Ottawa 40 Days for Life growing stronger

OTTAWA - The fifth Ottawa 40 Days for Life prayer vigil ended Nov. 6 with signs the movement is stronger than ever.

Twenty-six parishes or groups participated in the vigil outside the Morgentaler abortion facility on Bank Street, a 20-per-cent increase over the last campaign. It also marked the first time the Bible was read out loud during the campaign.

Each day, for two hours straddling the busy noon hour, the Bible was read out loud with the help of a microphone and speaker set up at the site. 

“It takes courage and faith-filled conviction for a lay person to proclaim the word of God in one of the busiest places of Ottawa at one of the busiest times,”  said Deacon Chuck Fink.  “Where the Word of God is, God is, and when His Word is proclaimed the evil one will flee offering the prayer warriors greater peace during their time of prayer.”

At vespers that evening at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast spoke of Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate that stresses respect for life cannot be detached from human development. The Pope knows that acceptance and openness to life “strengthens moral fibre,” he said, and can help wealthy cultures such as Canada’s better understand the poor.    

40 Days for Life is an international campaign that began in the United States and has spread across North America, Europe and Australia.