As many know, the 40 Day For Life prayer vigils outside abortion clinic around the world have persuaded many women to choose life for their babies. In addition, they are reporting that the last 5 abortion clinics that closed following a 40 Day for Life campaign were in such diverse locations as Chicago, Seattle, Mexico City, and London (2 locations).

As important as these vigils are, the back story is that more women are using oral contraceptives, the Plan B pill, and the abortion pills so that there is a smaller percentage of women with unwanted pregnancies seeking a surgical abortion.

This means that the activities of pro-life people are more needed than ever to espouse alternatives and to reach young women in the communities where they live no ;later than age 15. Planned Parenthood is diligently promoting abortion as the first and best alternative a woman has in such a situation.

Education, emotional support, and material aid by pregnancy resource centers is essential. They can direct women to heath care and state sponsored programs to meet all their needs. If we cannot help directly, let us support those who are in the trenches working directly with women seeking help. But, our biggest challenge is to make young women aware that such resources exist.

We need to address the issues of the family unit and absentee fathers who drive women to abort out of despair.