Seminarian Vigil for Life

Some comments made by His Excellency, Bishop Robert Morlino, at the Diocese of Madison Seminarians annual vigil for life, held outside the Madison Planned Parenthood earlier this month.

Madison Vigil Calendar

The Madison 40 Days for Life Vigil Calendar is up and running!

There is also a link to our vigil calendar on the right side of the blog, under Wisconsin Pro-Life groups. Please take a look at this when you have the opportunity.

40 Days for Life Madison is attempting to have at least two people praying outside the Planned Parenthood abortion center for every hour of the day during the vigil, which will start on September 26 and end on November 4. For those time slots listed on the calendar as 'filled', we already have at least two people committed to come and pray during that hour. If it says "1/2 filled", that means we have only one person committed at the present time, and need an additional person.

Please take a look and consider committing to come out and pray during a time slot not already filled. Please send us an email at 40DaysforLifeMadison@gmail.com, or call (877) Life-360 for questions or to sign up.

Chicago Pro-Lifers Launch Massive Effort to Stop New Abortion Clinic from Opening - 40 Day Vigil

As 40 Days for Life Madison and other communities prepare for the nationwide vigil on September 26, please keep this effort in your prayers.

AURORA, Illinois, August 20, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A massive pro-life press conference and rally was held near the newly-constructed facilities of a mega Planned Parenthood abortion mill on Thursday. The event was part of a full-scale campaign launched by pro-lifers from the Chicago district to prevent the clinic’s scheduled opening this fall.

About four hundred people attended the pro-life rally that was held at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora. Pro-life flyers, little plastic figures of foetuses and other information and promotional material lined the tables inside the building.

Jim Sedlak of STOPP Planned Parenthood, one of the keynote speakers during the day’s events, encouraged the pro-life campaign, mentioning another case in which protesters stopped a facility by raising legal challenges. At the rally Sedlack encouraged pro-lifers to continue their fight against Planned Parenthood because it “can” be beaten.

Ohio Right to Life director Denise Mackura also pumped enthusiasm into listeners, members of Families Against Planned Parenthood, saying, “We fight with you to stop this kind of poison that's going to flow into the city of Aurora when this facility opens up. Mackura, who will be discussing various legal options with lawyers and advisors next week, described specific practical ways to stop the clinic from opening.

Jason Craddock of the TMS Pro-Life Law Centre spoke enthusiastically about people’s rights and freedom of speech, and finally, Elizabeth Earl explained the “40 Days for Life” Prayer Vigil, which is being held outside the clinic this month. At the end of the rally, Pro-Life Action League Director Eric Schiedler, the Master of Ceremonies, invited people to participate in a candlelight vigil outside the abortion clinic. Here about 60 people sung hymns and prayed for an end to abortion.

The new Planned Parenthood facility, is nick-named the “Abortion Fortress” because of its high brick walls, bullet-proof glass and security cameras. Built under the name “Gemini Medical Office,” the 22,000 square foot building at Oakhurst Drive and New York Street will offer contraceptives, pregnancy tests, counselling and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, the Daily Herald Reports. According to president and CEO of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area Steve Trombley, abortions will comprise about 10% of patient care.

Outside the abortion facilities that are scheduled to open on September 18, pro-life witnesses held pictures of babies and signs that said, “Mommy, let me live.” They planted dozens of small white crosses in the ground with the words “John Doe baby” written across the front.

A group of pro-choice protesters also showed up outside the Center during the rally, but they did not have a permit to picket and were confined to a sidewalk along one side of the building.

Referring to the abortion site, Scheidler stated, “Planned Parenthood snuck into town.” He continued, “They were nearly finished building this place before we learned about it. We haven't got much time to stop them, but we're doing all we can.”

In a last minute, full-force effort to halt the clinic’s opening, the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, supported by scores of pro-lifers from the area, launched a massive “40 Days for Life” campaign. Since 8 a.m. on August 9, they have been constantly praying, fasting and holding a 24-hour vigil outside the abortion site. Pro-lifers from all different Christian denominations in the Chicago area have joined the effort, begging God to stop abortion and keep the clinic from opening.

Local pro-lifers are hopeful, for the “40 Days for Life” Campaign has proved tremendously (and many say miraculously) successful throughout the United States. In areas where the prayer campaign has been launched, abortion clinics have closed and many other major victories for the pro-life movement have been won. The largest “40 Days for Life” Campaign is scheduled to take place in cities across the nation starting on September 26 (See http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jul/07072602.html).

“This is the most powerful grassroots pro-life effort I've ever seen,” said Scheidler. “We can scarcely keep track of the prayer pledges coming in. The people of Aurora and their neighbors in nearby towns do not want an abortion clinic here. Period.” Scheidler declared, “Whether it's 40 days or prayer or 40 years of effort, we will shut down the Abortion Fortress of Aurora.”

Pro-lifers are encouraged to attend a massive pro-life demonstration in front of the Planned Parenthood facility next Saturday morning, August 25 from 9 to 11 a.m.

For more information about the fight against Planned Parenthood in Aurora and to sign-up for the 24-hour prayer vigil outside the Aurora abortion clinic visit: http://familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org/

Being Human

The documentary "Being Human", which recently aired on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), explains exactly what 40 Days for Life is all about. If you have not already had the chance, please feel welcome to view this important program at your convenience. It talks about the motivations behind the original 40 Days Campaign down in Texas, and how the vigil involved people from all walks of life, most of whom were never even active in the pro-life movement before the vigil.

"Being Human" will air again on EWTN on September 3rd. The program will air at 2:00 a.m. central time (if you are up that early!) and will air again at 5:30 p.m.

40 Days for Life Madison

Welcome to the 40 Days for Life Madison Blog! This blog will serve as a resource for persons in the Madison area who are concerned about the tragedy of abortion and want to stand for the cause of life.

Starting September 26th, 2007, pro-life citizens throughout the country will be praying in solidarity for forty consecutive days outside of abortion centers across America. Together we will raise our voices to the Lord, that he might help us re-establish a culture that values the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death. This will be done by prayerful witness and fasting during these forty days, ending on November 4th.

Madison area pro-lifers will be gathering outside of the Planned Parenthood located at 3706 Orin Road, off of Highway 51. Many unborn children have lost their lives at this abortion center, and we will pray that the Lord will bring an end to this tragedy here in Madison, and that He will bring healing to those women who have been victimized by Planned Parenthood.

For more information on the National 40 Days for Life Campaign, please take a few minutes to visit their website, at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.