Amazing results STILL pouring in!
It’s simply amazing!
Even as we are actively reviewing the insightful input from 2,154 surveys received from people all across America — and prayerfully assembling plans for the big “next steps” of this unified effort — positive developments continue to pour in!
COLORADO BALLOT INITIATIVE GAINS MOMENTUM:
In the Rocky Mountain state where two 40 Days for Life campaigns have been conducted, momentum continues to build around a major petition drive for a ballot initiative that will add 14 simple words to the state constitution: “The term ‘Person’ or ‘Persons’ shall include any human from the time of fertilization.”
These words will recognize the personhood of children in the womb, effectively protecting them from abortion.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS KICKS OFF MAJOR NEW EFFORT:
The groundswell of community support resulting from the city’s 40 Days for Life campaign last fall has led to the formation of the San Antonio Coalition for Life, modeled after the Coalition for Life in Bryan/College Station, Texas, where the first 40 Days for Life was conducted.
Tonight, hundreds of people will be attending the brand new organization’s inaugural benefit dinner to launch citywide ongoing pro-life efforts.
SOUTH DAKOTA TURNS IN NEARLY 50,000 SIGNATURES:
After conducting a 40 Days for Life campaign last fall in Sioux Falls, state leaders began a petition drive to place a pro-life initiative on the ballot this fall that would ban nearly all abortions in the state.
The Washington Post is now reporting that South Dakotans turned in THREE TIMES the required number of signatures, assuring that the measure will be on the ballot for voters to decide.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ALREADY BRACING FOR FALL:
America’s largest abortion chain — fresh from releasing its latest annual report revealing that the organization performed 289,750 abortions in the last year while taking in $336.7 million in taxpayer funding — sent out a mass e-mail stating that, “Planned Parenthood had to withstand even more opposition than usual. Case in point: two around-the-clock ‘40 Days for Life’ protests within the past six months, targeting dozens of Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers across the country.”
The organization also just announced plans to re-launch its online blog this coming fall that was used last fall in an attempt to counter the effect of 40 Days for Life across the country.
Bottom line: the abortion industry is already bracing itself for a campaign that doesn’t begin for five months!
PERU BLOCKS DANGEROUS ABORTION PROTOCOL:
A 40 Days for Life campaign was just completed in Peru as part of a successful effort to block a new abortion protocol which would have begun to break down the laws against abortion in their country.
At the conclusion of the 40 Days for Life, more than two thousand people marched for life and presented over 38,000 signatures in support of a law recognizing the humanity of unborn children.
The nation’s vice minister of health accepted the signatures and publicly pledged — in the name of the Health Ministry — to respect the law and to refrain from allowing any protocol to affect the right to life.
BRAZIL EXPERIENCES “MIRACULOUS TRANSFORMATION”:
The people of Brazil — an overwhelmingly Catholic nation — recently completed a 40 Days for Life campaign, and LifeSiteNews.com is now reporting: “During the past month, the nation of Brazil has experienced a seemingly miraculous transformation.”
According to the news report, the Catholic hierarchy in Brazil has long been known for its laxity regarding human life issues. “However, in the last month they have suddenly appeared to the masses, boldly proclaiming the Church’s Gospel of Life. Their former timidity has been replaced by an aggressive, almost provocative stance towards the ideologies that underlie the death cult of abortion.”
The story continues, “Although it may be too early to tell, it appears that a ‘pro-life Pentecost’ is occurring among the bishops of Brazil, and the strategies they are employing are a lesson to the whole Catholic world.”
RHODE ISLAND — FIVE MONTHS LATER…
And here’s a great story to wrap this up…
Joanne, who led the fall 2007 Providence, Rhode Island 40 Days for Life received the following e-mail from the pastor of a local church in response to their campaign.
This touching message clearly demonstrates the power of God working through His people.
And while we may never know the full impact of a 40 Days for Life, it is a great blessing when God is STILL revealing results months after a local campaign is completed.
Joanne,
Please share this with the sidewalk crew:
I just had dinner with a young man whom I had not seen in over a year. It seems that he and his girlfriend visited Planned Parenthood a few months back. He said they passed through the people on the sidewalk quietly protesting as they went into the clinic.
They sat in a room with about a dozen other young girls, mostly with their moms, he thought. He was the only guy there. She was handed a clip board, he was ignored.
She filled out the information requested then they sat without speaking for several minutes. As he looked around the room, no one spoke.
He said all he could think about were the people outside on the sidewalk. He turned to her and at the same time she looked at him. Without speaking, they both got up and walked out.
He said the people outside cheered for them as the headed to their car.
I will be baptizing their son in a couple of months. Thank you for all you do!
Fr. Codega
God is SO GOOD!
Please keep our national team in your prayers over the next few weeks, as we finalize plans for the future (Hint: think really BIG!) and thank you for all you do to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life