Editorial

40 Days for Life campaign calls us to convert hearts

“Jesus gave even his life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion should be helped to love—that is, to give until it hurts her plans, her free time, to respect the life of her child. For the child is the greatest gift of God to the family because they have been created to love and be loved.” —St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Teresa of Calcutta’s words continue to be as true today as they were when she shared them at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in 1994.

And 28 years later, we continue to try to convert misinformed and hardened hearts who believe taking the lives of unborn children is the answer to unwanted pregnancies.

To date, more than 62 million unborn babies have been killed through abortion in America since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand in 1973. And we continue to pray this holocaust will soon come to an end.

There may be rays of light streaming to overtake this darkness. The Supreme Court will issue its decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization this summer, which is focused on the constitutionality of abortion. If the Mississippi law is upheld, most abortions will be banned in that state after 15 weeks.

In Indiana, we continue to build a culture of life. One powerful source of showing support for both the unborn and their mothers are pregnancy care centers.

“Pro-life pregnancy resource centers in Indiana outnumber abortion facilities by a ratio of about 5-to-1,” noted Marc Tuttle, executive director of Right to Life of Indianapolis. “Supporting these centers and letting women know that help is available through our churches, resource centers and maternity homes will encourage women to see the help they need.”

As we continue our efforts to build a culture of life, there is no greater resource than prayer.

Lent begins on March 2. That date is also the beginning of the spring 40 Days for Life campaign, which runs through April 10.

40 Days for Life is an international effort that seeks to end abortion through peaceful prayer vigils at abortion centers, and to raise community awareness of the consequences of abortion. A campaign also occurs each fall.

During the 40-day campaigns, individuals and groups pray during one-hour time slots in front of abortion centers around the world. The initiative offers us a unique opportunity to plant seeds of faith, hope and love where the unborn and their mothers are concerned, and it is a powerful example having people across the globe pray in unison for the unborn.

The Indianapolis campaign will take place on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood abortion center at 8590 Georgetown Road. Parking is available on the shoulder on both sides of Georgetown Road, just south of Planned Parenthood. Do not park in the lots of neighboring businesses, including Women’s Care Center. To participate either in-person or at home, call your parish to see if there is a parish 40 Days for Life coordinator, or sign up at www.40daysforlife.com/indianapolis. For more information, contact Tim O’Donnell at 317-372-0040 or idipsumsapere@me.com.

A kickoff rally will be held at St. Monica Church, 6131 Michigan Road, in Indianapolis, from 3-4 p.m. on Feb. 27, with a talk by Debbie Miller, president of Healing Hidden Hurts.

A midpoint rally will be held at the Planned Parenthood prayer site from noon-1 p.m. on March 26, and a closing rally will be held from 2-3 p.m. on April 10 (location to be determined).

Join Archbishop Charles C. Thompson at the site for the Knights of Columbus’ nighttime vigil from 7 p.m. on April 1 through 7 a.m. on April 2. Archbishop Thompson will lead the Stations of the Cross and a rosary for life at 7 p.m.

The Indianapolis campaign also offers 24-hour coverage by inviting participants to sign up for an hour to pray at home between 7 p.m.-7 a.m. on Monday through Saturday, and 7 p.m. on Saturday through noon on Sunday. This is a great option for seniors, those who are sick, those who don’t drive and those who are concerned about being exposed to others due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Bloomington campaign will take place outside of the Planned Parenthood abortion center at 421 S. College Ave. To participate, call your parish to see if there is a parish 40 Days for Life coordinator, or sign up at www.40daysforlife.com/bloomington. For more information, contact Deacon Russell Woodard of Holy Trinity Parish in Edinburgh at 317-456-7722 or deaconrussw@gmail.com.

For more information or to sign up at sites outside of the archdiocese—including in Evansville, Louisville and Cincinnati—go to www.40daysforlife.com and click on “Find a Campaign.”

May we have the courage to stand up for the unborn. And may our efforts, please Lord, continue to lead us on the road to ending abortion.

—Mike Krokos