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Pro-life rally to kick off Siouxland 40 Days for Life campaign
By Rosemary Bernth
Globe staff reporter
(Email Rosemary)
Siouxland pro-lifers can help kick off the 40 Days for Life campaign at an opening rally at Cathedral of the Epiphany.
The event will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 12 in the church basement.
“We want to start this effort by drawing members of the community together to share the vision of 40 Days for Life and pray for God’s blessings on this effort,” said Karmen Bower, assistant director of religious education and family life. “I think the rally is so important because it brings a sense of solidarity to the pro-life movement.”
Bower, who is also the spokesperson for the campaign, said the event will feature guest speakers including Christine Wilson, executive director of Gabriel’s Corner Pregnancy Counseling Center in Council Bluffs.
“She’s been involved with a lot of the pro-life movement down there, including adding the Blessed Sacrament to the center,” she said. “As a result, Planned Parenthood cut back a lot of their hours of doing abortions. She’s had a really positive effect for that community.”
Bower said it is important for people to bring their families and friends to help raise awareness to the pro-life movement.
“We’re looking for leadership from the families in the area,” she said. “It is so important that people bring friends and family members to this rally so that more and more people are introduced to this pro-life activity. The more visible pro-lifers are, the more hearts will be changed, and the more lives will be saved.”
Youth groups are also invited to sign up for hours praying in front of Planned Parenthood in Sioux City.
Bower said the campaign has already received financial help from the Diocese Council of Catholic Women.
“They paid for the registration cost,” she said. “We’re very appreciative of that.”
The 40 Days for Life campaign runs from Sept. 22 to Oct. 31, starting with a prayer hour at 11 p.m. on Sept. 21 in front of Planned Parenthood.
“It is time to focus attention on the harm abortion has done to our city and the pain it has caused,” said Bower. “We look forward to seeing what kind of transformation God will bring about in our city.”
40 Days for Life is a nationwide pro-life campaign that uses prayer, fasting, peaceful vigils and community outreach to end abortion.
For more information about the Sioux City campaign, visit www.40daysforlife.com\siouxcity. To volunteer, please contact Karmen Bower at karmenb@scdiocese.org or (712) 233-7532.