OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Stopping abortion: 40 Days for Life

Friday, 12 March 2010

Sydney (Agenzia Fides) – Priests, nuns, lay people, and activists, have been holding vigils for 20 days now before a clinic known for the practice of abortions in Sydney. They pray, fast, distribute information material, talk with people, animating it with pro-life banners, slogans, and a gazebo, all under the auspices of "40 days for Life". As Fides learns from sources of the Australian Church, the campaign sees the continued presence of activists and volunteers for 40 days - during the Lenten season - stationed in front of the "Preterm Abortion Clinic" on the heights of Surry Hills, Sydney, to say "no" to abortion and to discourage all women who wish to put an end to life in their womb, referring them to other solutions that protect unborn life.
According to activists, it seems that in recent weeks there has been a decline in attendance of women to abortion clinics, known by the euphemism “Women's Health Clinic.” "It is difficult to say whether there was a decrease the number of abortions, but the influx of people is less. And public opinion has begun to reflect on the painful choice of abortion," say activists.
The campaign was launched by volunteers of the Archdiocese of Sydney at the beginning of Lent, with a Mass. Prayer, fasting, and awareness continue at the clinic, while the number of volunteers who offer themselves for shifts in front of the structure increases: there are already over 300, convinced of wanting to "create an impact on public opinion and try to stop the practice of abortion in Australia."
Legislation on abortion in Australia varies from state to state of the federation. Over the past five years, overall, there was an average of 70,000 abortions a year, while births have been between 250-280,000 per year. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/3/2010)


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