John,

The "right to choose" abortion inevitably leads to forced abortion.

Vigil participants in Los Angeles were delighted to report their first baby saved from abortion last week. The campaign rescued an abortion-bound homeless mother from both abortion and the streets, bringing her to a maternity home to help her get back on her feet.

Then the woman's pimp found out.

"He is pressuring her to have this abortion," explained the local campaign team. "She feels she can't have the baby. He needs to know she's no longer pregnant or her family will be in danger."

The terrorized woman left the maternity home--and blocked the phone number of the home manager.

The local campaign leadership team said they are "waiting on a miracle" in the hope that this sad saga will have a happy ending.

You won't find this type of story in the New York Times or see it on a television nightly news broadcast...

...but this tragic ordeal is a reminder that abortion doesn't help women. Abortion benefits bad men, rapists, and human traffickers.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A 40 Days for Life procession in the Steel City brought 200 people to pray--on their knees--in front of Planned Parenthood.

"We had counter-protesters at the church [where the procession began], chanting and making a racket," said Nikki, the local campaign leader. "They were not waiting for us at Planned Parenthood, so our procession and prayer at Planned Parenthood were beautiful and peaceful!"

There's a likely reason the protesters didn't show up at the abortion center: Planned Parenthood doesn't want pro-abortion demonstrators in front of its facilities.

When protesters show up in support of Planned Parenthood, it's still a deterrent to women contemplating abortion.

Nottingham, England

John and Megan in Nottingham had an interesting conversation with a passerby.

"He said he'd been discussing abortion with his wife as a result of seeing our witness," reported John, the local leader. "She said it's a woman's right to choose. The man disagreed, 'There's a little man involved too.'"

John and Megan held a sign that said, "Pregnant? Worried? We can help." The man with whom they conversed said that he obviously wasn't pregnant...but he was worried. "His granddaughter wants to be a boy due to peer pressure and has started taking hormones."

Vigil participants promised to pray for the man and his family.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction so that we may be able to encourage those who are in an affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.

--2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love, mercy, and goodness. We praise you for the gift of life and the conviction to defend it at all stages. Father, give us the grace to walk alongside of and pray for those poor souls who are so greatly afflicted in their souls. Help us to be compassionate, but bold and courageous, as we defend what is true and just. As the division in our world increases, let us be the unitive light that draws souls to your goodness, love and mercy. Amen.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life