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40 Days for Life participants celebrate abortion clinic rollbacks

Participants in the 40 Days for Life prayer vigils to end abortion are celebrating the closure of a New York abortion facility, the end of abortion services in several other targeted clinics around the country and the new lives of the children who could have been aborted, reports Catholic News Agency.

The New City, New York abortion facility Abortion Services closed on Friday. It was one of more than 50 clinics where prayer vigils were held in the spring.

David Bereit, national campaign director of 40 Days for Life, said, “We rejoice with pro-lifers in Rockland County, New York today as they celebrate the closing of an abortion facility that was responsible for ending the lives of untold numbers of innocent unborn children over its many years of operation. The unceasing prayers of these faithful people have been answered."

Bereit said he and his family visited the clinic vigil earlier in 2008. “My wife and children were photographed alongside a young man who carried a sign reading, 'Nothing is impossible with God.' That is certainly the case here. The prayerful efforts of many pro-lifers over the years have won this victory,” Bereit said.

“We are humbled to know that people participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign may have played a role in the peaceful closure of this abortion center."

According to Bereit, two other Planned Parenthood locations where 40 Days for Life vigils were held have stopped performing abortions. Abortions were unexpectedly halted at both the Lincoln, Nebraska and the Council Bluffs, Iowa locations.

“40 Days for Life leaders in both cities are unsure of the reason," said Bereit, "but they suspect it is because no abortionist is available since both facilities previously shared the same abortionist.”

He said at least one mother in Lincoln decided against abortion after learning the local Planned Parenthood was no longer performing them. “She took that as a sign from God that her baby was meant to live," Bereit said.

Various 40 Days for Life groups from across the nation are reporting that children saved during the spring vigils are now being born.

“The births of these children are among the most awesome blessings people have witnessed because of the prayerful outreach of 40 Days for Life. As we talk with more people around the country, we're confident we will hear more such stories of God's action in our midst,” Bereit said.

The 40 Days for Life campaign describes itself as a community-based effort featuring 40 days of prayer and fasting, “constant peaceful vigil” outside abortion facilities, and intense public outreach. It plans to conduct another series of vigils from September 24 through November 2.

[04/29/2008]

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