Occupy Planned Parenthood

By Tom Quiner

The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement receives lavish attention from the media. Frankly, they deserve it. It is a big story.

There is another big story which receives almost no media attention: the 40 Days for Life movement. The folks participating in this movement are quite a bit different than those in OWS. They’re not asking for anything. They don’t want your money. They are civil and respectful. And they are sad about the ongoing tragedy of abortion-on-demand at Planned Parenthood.

They gather for 40 days outside Planned Parenthood offices around the country and pray for an end to abortion.

In a sense, they are occupying the “spiritual space” of Planned Parenthood with their relentless prayers on behalf of the pre-born, their mothers, and their fathers.

They do something else that might seem pretty strange to the OWS crowd: they pray for the employees of Planned Parenthood. While the OWS crowd reviles the “1 percent” for being overly productive, the 40 Days for Life Crowd pray for the people who profit from the tragedy of abortion. They pray for a change of heart, that they see the harm they’re doing not only to the baby in the womb, but to the mother, the father, and to the very fabric of our society.

I have participated in these gatherings for several years. I receive two types of fingers from passer byes, most of which are thumbs up. And I certainly get some middle fingers from those who angry that I hold a sign that says “pray to end abortion.” (Do they honestly think God blesses abortion?)

Some Quiner’s Diners readers view us as being dreamy-eyed religious nuts. And yet reports are pouring in from around the country on the impact our prayers have had on real people (in the womb and out!).

Shawn Carney, the head of the movement, reports 508 lives have been saved. Here is what happens when Planned Parenthood is “occupied” by prayer, according to Mr. Carney:

In Austin, Texas: A volunteer spoke a teenaged couple approaching the
abortion center and learned that the girl just found
out she was pregnant. She was afraid of telling her
parents and wanted to go behind their backs to get a
judicial bypass — a court order — in order to have
an abortion.

Her boyfriend was not in favor of the abortion, but
reluctantly said he supported her because it was her
decision.

“I showed them what her baby might look like, based
on how far along she thought she was — six weeks,”
said the vigil participant. “I also discussed
alternatives and resources that I could connect
her with.”

The couple walked into the abortion center, but soon
left “with smiles of joy and satisfaction. They decided
to not to have an abortion,” said the volunteer.

“Praise God!”

In Overland Park, KS:  The 40 Days for Life team in Overland Park had gotten
a call from the 40 Days for Life leaders in Columbia,
Missouri. Planned Parenthood’s Columbia abortionist
had quit, so this office was sending women to Planned
Parenthood in Overland Park for abortions.

A volunteer spoke to a couple who had shown up for an
appointment in Overland Park. He asked the couple if
they were from Columbia — they looked shocked — and
said in fact they were. So he shared some pro-life
information with them.

They never made it inside the building, however. It
was closed! No one had shown up for work that day
— there was no explanation.

Later, another couple showed up, knocked, tried the
intercom — nothing. There was still no one there.
They also took information from the volunteers and left.

In Lafayette, IN:  A young woman stopped to talk to a 40 Days for Life
prayer volunteer outside the abortion center.

“She was pregnant,” the vigil participant said, “and
gave me many reasons as to why she should have an
abortion.” She said the father was not around, she used
drugs and she wouldn’t be a good mother.

“I simply reminded her that God had a plan for her and
her baby, and that He would take care of her. I
referred her to the pregnancy resource center a few
doors down from Planned Parenthood.”

They prayed, and the volunteer gave the young woman a
hug, after which she said, “I’m out of here.”

As she left Planned Parenthood, she rolled down the
window and waved goodbye. “She was crying,” said the
vigil participant. “I’m still praying for her.”

These are but three stories out of 508 from around the country. You’re not going hear about stories like these from the Mainstream Media. They like the rowdy rebels of OWS. They’re bored with the fearless faithful who occupy Planned Parenthood through the power of prayer.

They day is soon coming when America’s golgotha of the modern world, Planned Parenthood, is shuttered and drummed out of business.

The Occupy Planned Parenthood movement, aka as 40 Days for Life, can’t be stopped, because prayer is just that powerful.

Join the movement.