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I just returned from events celebrating the closure of
two Planned Parenthood abortion centers in Iowa —
praise God!

Since this spring’s campaign features peaceful vigils
at 121 Planned Parenthood facilities — almost half of
the total number of sites — there are few things you
probably should know.

For starters, Planned Parenthood is the leading
abortion chain in the United States, doing around
330,000 abortions EVERY year. They do this with while
taking in upwards of $400 million in YOUR tax money.

But Planned Parenthood is worried. Last year, for the
first time in 16 years, their abortion numbers went
DOWN. Fewer abortions equal fewer dollars. And Planned
Parenthood is a business.

PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK

For one thing, Planned Parenthood doesn’t want you to
know that it runs abortion centers. Their PR campaigns
focus on “women’s health.” That’s a reference to
abortion — but they avoid the actual word.

Nancy tells a typical story. A man approached her at
the 40 Days for Life vigil and asked what the prayer
volunteers were doing.

“He was shocked,” she said. “He didn’t know they did
abortions at Planned Parenthood.” The man then said
he would invite his pastor to come pray. Once he knew
what Planned Parenthood was really all about, it made
quite an impression.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

Planned Parenthood created a media event to protest
proposed state legislation. The spot they picked was
outside the Planned Parenthood abortion center where
the 40 Days for Life vigil is under way. The media
arrived — and interviewed both pro-Planned Parenthood
demonstrators and 40 Days for Life vigil participants.

But immediately after reporters got their interviews,
the pro-abortion demonstrators packed up and left,
admitting this was a one-time-only appearance. That’s
fairly typical. When the cameras go away, so do they.
But the 40 Days for Life prayer volunteers remained —
and will continue to be there.

To see some pictures of this event in Virginia Beach,
please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2814

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI

We’ve already heard from campaigns like the one in
Columbia, where Planned Parenthood’s “pledge a picket”
campaign has already been launched — and that is a
good sign. It means business is off and they want you
to go home.

“Pledge a picket” asks Planned Parenthood supporters
to pledge money for each “picketer” (that’s you) on
its sidewalk. They try to say that YOU are raising
money for them. This, of course, is simply not true.

“Pledge a picket” is Planned Parenthood’s highest
award to an effective 40 Days for Life campaign,
so stay and keep praying!

THE 3% DECEPTION

The most popular Planned Parenthood talking point these
days is that abortion is only 3% of their total services.

This creative use of statistics understates the
importance of abortion to the bottom line. It treats
birth control prescriptions, HIV tests and abortion as
equal when counting the number of “services.”

Researchers who’ve studied Planned Parenthood’s own
reports estimate that abortion accounts for 40 to 50
percent of total clinic income. This is why Planned
Parenthood is so protective of abortion — and trying
relentlessly to increase the numbers.

Please keep these things in mind as you pray and fast
for an end to abortion.

Day 13 - March 5

Intention:

We pray for the strength to love those who do not love us.

Scripture:

But the Lord said "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in the night and perished in the night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left, and much livestock? Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

-- Jonah 4:10-11

Reflection:

God doesn't value people and things like we do. Jonah loved a shade tree more than an entire city of sinful people. We love our dogs more than a terrorist. We love our cars more than a beggar on the side of the road. And sometimes, we love our money more than a child growing in a desperate teenager's womb.

But God isn't like us. Genesis 1 tells us that humans were the capstone of God's creation. We were created on the sixth day after God had completed the land, the stars, the plants and the animals. Therefore, His love for us is greater than His love for a plant, an animal, or any other created thing. And the book of Jonah tells us that He loves even the most sinful people and seeks to bring them into His merciful arms. And it's a love that seeks to touch all of his created children: that desperate teenager, the baby growing in her womb, even tyrants and terrorists. So it's up to us to imitate God's merciful love by helping and praying for those who persecute us, and those who don't love us back.

Prayer:

Gracious God, loving our enemies seems like one of most difficult things you could ask of us. Please remind us that this is how you love and that if you ask it of us then you will give us the grace to do it. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dennis DiMauro
Lutherans for Life representative to the National Pro-life Religious Council