DAY 18
DAY 18
Late yesterday afternoon, the e-mails began pouring into my inbox from pro-lifers around the country:
“Have you seen this?”
“They’re advertising 40 Days for Life for us!”
“This is the best response Planned Parenthood has to 40 Days for Life? Wow. How pathetic.”
“They wouldn’t do this if 40 Days for Life wasn’t working!”
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These comments were attached to forwarded copies of the latest mass e-mail broadcast by Planned Parenthood to abortion advocates across the nation.
What was all the commotion about?
You guessed it — the growing impact of 40 Days for Life!
The message comes directly from Planned Parenthood’s national president, Cecile Richards. She starts off:
“From Aurora to America… The battle to open our clinic in Aurora, Illinois, might be over — thank you for all your support — but the war against Planned Parenthood and the women we serve continues. The anti-choice people have just begun their ‘40 Days for Life’ campaign, and you can imagine what that means. Right now, there are picketers outside… more than 80 Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, 24 hours a day for 40 days. They’re claiming it’s ‘the largest and longest simultaneous pro-life mobilization in American history.’”
Then Richards rolls out Planned Parenthood’s response to 40 Days for Life:
- They created a fictional character named “Emily X” (who is supposed to represent a blend of different Planned Parenthood workers and activists) to post stories online of what it’s like to work at the abortion operation.
- They set up a blog to post pictures and videos of 40 Days for Life volunteers (in an apparent attempt to harass and intimidate faithful people).
- They falsely characterize the motivations of 40Â Days for Life volunteers.
- They ask abortion advocates to participate in the tired, old “pledge-a-protester” fundraising drive.
- They encourage abortion supporters to come and volunteer at Planned Parenthood.
- They beg abortion activists to write notes of encouragement to boost morale of Planned Parenthood workers during 40 Days for Life.
Ironically, on the new blog, the “Emily X” character even reveals the shame and guilt that some Planned Parenthood workers feel about their jobs:
“Last night, my mother-in-law called me at home. She told me that she just read an ad in the local paper about the ‘40 Days for Life’ campaign. She said that she wanted to get involved, she wanted ‘to get out and do something about Planned Parenthood.’ See, she doesn’t know that I’m a doctor at a Planned Parenthood health center. It’s a part of my life that I don’t share with her.”
The bottom line: Planned Parenthood is investing quite a bit of energy in response to 40 Days for Life.
Would they do this if the campaign wasn’t hurting their business and tarnishing their public image?
Read this report I just received from a 40 Days for Life location, and YOU decide why Planned Parenthood is so worried…
“Despite today’s steady downpour, the sidewalk was full of people praying for LIFE today! What a beautiful sight to see sometimes 20-30 people with umbrellas and raincoats, all united in prayer to bring about conversion of our nation and an end to abortion.Â
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For those of us who have spent years at the Sidewalk all alone, having all of you there today was a miracle!ÂTuesday and Fridays are normally killing mornings at the downtown Planned Parenthood, but again today like last Tuesday, we never saw the abortionist arrive. The escorts were getting frustrated at the no-show, looking at their watches frequently.Â
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Last Tuesday, he didn’t show up either and appointments had to be rescheduled.Â
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God is answering our prayers, so we PRAISE Him even in the storm. As you go to bed tonight, just think of those good people who will be standing in the cold rain tonight in prayer.”
God is certainly bigger than Planned Parenthood’s $902 million abortion empire…
…And with tens of thousands of people praying, fasting, and participating in peaceful vigils outside of Planned Parenthood offices, I believe the abortion Goliath knows its days are numbered.
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One more quick thing — I just flew home from an exciting pro-life event in Newark, New Jersey, where I met local 40 Days for Life leaders and volunteers, and I delivered a 28-minute talk specifically about Planned Parenthood in response to this breaking news.
Here is the audio recording for you…
(WARNING! Due to the offensive nature of much of Planned Parenthood’s business, this recording may not be appropriate for very young children! Sensitive topics were handled as delicately as possible, but parents may want to preview the content before playing for children.)
Listen Online (click “play” button):
Download MP3 (right click to save to your computer):
http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/newark.mp3
I hope you take a few minutes to listen so you can understand the growing importance this campaign has for the future of America.
Here’s today’s devotional by Fr. Frank Pavone…
INTENTION:
Pray that God will forgive our nation for inflicting pain on its youngest children
SCRIPTURE:
“Pilate…had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers…put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him…Then they led him out to crucify him.”
– Mark 15:15-20
REFLECTION:
Jesus endured pain for us. In reflecting on his pain, we see again the revelation of the love God has for us.
Abortion, too, brings pain to our innocent brothers and sisters –- a pain we cannot imagine or understand. We are not afraid to reflect on that pain, because our Lord has taught us to love them, and to suffer with them. Their pain is yet another reminder that they are truly our brothers and sisters in the one human family.
Maybe that’s why abortionists themselves often don’t allow themselves to think about the pain of these children.
Consider the following exchange that took place in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, between Judge Richard Casey and abortionist Timothy Johnson. (Johnson was testifying in the case National Abortion Federation, et. al. v. Ashcroft, which dealt with the ban on partial-birth abortion. The date was March 31, 2004.):
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THE COURT: If you are all finished let me just ask you a couple questions, Dr. Johnson. I heard you talk a lot today about dismemberment D&E procedure, second trimester; does the fetus feel pain?
THE WITNESS: I guess I –
THE COURT: There are studies, I’m told, that says they do. Is that correct? …
THE WITNESS: I’m aware of fetal behavioral studies that have looked at fetal responses to noxious stimuli.
THE COURT: Does it ever cross your mind when you are doing a dismemberment?
THE WITNESS: I guess whenever I –
THE COURT: Simple question, Doctor. Does it cross your mind?
THE WITNESS: Does the fetus having pain cross your mind?
THE COURT: Yes.
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: Never crossed your mind.
THE WITNESS: No.
PRAYER:
Lord, have mercy on us. Forgive our nation for inflicting pain on its youngest children. As we reflect on the pain your Son Jesus Christ endured for us, so we reflect on the pain that abortion causes the unborn.
Father, let us never forget. Let our awareness of this tragedy make us all the more strong and determined to move forward in our prayer and witness for life, until all pain is swallowed up in the victory of the resurrection.
We pray in Jesus’ mighty Name, AMEN.
October 13th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Faith is the only path to true existence! Pray always!
October 14th, 2007 at 12:34 am
David,
Let me start by saying that I am not the best on a computer. While I was listening to your 28 minute audio and thought that I would disconnect a splitter that my son had set up for his laptop. I inadvertently disconnected and put away the cord between the computer and the modem. Your audio never missed a beat! I listened to the whole program and it wasn’t untill I tried to get to another link that I discovered my error.
I have been praying for nearly 30 years to end this holocaust! It really does my heart good the hear that Planned Parenthood is feeling the heat! My message to everyone is to not stop until this deamon is fully driven out!
Ed
October 14th, 2007 at 1:57 am
Through The Lord God Thank you All! Beautiful six points: 1.Necessary,
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2. Possibility, 3. You, The LORD GOD, 4. Difficult 5. Worth 6. Time.
Keep praying, never stop. To The Lord God and Seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness to Strive for Holiness and Heaven seeking God’s Will for His Glory!
God Bless You!
!
The Lord God Is With us And Loves us His Children!
!
October 14th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Is anybody cataloging the victories of 40 Days For Life?
October 14th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Looks like , through God’s help, we have planned parenthood on the run as they are now becoming panicky. Good Work!
October 14th, 2007 at 9:59 am
I posted on this, when your enemies worry, that is a good sign. I think of PP as poor souls that need conversion, but those demons which they apparently are listening to are the enemies. We have to redouble our efforts to fast and pray and drive those demons out!
I would like to see if I made the Planned Parenthood “who’s who of abortion protestors” on their blog; it would be an honor!
October 14th, 2007 at 11:19 am
i just want to praise all of those who stood to support life for their immense courage, and simply for their love for the most innocent and vulnerable.
The name says it all: Pro-choice versus Pro-life. We have chosen LIFE over our own selfish choices of convenience and self-centredness. we have chosen to fulfill an unchangeable moral law that is imprinted in the very same conscience that pro-choice people wilfully ignore.
God bless you all!
October 14th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I tried to find the audio blog for day 18 through Google. I found it, but it took a lot of effort. I think most people might give up. So, I tried to phone Google, to see if they could make it easier. They did not have live customer service today. I hope that someone–at 40 Days for Life, AND EACH of us–will contact Google on Monday.
Ask them to make it easier to access DAY 18 http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/audio/newark.mp3. The fervor of David’s message is astounding.
Thank you, David, and everyone who is praying and fasting. May God continue to show compassion on us and lead us now– to pray and fast.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
What an inspiring message! And so timely! It is easy , because of PP’s seemingly disproportionate response, to begin to scrutinize even our prayers to be sure that we’re NOT harassing or threatening any person!
Thank you, David and family, and all 40 Days For Life volunteers for sharing your stories–it is a great help in this effort.
Also helpful is the outpouring of thanks, support, and hope during the hours when PP is closed. People who are hesitant to support this prayer campaign for life during business hours ARE thinking about what they see. It is heartwarming to realize that they have stored up positive responses to offer us on the weekends, after being drive-by witnesses all week long!!!!!
“This is the turn of the tide…” Already, God is answering our prayers in wonderful ways! Keep up the GOOD work! Let us praise and thank God together on those sidewalks, for His love endures forever, His power is all-encompassing, and His works are marvelous to behold! (And besides, it drives the demons nuts when we praise the Lord in the midst of chaos! As of last Friday, i have no doubt that in addition to imperfect, sinful persons like ourselves, we are facing, as Fr Tom Euteneuer has stated, the demons of contraception and abortion. They come out to PLAY and shriek when we pray!)
October 14th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I have been here from Day 1 and with God’s help will be here to Day 40. My prayers, fasting, sharing information etc. has helped me be stronger in this effort. I can’t be on the Front-line but am doing my part on the Home-front. Thank you.
October 14th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Mr. Bereit,
Thank you thank you thank you.
I send the emails to lots of people. I am so happy to share these stories and victories.
I pray for you and all the people involved.
Barb
October 15th, 2007 at 2:17 am
Hi David,
Amy and I listened to your speech…phenomenal, inspired!!!! I am stuck on one simple statement you made early in the talk: we are likely to be going to the polls in the next Presidential election without a prolife option. Considering that only 20% or less of the eligible voting population actually vote, could we not mobilize enough prolifers to put forth an exclusively prolife platform and run our own candidate?
Blessings,
Peter (and Amy) Minke
October 15th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Hey, Brian, our little discussion about PP and RU-486 discover three US abortion deaths tied to RU-486 that I’d been previously unware of. That brings the number I know of up to eight: Holly Patterson, Chanelle Bryant, Oriene Shevin, Vivian Tran, Brenda Vise, and these three new women.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:00 am
I have sent these wonderful updates to many of my friends in Christ. Our prayers will be heard by our loving God. I did not realize that our government furnishes $305.3 million to be spent by PP! Terrible that our nation condones the loss of so many lives over so many long years. Your story, David, shows that God’s grace will work for those who make the decision to keep their babies. I pray that many more will hear God’s word of love and forgiveness and will make the choice to keep their child and not abort.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:45 am
Sacrificial Lambs
Naked, hungry and shivering from the cold
Discarded babies fill the abyss
Curled in fetal positions, waiting
Waiting for their mothers to come
And hold them close to her breast
Giving them the cover of her body
For warmth and protection
Providing nurture from her
own body to give them the life
they were denied on earth
Mothers still trapped in purgatory
In earthly bodies that ache
to hold her baby close to her breast
to soothe the grief and void in her heart
Weeping and mourning in the night
As Rachel weeping for her children
there is no comfort for the Mother or the child
Apart from the sacrificial lamb of God
Come quickly we pray Lord Jesus!
10/22/2007
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:22 am
Romans 5: 6-13
6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
12″Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and)greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
13″Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14″If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
Father, we unite as believers and ask in the name of Jesus that your children would remain strong and continue praying for the end of the slaughter of unborn children in our nation until we, through your power granted to us, have caused this change to take place in the laws of our nation; turn us back to a nation honors and protects all humans.
Bring healing to the hearts, minds and spirits of mothers and fathers from this national tragedy through your forgiveness and promise of new life. Restore in us a new purpose and direction for our lives.
I pray in Jesus name, always! AMEN
December 28th, 2007 at 9:52 am
AVG download…
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January 27th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article 8 | 40 Days for Life, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.