By Katie Vasquez
Outside of Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, a group of people is praying for the unborn. They plan to be here for the next 40 days, from Sept. 24 to Nov. 2.
“Abortions are done here in New York, unfortunately, all the way up to 40 weeks,” explained Linda Harrison, the Brooklyn leader of the “40 Days for Life” campaign. “We’re here to pray for an end to that in this hospital, and every hospital in New York City,”
The national campaign “40 Days for Life” calls on the faithful to give at least an hour of prayer a day to end abortion.
Before heading out, they attended Mass at St. Catherine of Genoa Church in Brooklyn.
Denise Collins says she was fueled by the readings at Mass.
“The reading was from Luke 9, 1 to 6. Jesus sending out the disciples, as missionaries,” Collins, a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Brooklyn, told Currents News.
“We are all missionaries. The Gospel is very compelling,” she explained. “You know, the choice for life is really God’s grace.”
Legion of Mary member Donica Allen believes it’s part of her calling.
“To bring souls back to Christ and not only bring in the soul, but bring the souls of these mothers to Christ to let them know that without his mother, there wouldn’t be him,” said Allen.
Richard Harris is outside the Brooklyn hospital once a week year round hoping to change minds.
“You don’t have a right to choose who lives or dies, no matter what circumstances,” said Harris, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi-St Blaise Parish in Brooklyn.
Linda Harrison said the recent closure of Planned Parenthood in Manhattan is an indicator of the power of prayer.
“God wants us to be out here and being and, especially in this city where we’re being very heavily, pro-choice, unfortunately, we want people to know that there are pro-life people here,” she told Currents News. “We believe God, we trust God.”
For more information, visit the campaign website.