industry,” he said.

He noted the example of Sue Thayer, a former director of the Storm Lake, Iowa Planned Parenthood who had a “conversion” and left the industry after 17 years in 2008. She decided to lead the 40 Days for Life campaign in front of her former clinic, which closed on March 1.

Carney said the clinic closed for lack of business, though Planned Parenthood has portrayed the closure as a consolidation move.

The 40 Days for Life director noted advances in England, which had four campaigns this Lent. Auxiliary Bishop Alan Hopes of Westminster led the closing prayer vigil in England’s capital, which attracted a counter-protest.

“They don’t really have anything like that over there,” Carney said of the overseas pro-life action. “It’s had a huge impact. It’s gotten wonderful secular media coverage.”

He said the campaign is looking to organize a more permanent presence outside abortion clinics.

“These campaigns are really having an impact when they happen multiple times.”

The group’s website is http://www.40daysforlife.com.