DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

From 40 Days For Life: DAY 37: Three doctors suggested abortion

Some abortion-minded mothers face circumstances so difficult that the pressure to have an abortion seems insurmountable.

Sexual assault, maternal health problems, and challenging prenatal diagnoses, just to name a few.

Suzanne in Marietta, Georgia was told by three separate doctors that she NEEDED to have an abortion. They said her baby was "incompatible with life."

Suzanne and her husband said, "no." Two decades later, she leads a 40 Days for Life campaign with Rachel--the little girl she refused to abort. Be inspired by this short video highlighting how Suzanne and Rachel are bringing the love of Jesus Christ into their community through their campaign.

Click here to view the video or visit:

https://youtu.be/ggzwRlO9s0A

The abortion industry tells women in crisis, "I'm sorry, but the best we can do for you--the best we're willing to do for you--is to take your money...and the life of your baby."

But that's not good enough.

Your prayerful presence at a 40 Days for Life vigil is a powerful reminder to an abortion-vulnerable woman--and to the entire community--that there is enough love in God's heart and in our hearts to empower a woman facing a difficult situation. There is hope.

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Early this year, a young woman named Andrea was the victim of a sexual assault.

Shortly thereafter, she found she was pregnant and decided to have an abortion. She also became angry with God and even contemplated suicide.

Late one night, she was struggling with insomnia, trying to figure out where to go for an abortion. That's when she turned on her television and stumbled upon an interview with Guatemala City 40 Days for Life leader, Evanidia.

The interview changed everything as Andrea prayed to God, "It's ok. I'll continue with the pregnancy."

She has since found help with emotional healing following her traumatic conception and has sought out the 40 Days for Life team that helped save her baby.

Birmingham, England

Isabel in Birmingham reported that a woman on the cusp of her third trimester of pregnancy entered the Marie Stopes abortion facility for her third late-term abortion.

"She told us her last aborted baby lived for three minutes [after being born alive,]" Isabel said. "She had been told if she gave birth to these children they would be taken in [by the state.]"

Volunteers offered support to the mom and her husband, but they proceeded with the abortion appointment anyway.

That same day, volunteers were encouraged when they learned of a baby saved from abortion at their vigil. And just a few days later, God used vigil participants to save a set of twins!

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When a Philadelphia parking enforcement official made the rounds near the 40 Days for Life vigil site in Philadelphia, she asked whether the volunteers supported or opposed abortion.

Upon hearing that volunteers were against abortion--and for life--she said, "I was conceived in rape. My mother was told to abort me but she gave me life."

That decision has now borne fruit across generations.

"I have three kids of my own," she said. "They wouldn't be here if she aborted me. Thank you for being here today!"

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

— Romans 12:1

God Almighty, You alone are worthy of our praise and worship. Having accepted Your Son’s sacrifice on my behalf, I in turn present my body to you as a living sacrifice. I pray that you would use me as your vessel to rescue others who are perishing.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life 4112 E 29th St. Bryan, Texas 77802 United States (888) LIFE-316

LIFE IS SACRED

An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to “save the life of its mother” comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII:

“Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral ‘indication’ that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.”