America's 40 Days for Life Going International

A constant vigil will be keep outside the Marie Stopes abortion clinic in central London, 24 hours a day, for 40 days from Sept. 22 - Oct. 31. The group explained that its activities will include prayer and fasting, peaceful vigils and community outreach throughout the 40 days.

LONDON, England (CNA).- The American pro-life group 40 Days for Life is branching out across the Atlantic and beginning its first campaign in London, England on September 22, in conjunction with the launch of the U.S. fall campaign.

An announcement on the group's website stated that a constant vigil will be keep outside the Marie Stopes abortion clinic in central London, 24 hours a day, for 40 days from Sept. 22 - Oct. 31. The group explained that its activities will include prayer and fasting, peaceful vigils and community outreach throughout the 40 days.

Abortion provider Marie Stopes International has been the subject of controversy lately over a recent TV ad which urged women who might be pregnant to contact the organization, the Daily Mail reported in early August. During the ad, several worried-looking women in everyday situations were shown with the question "Are You Late?" displayed at the top of the commercial.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), an independent regulatory agency, ruled in favor of allowing the ad to air.

Paul Tully, general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), said in a statement on August 5 that advertising abortion, even indirectly, is "indecent and dishonest."

Marie Stopes performs about 65,000 abortions a year in the U.K.

Commenting on the upcoming pro-life campaign, SPUC president John Smeaton said on his website on Sept. 3 that "This isn't just an invitation or an awareness campaign aimed at churches and pro-life organizations; it's a personal invitation to each and every person, to prayer (sic), fast, and act."

"The bottom line is this: if you are prolife, care about the plight of unborn children, care about the countless women left scarred by abortion, want to reach out to the many men who should have been fathers, want to do something that will save lives and change the culture of death into a culture of life . Then please commit yourself to supporting 40 Days for Life London," Smeaton urged.

For more information, please visit: http://www.40daysforlife.com/london/

---