Dear Deacon John,
Wisconsin native
Steve Karlen, our 40 Days for Life North American outreach director,
continues to add to his “road warrior” status through five weeks of
travel.
Steve led multiple campaigns in Wisconsin, including one that helped prevent late-term abortions from happening in Madison.
I've heard Steve speak many times and know why so many have been inspired at every one of his stops. For his part, Steve is seeing how God is using you as we sprint towards Day 40.
Steve led multiple campaigns in Wisconsin, including one that helped prevent late-term abortions from happening in Madison.
I've heard Steve speak many times and know why so many have been inspired at every one of his stops. For his part, Steve is seeing how God is using you as we sprint towards Day 40.
Here’s the latest from Steve ... starting out with a video update!
Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa
I
visited several locations ... including one of the most notorious
abortion centers in the United States. Click the image below to see the
video report:
... or you may click here.
Bloomington, Indiana
When I arrived in Bloomington, I was told that the 40 Days for Life vigil sometimes has its critics. Sure enough, I experienced that firsthand as I spoke to the volunteers. A man drove into the parking lot blaring heavy-metal music, trying to disrupt the event. We ignored him, though, and he went away.
Earlier that day, vigil participants had spent quite a bit of time with a client outside the abortion center. They suggested that she should insist on seeing an ultrasound. But she said it wouldn’t make any difference – she was having an abortion.
When she went in, however, she was told she was too far along in her pregnancy to have the abortion.
She went back outside to talk with the volunteers … and ended up hugging one of them. They are now working with her to help her get through her pregnancy and beyond.
It was a moving and emotional scene, and one man who had been talking with this client for several hours was crying toward the end of my visit. It goes to show how much 40 Days for Life participants really care about these women … and their babies!
When I arrived in Bloomington, I was told that the 40 Days for Life vigil sometimes has its critics. Sure enough, I experienced that firsthand as I spoke to the volunteers. A man drove into the parking lot blaring heavy-metal music, trying to disrupt the event. We ignored him, though, and he went away.
Earlier that day, vigil participants had spent quite a bit of time with a client outside the abortion center. They suggested that she should insist on seeing an ultrasound. But she said it wouldn’t make any difference – she was having an abortion.
When she went in, however, she was told she was too far along in her pregnancy to have the abortion.
She went back outside to talk with the volunteers … and ended up hugging one of them. They are now working with her to help her get through her pregnancy and beyond.
It was a moving and emotional scene, and one man who had been talking with this client for several hours was crying toward the end of my visit. It goes to show how much 40 Days for Life participants really care about these women … and their babies!
Muncie, Indiana
Tom has led a great campaign in front of a Planned Parenthood referral site in Muncie. Over the last three campaigns they have not missed a single hour of vigil coverage.
The event was an exciting candlelight vigil with tea lights and lanterns … and there were 40 Days for Life signs everywhere.
One of the volunteers said a woman was coming for an abortion referral appointment. However, after talking with the volunteers, she did not go into Planned Parenthood. The work of Tom and his crew are proof positive that vigils make a difference, not only at surgical abortion centers, but also at referral sites!
The event was an exciting candlelight vigil with tea lights and lanterns … and there were 40 Days for Life signs everywhere.
One of the volunteers said a woman was coming for an abortion referral appointment. However, after talking with the volunteers, she did not go into Planned Parenthood. The work of Tom and his crew are proof positive that vigils make a difference, not only at surgical abortion centers, but also at referral sites!
Thanks again to Steve Karlen for today’s report!
Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
Day 36 intention
We are the defenders of true freedom. May our witness unveil the deception of the “pro-choice” slogan.
Scripture
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Day 36 intention
We are the defenders of true freedom. May our witness unveil the deception of the “pro-choice” slogan.
Scripture
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
— 2 Corinthians 3:17
Reflection
Norma McCorvey (the former Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade) used to work at an abortion mill named “A Choice for Women.” She now realizes what a cruel irony that title was.
She saw first hand, just as pregnancy resource center counselors see, that women don’t get abortions because of freedom of choice, but rather because they feel they have no freedom and no choice.
They feel trapped, abandoned, desperate and afraid, and have been led to believe that abortion is their only option.
As Frederica Mathewes-Green has written, no want wants an abortion like she wants a Porsche or an ice cream; rather, she wants it like an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” That doesn’t mean that the Spirit allows us to do whatever we want or to decide for ourselves what’s right and wrong.
Rather, it means that the Spirit gives us the freedom to do what is right, the power to choose what is good, when we see it before us and yet feel pulled in the opposite direction. Liberty means that we no longer have to feel doomed to do what we know is wrong.
We are the people of the Spirit of the Lord, and when we take action on behalf of life, especially by being present at abortion mills, we are acting on behalf of true freedom, and imparting to those who are in bondage the power to do what is right.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit. You are the Spirit of freedom, the source of all that is good, the power to do what is right. Fill us, and fill those who are in bondage today, feeling doomed to do what is wrong. Set them free, and help us to hasten them on the road to freedom, where your grace overcomes every temptation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Norma McCorvey (the former Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade) used to work at an abortion mill named “A Choice for Women.” She now realizes what a cruel irony that title was.
She saw first hand, just as pregnancy resource center counselors see, that women don’t get abortions because of freedom of choice, but rather because they feel they have no freedom and no choice.
They feel trapped, abandoned, desperate and afraid, and have been led to believe that abortion is their only option.
As Frederica Mathewes-Green has written, no want wants an abortion like she wants a Porsche or an ice cream; rather, she wants it like an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” That doesn’t mean that the Spirit allows us to do whatever we want or to decide for ourselves what’s right and wrong.
Rather, it means that the Spirit gives us the freedom to do what is right, the power to choose what is good, when we see it before us and yet feel pulled in the opposite direction. Liberty means that we no longer have to feel doomed to do what we know is wrong.
We are the people of the Spirit of the Lord, and when we take action on behalf of life, especially by being present at abortion mills, we are acting on behalf of true freedom, and imparting to those who are in bondage the power to do what is right.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit. You are the Spirit of freedom, the source of all that is good, the power to do what is right. Fill us, and fill those who are in bondage today, feeling doomed to do what is wrong. Set them free, and help us to hasten them on the road to freedom, where your grace overcomes every temptation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Printable devotional
To download today's devotional as a printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/fall2014day36print.pdf
For Life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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