A call to nine days of prayer to keep abortion out of health care reform

We are now halfway through 40 Days for Life! If you haven't yet signed up, now is the time. Before we know it, the closing vigil will be upon us.

The campaign has confirmed 209 saved babies nationwide (Praise God!). That number does NOT include the estimated seven babies who would have perished at the Madison Surgery Center since February 17 had pro-life efforts not caused repeated postponements of the late-term abortion plans.

Urgent: A call to prayer to keep abortion funding out of health care reform

The President and members of Congress are calling for a final vote on proposed health care legislation. The vote will likely take place late next week--possibly as early as Wednesday. The current bill before Congress would allocate massive amounts of tax dollars to fund abortion, making it the greatest expansion of abortion in the United States since Roe vs. Wade.

Many of you will remember last year's push to defeat the so-called Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would have eliminated all restrictions on abortion--even forcing pro-life medical staff to choose between performing abortions and losing their jobs. After much prayer and public outcry, that bill never came up for a vote. However, the current health care bill stealthily incorporates many of the same troubling components as FOCA.

That's why Vigil for Life is calling for nine days of intensified prayer and fasting--beginning March 9 and running through March 17. From the vigil site, from home, from church or from wherever you may be, please commit the next nine days to praying that health care legislation respects human life. We've been throwing a lot at you lately, but the stakes have never been higher. We've seen here in Madison how our prayer can make a difference. Let's entrust our nation to the Lord as well. Here is a prayer we encourage you to use:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Two Announcements

1. This morning we received an urgent email from 40 Days for Life leaders in Green Bay. A young woman (whose name we do not yet have) in her second trimester of pregnancy is scheduled for an abortion Friday, March 12 at the Madison Planned Parenthood on Orin Road. We've been asked to have people on hand to pray for her. Jen and Will of the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be on hand starting at 1 p.m. If you decide to go before 1 p.m., please have at least one friend with you. If you can't go, pray from home!
2. On Sunday, March 21 at 5 p.m., Fr. Rick Heilman and the Knights of Divine Mercy will lead Stations of the Cross in front of the Madison Surgery Center. Fr. Rick and the Knights previously used the same strategy to successfully drive a strip club out of business within six months of its opening. We'll have further details on the event in the week ahead. For now, please plan to attend!