One Baby At A Time

Reflections during 40 Days For Life

Saturday was our first experience of being on the “front lines” in the struggle to save America’s unborn. In conjunction with the national 40 Days For Life Campaign, we participated in our church’s prayer vigil in front of an abortion clinic.

Though always opposed to abortion, it is only within the last two years that we have become actively involved in the pro-life movement. The unlikely overturning of Roe v Wade appeared to be the only hope. Our involvement was limited to voting for pro-life candidates and offering prayers for their success.

It was Catholic cable station EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) that led us beyond passive support for the pro-life cause into active involvement. Like millions of Americans opposed to abortion, on principle, we had never actually taken the time to contemplate the horrible realities of what happens during an abortion. We never realized the extent of the physical and psychological damage often inflicted upon women who have undergone an abortion. Never understood the depth of sorrow experienced by men who have lost children to abortion. Never truly reflected upon what an abomination the dismembering of a screaming infant must be to the loving God who bestows life as the greatest of gifts. Never stopped to think about what an affront a national policy of abortion on demand must be to the gracious God Who has bestowed so many blessings upon our country.

And, more importantly, we had not been aware of the success being achieved by thousands of pro-life activists combating the evil plague of abortion, saving one baby at a time.

Groups such as The National Right To Life Committee, Priests For Life and Human Life International essentially founded the pro-life movement. The members of these groups had no illusions about overturning Roe in the near future. Undaunted, they began running mass media ads, conducting seminars, organizing prayer vigils, publishing newspapers and newsletters, and offering a variety of other services and resources, many free of charge. They successfully lobbied in Washington and state legislatures for common sense/decency restrictions on abortion. The end result of these tireless, often thankless, efforts are thousands of people alive today who would have otherwise been lost to the abortion mills.

And the pro-life community does not just preach the talk. They walk the walk supporting over 2000 Pregnancy Resource Centers offering clear alternatives to abortion, no matter how dire an expectant mother’s financial or personal circumstances may be. Services include pregnancy testing, counseling, parenting classes, complete prenatal care, obstetric services, and, if desired, adoption placement with loving, stable families. Many centers offer, or can secure placement in, job training programs and aid women in securing employment. Heartbeat International is the largest group of pregnancy resource centers in America and throughout the world.

Abortion Healing groups offer grief and guilt counseling, combined with spiritual healing, to those coping with the after effects of abortion. Since 1973, hundreds of thousands of American women and men have been misled by the pro-abortion lobby into believing that abortion is a women’s rights issue involving a “simple medical procedure” for dealing with “problem pregnancies”. The brutal reality of undergoing an abortion, however, often proves to be a woman’s worst nightmare. The lives of thousands of women and men have been restored and made whole again through the compassionate healing therapy offered by Rachel’s Vineyard and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. Many have become some of America’s most effective spokespersons on behalf of the unborn.

As of this date, 299 babies are known to have been saved through the efforts of the fall 40 Days For Life Campaign. Numerous abortion clinic employees have “crossed the lines” to thank volunteers maintaining prayer vigils in front of their clinics. Some clinic employees have left their jobs, including at least one doctor.

During our vigil, and frankly the majority of others, no woman directly renounced her intention to have an abortion. No doctor or clinic employee proclaimed a conversion. The best we could say for our efforts for that one day was that activity at the clinic seemed quite slow for a Saturday.

During these 40 days, however, there were undoubtedly many unheralded successes across America. Expectant mothers who turned back from clinics to pause and reconsider the ramifications of the “choice” they were about to make. Women who realized through the prayers and efforts of “sidewalk counselors” that they are not alone and have numerous ways to choose life for their babies. Despondent women who at the last minute received the gift of hope.

As Christians we know that God has had a plan for each of us that reaches back into eternity. We were meant to live during this time. We have been given the challenge of stemming the tide of the modern age’s slaughter of the innocents. And through the prayers and efforts of millions of Americans we are meeting that challenge. The majority of Americans now consider themselves to be pro-life.

Roe v Wade still reigns, but will not prevail. Pro-life America is undermining Roe’s foundations, changing hearts and saving one baby at a time.