Shawn Carney (center left), a national board member for the 40 Days for Life campaign, challenges those gathered for prayer, including Bishop Anthony B. Taylor (right), Oct. 29, in front of Little Rock Family Planning Services, the city’s only remaining abortion clinic.
Carney said despite outside appearances, “this place is the most hopeless place in the city.” He called the clinic “a local holocaust.” It is a place for prayer and a place for mourning. “We have a slice of Calvary right here,” he said. “We know in the end God is victorious,” but “he still wants us to show up” referring to the need to fight for the rights of the unborn.
The 40 Days for Life campaign ran from Sept. 24 to Nov. 2 in 177 communities across the U.S., including Little Rock and Fayetteville.
In Fayetteville, Father John Antony, pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, celebrated a Life Mass Nov. 1 in the parking lot on College and North across from the Fayetteville Women’s Clinic.
As part of the final 40 hours of the campaign in Little Rock, participants sang and held a candlelight vigil in addition to praying the rosary.
“Although this rally may conclude 40 days of prayer and fasting and community outreach, and 40 days of prayer outside the abortion facility at #4 Office Park Drive, it marks the beginning of a renewed commitment to ending abortion in our community. We look forward to seeing what God has in store for us next,” said Marti Haslauer, co-coordinator of the Little Rock campaign.
Bishop Taylor also prayed a blessing for parents and children Oct. 29. As of that date, Carney said 380 women nationwide had decided against abortion as a result of the campaign.
40 days of prayer at ’a local holocaust’
