Pro-life campaign comes to archdiocese

By John Gleason

Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., has approved the local establishment of a nationwide prayer campaign called “40 Days for Life,” which serves to pray for the election of public officials who will defend and protect human life, especially the life of the unborn.

The mission of this nationwide campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during 40 days of prayer, fasting and peaceful prayer vigils at the Planned Parenthood Clinic at 7155 E. 38th Ave. The prayer campaign within the Archdiocese of Denver begins Wednesday, Sept. 24 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 2.

Denver is one of 173 campaigns in 45 states where the campaign will take place.
During the campaign, members of the community pray Monday through Friday outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic from 7a.m.-6 p.m. The six Saturday mornings of the campaign, vigils will be held from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the clinic. There will also be special Masses, Holy Hours and rosaries in individual churches in the archdiocese.

“The campaign takes a peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods,” said Mimi Eckstein, director of the archdiocesan Respect Life Office. “And puts into action prayer for the election and a desire to cooperate with God in carrying out his plan for the end of abortion in America.”

Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley has written a letter in support of the campaign to all priests in the archdiocese.

“The letter says the purpose of the prayer campaign is to influence the upcoming election,” Eckstein said. “Bishop Conley emphasizes that we need to pray and fast that our elected officials will put forth legislation to end the tragedy of abortion in our country. While our nation faces other pressing issues such as the war on terror, the economy, immigration reform and the defense of marriage, without the fundamental right to life, all these issues lose their meaning.”

Bishop Conley has written a novena prayer that is to be said each day during the 40-day campaign.

“Come, Holy Spirit,” it reads in part, “strengthen us and give us courage to work tirelessly to promote a true culture of life, whether in season or out of season—a culture that recognizes the dignity and sanctity of every person. Raise up men and women to serve in public office who will work tirelessly for the protection of human life.”

National campaign director, David Bereit called the campaign “amazing,” saying the growth of the outreach is a reflection of the excitement that people are expressing about how the campaign impacts a community.

“Abortion numbers have dropped so significantly that several states are now down to only one or two remaining abortion centers,” Bereit said. “This fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign presents a great opportunity to finish the life-saving work in these states, creating abortion-free zones and encouraging other states to follow suit.”

40 Days for Life was first held in College Station, Texas, in 2004 when a local pro-life group prayed for an answer about how to reduce abortion in their area. The campaign, with the support of 1,000 people, led directly to a 28 percent decline in abortions in that community. Last year, 89 cities hosted campaigns. This year the number has more than doubled.

“We have had many parishes, organizations and movements join up,” Eckstein said about the local effort, “and we expect more to join before the campaign begins.”

Nearly two dozen parishes have already registered to be a part of the campaign, she said, including Regis University and Bishop Machebeuf High School.

According to statistics 1.37 million abortions have been performed in the United States alone—more than 3,700 a day. On the average, more than 42 million abortions are performed around the world each year.

In his letter to priests, Bishop Conley said the prayer campaign gives parishioners the opportunity to continue to pray and share the message that the gift of human life, from conception to natural death, is to be protected and defended in our society.

Detailed information and registration for the campaign can be found online at . For information on volunteering, call 303-715-3205 or send e-mail to respectlife.office@archden.org.