FARGO, N.D. (CNS) – Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo led a rosary Sept. 28 in front of the state of North Dakota's only abortion facility as part of an ecumenical campaign called "40 Days for Life – North Dakota."
As he stood facing the busy street in front of the Red River Women's Clinic, the dozen or so men and women who joined him drew close to hear his words above the sounds of the traffic and occasional nearby trains.
The campaign, which began Sept. 26, includes prayer and fasting, community outreach and a 40-day, 24-hours-a-day prayer vigil in front of the clinic.
According to a diocesan release, "40 Days for Life" is a nationwide, ecumenical effort to increase awareness about abortion, "save the lives of unborn children and bring healing to those who have had abortions, those who have encouraged abortions, and those who perform and assist with abortions."
The campaign, which continues through Nov. 4, is under way in 89 cities in 33 states.
In an Aug. 28 letter to priests of the diocese, Bishop Aquila asked them to schedule an hour of prayer in front of the abortion facility sometime during the 40 days and to encourage their parishioners to do the same.
Forty days of round-the-clock prayer equals 960 hourlong prayer slots to fill. By the third day of the campaign, fewer than 250 of those hours remained open, the diocese said. One or more people were already scheduled to pray during the other 710 hours.
"People of many faith backgrounds are responding to the call to prayer. And dozens who have not officially signed up to pray are dropping by to join in prayer," said the diocesan release.
One woman who prayed Sept. 27 wrote about a man who stopped by while she was there: "He told me how he had been involved in an abortion decision many years ago, and how he had never prayed outside a clinic before. He stayed for over an hour."
Abortions typically take place one day a week at the Fargo facility; in 2006 there were more than 1,200 abortions there. At least 25 women entered the facility Sept. 26.
The following day, one of those women told a "40 Days" participant that she had entered, but then changed her mind. The campaign Web site noted, "She entered, but, while inside, decided to allow her baby to continue to live. The young mother left the abortion facility with her baby still cradled within her womb."
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