40-day pro-life campaign kicks off in Seattle

The practice and legalization of abortion is one of the most debated issues in our society, and one that can become especially heated around high schools and college campuses.

On Wednesday night, Seattle pro-life advocates gathered for the second consecutive year to kick off the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign. For 40 days, 24 hours a day, volunteers will stand outside of medical clinics and pray to end abortion.

The rally drew about 50 participants of all ages, including about 20 students from the UW. Liz Nelson of Students for Human Life: UW, will be working hard to gather more students for the upcoming weeks.

“Peaceful, prayerful and lawful,” is the slogan of the campaign.

At the same time, pro-choice advocates feel strongly about keeping clinics such as Planned Parenthood open and accessible to college students and anyone else who might utilize its services.

“Taking away these services would be infringing on human rights,” said former UW student and liberal activist Rod Palmquist. “Whether you disagree with abortion or not, it’s the right of individuals to make for themselves, and those individuals don’t need to be ostrasized for making their own decision.”

Though 40 Days for Life is not specific to a particular religion or church, it centers on using prayer and faith in God to advance its cause. Signs exhorting ‘Pray to End Abortion’ decorated the rally and Bible passages were included in handouts.

Forty is a significant number in the Bible; lent lasts for 40 days and Noah’s ark survived a 40-day flood. Moreover, the average pregnancy for a human being is around 40 weeks.

“The focus isn’t picketing or protesting, or judging or even trying to make people leave the clinic,” said Chris Haag, co-coordinator of the rally. “It’s about praying for the unborn and for the people going in.”

Many campaign participants said ending abortion was a deeply personal and spiritual cause for them, as well as a time-consuming commitment.

“Last year I left my job for eight months in order to volunteer full-time,” said co-cordinator Aaron Stockton. “I want my grandchildren to know I did everything I could to stop this holocaust of the unborn.”

The campaign was divided into three parts: prayer and vigil at abortion facilities, personal fasting, details of which are determined by individuals; distributing items such as pro-life T-shirts, and community outreach via visiting local churches and campuses.

“Nobody changes their heart for a lecture,” said speaker Maria Lancaster, in reference to the emphasis on prayer.

Nationally, 40 Days for Life is the largest simultaneous pro-life movement to ever take place. Though the Seattle campaign is only in its second year, the movement was started in 2005 in College Station, Texas, and now occurs in 179 different locations.

For more information about the national 40 Days for Life campaign, visit www.40daysforlife.com, or to learn about the Seattle campaign, visit http://seattle40daysforlife.com.

Reach reporter Annie Atherton news@dailyuw.com.