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MADISON — Madison-based Vigil for Life has reported a dramatic increase in the number of babies saved from abortion at the local Planned Parenthood over the last few months.
The organization has held a public vigil to end abortion in front of Planned Parenthood every business day since January of 2011.
Touching hearts
“The Lord has used our witness to touch the hearts of abortion-vulnerable women and men,” said Vigil for Life President Bette Weisshaar.
“For all the rhetoric about a ‘woman’s right to choose,’ we know that most women have abortions when they feel they have no choice. Our presence and prayers have demonstrated our solidarity and support with women struggling with crisis pregnancies, and this encouragement has empowered many of them to choose life.”
Vigil for Life was established in 2007, but from then until 2012, its participants might only experience one or two confirmed saved babies a year.
Over the last six months, however, about five Planned Parenthood clients a month have decided to seek care elsewhere.
Turning points
Weisshaar attributes the recent wave of success to two key turning points.
“First, the opening of the Women’s Care Center across the street has given us a place to send these women for authentic, life-affirming help,” she said.
“Secondly, about two years ago, we really began a push to train sidewalk counselors who reach out to Planned Parenthood clients with information about abortion and contraception alternatives. These conversations on the sidewalk have the power to make all the difference.”
Successful counseling
Vigil for Life participant Steve Karlen is among those who have successfully sidewalk counseled Planned Parenthood clients. As two women began walking from their car to the abortion center entrance recently, he calmly called out, “Can I give you a flyer on getting a second opinion across the street?” Both women paused for a moment before approaching him.
One of the women told Karlen she was coming for a pregnancy test and to obtain birth control before saying, “I’m not for abortion; if I’m pregnant, I’m totally keeping my baby!”
“I said it was fantastic that they were keeping the baby, but did they know Planned Parenthood is the state’s leading abortion provider?” Karlen said. “Both girls looked surprised and one said, ‘Actually I did not know that.’ I told them that they could find whatever help they needed across the street [at the Women’s Care Center], and it would all be free,” said Karlen.
The women entered Planned Parenthood, but crossed the street just moments later. As they left the Women’s Care Center, one told Karlen, “I think I like [the Women’s Care Center]. It’s much more calming, and they’re much nicer!”
Prayerful presence
While Karlen used his training as a sidewalk counselor to reach out to these women, some participants have made an impact without saying a word. A week earlier, a group of Vigil for Life participants were on-site praying and holding life-affirming signs.
The silent presence led one client and her friend to leave Planned Parenthood. The friend then approached the prayer warriors and said “She couldn’t go past. . . . She thinks she is starting to become pro-life. [I’m] so grateful there were people there with signs who looked at my friend and probably prayed for her, so she didn’t want to . . . go in Planned Parenthood.”
The woman didn’t know yet whether she is pregnant, but if she is, she intends to raise the child or to look into adoption.
More volunteers are needed
While helping to save women from being ensnared by the horrors of abortion and contraception is powerful, Weisshaar said Vigil for Life is severely strained.
“We insist on having two people on-site during our vigils,” she said. “And we recently expanded our vigil schedule to make sure we cover every business hour on the days Planned Parenthood performs abortions. We’ve had to stretch ourselves to recruit prayer volunteers to cover all the hours.”
Weisshaar recognizes that many people don’t feel comfortable praying in front of Planned Parenthood, but she hopes that more Catholics and Christians will step outside their comfort zones to help save women and babies from abortion.
“I can’t help but to remember the story about the man who saw Blessed Mother Teresa cleaning the wounds of a leper and remarked, ‘Mother, I wouldn’t do this for a million dollars.’ Mother Teresa responded, ‘Neither would I. But I would gladly do it for Christ.’”
For more information or to volunteer for Vigil for Life, visit VigilForLife.org
For more information, contact Bette Weisshaar at info@vigilfor life.org