National 40 Days for Life Event Hits 170 Cities and Canada to Oppose Abortion

From http://lifenews.com/nat4198.html

National 40 Days for Life Event Hits 170 Cities and Canada to Oppose Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 25, 2008

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Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The national 40 Days for Life campaign is headed to 170 cities and Canada this fall in what is shaping up to be its largest segment ever. The campaign has been responsible for reinvigorating pro-life groups nationwide, starting new ones, and increasing the presence at local abortion businesses.

In fact, two abortion centers have closed directly or indirectly from the efforts.

David Bereit, national campaign director for the event, told LifeNews.com on Monday that he thinks the campaign, along with other pro-life efforts, is changing the face of the abortion debate.

"We may be on the verge of a turning point in the battle against abortion," he says, encouraged by the high number of fall participants. "Response to our call for communities to participate in this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign has exceeded our wildest expectations."

More than 170 cities will take part in this effort from September 24 through November 2.

The community-based event features 40 days of prayer and fasting, round-the-clock peaceful vigil outside an abortion facility and grassroots educational outreach.

Simultaneous campaigns will be conducted coast-to-coast - and internationally - as part of a unified outreach that extends into Canada this time around. In all, 40 Days for Life events are taking place in 45 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces.

"We're especially pleased to see three Canadian cities joining 40 Days for Life this fall," Bereit said, pointing out that the event will head to Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.

"As there will also be a campaign in Washington, D.C., this means that 40 Days for Life will have a presence in the capitals of two nations. We firmly believe that this campaign of prayer and fasting will have a profound impact," he told LifeNews.com.

Bereit noted that more than 75 of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigils will be held outside of Planned Parenthood facilities.

"Planned Parenthood is a special concern because it is the nation's largest abortion provider," he said, with its annual report showing it does 25 percent of all abortions nationwide.

"The spread of 40 Days for Life is amazing," Bereit concludes.

"The growth of this outreach is a reflection of the excitement that people are expressing about the many ways 40 Days for Life impacts a community. This program is being embraced by cities conducting their first 40 Days for Life and those who are planning their second, third, or - in the case of Bryan/College Station, Texas - fourth campaign."

"This fall marks a critical time for our country and our culture, and this heartfelt effort to pray and fast for an end to abortion is crucial with regards to our future and what sort of nation we wish to become," said Bereit. "We hope to share the truth about what abortion does to every community where it is practiced, and to make this fall the beginning of the end of abortion in America."

Related web sites:
40 Days for Life - http://www.40daysforlife.com




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