40 Days for Life
{{Short description|International organization}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = 40 Days for Life
| founding_location = 2004, Bryan-College Station, TX
| type = 501(c)(3) non-profit
| purpose = Anti-abortion activism
| location = International
| website = https://40daysforlife.com
}}
40 Days for Life is an international organization that campaigns against abortion in more than 60 nations worldwide.{{cite news |last1=Monaghan |first1=Gabrielle |title=Pro-life activists to picket clinic |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/pro-life-activists-to-picket-clinic-szfxt7wt5m6 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=The Times |date=February 7, 2016 |ref=1}} It was originally started in 2004 by members of the Brazos Valley Coalition for Life in Texas. The name refers to a repeated pattern of events lasting for 40 days in the Bible, such as Noah’s Ark, Moses’s 40 days on Mount Sinai, and Jesus’s 40 days in the desert.{{cite web |last1=Kukla |first1=Kevin |title=David Bereit recounts 40 Days for Life's origins |url=http://prolife365.com/40-days-for-life-origin/ |website=ProLife 365 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=3}}{{cite web |title=40 Days for Life |url=https://scdiocese.org/40-days-for-life/ |website=Diocese of Sioux City |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=4}}
The 40 Days for Life campaign is active in the spring during the Christian season of Lent and in the fall.{{cite web |last1=Dwyer |first1=Fr. Dave |title=40 Days for Life |url=https://bustedhalo.com/podcasts/40-days-for-life |website=Busted Halo |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=5}}{{cite news |last1= |title=Fall 40 Days for Life will be held Sept. 25 through Nov. 3 |url=https://therecordnewspaper.org/fall-40-days-for-life-will-be-held-sept-25-through-nov-3/ |work=The Record |publisher=Archdiocese of Louisville |date=19 September 2019}} Campaigns are organized simultaneously in hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world, although not all campaign locations participate every time.{{cite web |last1=Dwyer |first1=Dr. Dave |title=40 Days for Life |url=https://bustedhalo.com/podcasts/40-days-for-life |website=Busted Halo |ref=5}} Each campaign consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting in shifts outside of a clinic or hospital that performs abortions or which is an abortion referral center. The campaign also involves outreach to the community to promote awareness about abortion and outreach directly to women considering abortion.{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Patty |date=March 6, 2017 |title=The 40 Days of Lent are 40 Days for Life |work=National Catholic Register |url=http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pattyknap/the-40-days-of-lent-are-40-days-for-life |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=20}} Participants are required to sign a “Statement of Peace” stating that they will act lawfully and peacefully while participating in the campaign.{{cite news |last1=Ditum |first1=Sarah |date=March 13, 2012 |title=Anti-abortion campaigners like 40 Days for Life have resorted to intimidation |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/mar/13/40-days-for-life-anti-abortionists |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=23}}
History
The organization was founded in Bryan, Texas in 1998 by Shawn Carney, a Catholic student, in reaction to the presence of a Planned Parenthood abortion facility. Lane Luckie, [https://www.kltv.com/2019/02/04/power-prayer-days-life-co-founder-shawn-carney/ Power of Prayer: 40 Days For Life co-founder Shawn Carney], kltv.com, USA, Feb. 4, 2019 ProLife 365 says that four members of the Brazos Valley Coalition for Life decided to start the prayer campaign 24 hours a day for 40 days with the goal of closing the facility, and credits this campaign for a rejuvenation of local anti-abortion activities in the Bryan-College Station area.{{cite news |last1=Kukla |first1=Kevin |title=David Bereit recounts 40 Days for Life's origins |url=http://prolife365.com/40-days-for-life-origin/ |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=ProLife 365 |date=June 18, 2014 |ref=3}}
In early 2007, the original 40 Days for Life leaders suggested a simultaneous nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign in as many cities as wished to participate.{{cite news |title=U.S. kicks off 40 Days for Life |url=https://zenit.org/articles/u-s-kicks-off-40-days-for-life/ |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=Zenit News Agency |date=September 26, 2007 |ref=11 |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924012859/https://zenit.org/articles/u-s-kicks-off-40-days-for-life/ |url-status=dead }} The first national campaign ran that fall with vigils in 89 cities in 33 U.S. states.{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Linda |title=40 Days for Life campaign |url=https://catholicexchange.com/40-days-for-life-campaign |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=Catholic Exchange |date=September 10, 2007 |ref=12}} A second national campaign was added to run during the spring of each year, starting in Lent of 2008 with campaigns in 59 cities.{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Michelle |title=Let's have 40 days of choice against 40 days of lies |url=http://socialistworker.org/2018/09/26/lets-have-40-days-of-choice-against-40-days-of-lies |website=International Socialist Organization |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=13}}{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Lawrence |title=40 Days for Life campaign kicks off in 130 cities |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/40-days-for-life-campaign-kicks-off-in-130-cities.html |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=Christian Post |date=February 25, 2009 |ref=14}}
The spring 2009 campaign had numerous U.S. and international cities participating, including Brisbane, Australia and cities in Canada, Northern Ireland, and the United States. 40 Days for Life also began campaigning against clinics in Ireland prior to the 2018 constitutional amendment legalizing the procedure; such clinics gave information to women who were thinking of having an abortion in Britain, where abortion is widely legal.
In 2013, the Bryan Planned Parenthood closed.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Beth |title=Coalition for Life looks ahead after Planned Parenthood closing |url=https://www.theeagle.com/news/local/coalition-for-life-looks-ahead-after-planned-parenthood-closing/article_087eb6ec-7a7e-596b-a8d5-acd4f8554f01.html |work=The Eagle |date=September 22, 2013 |language=en}} In 2014, the building was bought by 40 Days for Life. Leonardo Blair, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-group-40-days-for-life-moves-headquarters-into-former-planned-parenthood-abortion-center-where-6400-children-died.html Pro-Life Group 40 Days for Life Moves Headquarters Into Former Planned Parenthood Abortion Center Where 6,400 Children Died], christianpost.com, USA, November 7, 2014{{cite news |last1=Breaux |first1=Aimee |title=Vatican official to visit Bryan Coalition for Life headquarters |url=https://www.theeagle.com/news/local/vatican-official-to-visit-bryan-coalition-for-life-headquarters/article_2e767acd-a836-5d5a-870c-d83ca7b513ca.html |access-date=20 November 2019 |work=The Eagle |date=February 2, 2017 |language=en}}
As of the spring 2019 campaign, more than 1,000,000 people have participated in 61 countries across all six populated continents.{{cite web |title=40 Days for Life fall campaign begins Sept. 25 |url=https://thefloridacatholic.org/2019/09/11/40-days-for-life-fall-campaign-begins-sept-25/ |website=Florida Catholic |ref=6}} Lutherans for Life says that approximately 19,000 churches have participated in the 6,428 local campaigns that have been held since 40 Days for Life began.{{cite web |last1=Salemink |first1=Michael |title=40 Days for Life/National Life Chain |url=https://www.lutheransforlife.org/article/40-days-for-life--national-life-chain/ |website=Lutherans for Life |ref=16}}{{cite news |title=Manitowoc 40 Days for Life campaign starts Sept. 25 along Calumet Avenue |url=https://www.htrnews.com/story/news/2019/09/18/manitowoc-40-days-life-anti-abortion-returns-calumet-avenue-near-planned-parenthood/2353297001/ |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=Herald Times Reporter |date=September 18, 2019 |ref=17}} The US-based Christian Broadcasting Network reports that more than 16,000 confirmed instances where potential patients did not have a planned abortion.{{cite news |last1=Hallowell |first1=Billy |title=He saved 16,000 unborn babies' lives and helped rescue Abby Johnson from Planned Parenthood |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2019/july/he-saved-16-000-unborn-babies-rsquo-lives-and-helped-rescue-abby-johnson-from-planned-parenthood |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=CBN News |date=July 15, 2019 |ref=18}} Campaigns continue to be held in the spring and fall of each year.
Opposition
An American Civil Liberties Union spokesperson called 40 Days for Life "the most dangerous threat to choice".{{cite web |last1=Baldwin |first1=Lou |title=40 Days for Life vigils show support for women in crisis pregnancy |url=http://catholicphilly.com/2019/03/news/local-news/40-days-for-life-vigils-show-support-for-women-in-crisis-pregnancy/ |website=Archived from original |access-date=September 28, 2019 |ref=25 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923154841/https://catholicphilly.com/2019/03/news/local-news/40-days-for-life-vigils-show-support-for-women-in-crisis-pregnancy/ |url-status=dead }} Abortion rights activists have reacted against 40 Days for Life with protests such as “40 Days of Choice”, among others.{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Michelle |title=Lets have 40 days of choice against 40 days of lies |url=http://socialistworker.org/2018/09/26/lets-have-40-days-of-choice-against-40-days-of-lies |website=International Socialist Organization |access-date=September 25, 2019 |ref=13}} They have pursued legal avenues such as buffer zones, especially in Canada and Europe, to prevent anti-abortion activists from approaching women or standing near abortion facilities.{{cite news |last1=Caton |first1=Mary |title=Windsor Regional Hospital draws dueling rallies over abortion |url=https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/windsor-regional-hospital-draws-duelling-rallies-over-abortion |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=Windsor Star |date=March 25, 2019 |ref=26}}
In the United Kingdom, the 40 Days for Life campaign has been described as an "American-style" protest. Abortion rights activists say that harassment of clinic patients in the United Kingdom is increasing due to the campaign; 40 Days for Life denies that the campaign promotes harassment.{{cite news |last1=Woodyatt |first1=Amy |title='Americanized' anti-abortion protests are on the rise in the UK. But a fight back has begun |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/europe/anti-abortion-manchester-protests-uk-gbr-intl/index.html |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=CNN: World |date=July 9, 2019 |ref=21}} The British Pregnancy Advisory Service states that some abortion appointments cancelled during a 40 Days for Life campaign or similar protest are rescheduled after the protest.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-08|title=Anti-abortion activists harassing women at UK clinics during Lent|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/08/anti-abortion-activists-harassing-women-at-uk-clinics-during-lent|access-date=2021-06-04|website=the Guardian|language=en}}
According to Holly Baxter, writing for the British publication The Guardian, the vigils' participants harass women and pregnant girls trying to access clinics by singing hymns, distributing rosaries, and distributing leaflets disguised as NHS literature, which are described by a Marie Stopes representative as "pseudo-medical" and "misleading".{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Holly |title=40 Days for Life: Prayers and protests |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/mar/26/40-days-life-prayers-protests |access-date=September 25, 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=March 26, 2013 |ref=24}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.40daysforlife.com/ Official website]
Category:Anti-abortion organizations in the United States
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Texas