Happy Valentine's Day!

On behalf of the entire 40 Days for Life-Alexandria leadership team, I'd like to wish you a Happy St. Valentine's Day!

This holiday comes as we're preparing for our seventh 40 Days for Life campaign here in Alexandria. Did you realize that this city's reported abortion rate has gone down by 23% since our first campaign in 2008?

Thank you for sharing your love and support for our local preborn babies and their mothers!

Support Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. The rule is set to take effect August 1, 2012. Non-profit religious employers that do not now provide such coverage, and are not exempt under the rule’s extremely narrow definition of religious employer, were given one year to comply.

Responding to the announcement, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated: “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.” Noting that the Obama administration “has now drawn an unprecedented line in the sand,” the Cardinal-designate urged that the HHS mandate be overturned.

Click here for the rest of the story and to e-mail Congress ...

Spring 2012 Campaign Ready to Roll!

Heads up -- we're finally ready to start rolling with our spring 2012 40 Days for Life campaign!

Help spread the word with our spring 2012 campaign flyer, which contains information on this spring's TWO prayer vigil locations, and can be printed or forwarded to all your local pro-life friends!

Also of course we are looking forward to our kickoff rally on Tuesday, February 21 (also check out our handy kickoff flyer)! We're busy preparing for this big event as we start our campaign and can't wait to see you there!

For detailed campaign information visit our website: www.40daysforlife.com/alexandria. The site contains lots of info on our spring campaign, including resources for prayer and fasting, vigil guidelines and calendar links, community outreach details, and much, much more!

We hope you find our updated website and flyers useful this spring, as we strive to maintain good communications and accessibility for everyone. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns. We deeply appreciate your support this spring as we work and witness together in our city for life!

Come to our Kickoff Rally!

I'm so excited to invite you to our spring 2012 40 Days for Life Kickoff Event. Bishop Ireton High School has graciously agreed to host us once again, and we are very much looking forward to seeing you and bringing you up to speed on our 40 Days for Life pro-life efforts in Alexandria! Please mark your calendar and plan to attend, and help spread the word to all your local pro-life friends (check out our handy event flyer)!

The details are as follows:

• DATE: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
• PLACE: Bishop Ireton High School Cafeteria (201 Cambridge Road, Alexandria)
• TIME: 7:00-8:30 pm

Everyone is invited to join together as we invoke God's blessing on our campaign, consider new developments for this spring, distribute signs and flyers to all prayer volunteers, fill the rest of our vigil calendar, and much, much more!

We're looking forward to seeing you -- and launching our spring campaign together!

Victory Alert: VA Senate Affirms Conscience Rights

Thanks to all who contacted state representatives in support of conscience protection regarding adoption agencies. On Thursday, the Senate approved this initiative by a 22-18 vote. According to the VA Catholic Conference,

The legislation provides strong, explicit conscience protections for adoption and foster care agencies, so that those agencies are not forced to participate in placements that would violate their religious convictions.  Last Friday, an identical bill passed the House of Delegates by an overwhelming 71-28 vote... The Conference looks forward to the full passage of the identical Senate and House bills and their arrival on the Governor’s desk.

Click here for the rest of the story...

Great Meeting Tuesday Paves the Way for Spring 40 Days for Life Kickoff!

We had a great Cast the Vision meeting Tuesday evening with several local pro-lifers in attendance:

• Campaign director Sara Dina explained our local abortion crisis and how 40 Days for Life in Alexandria is working to bring about an abortion-free city.
• St. Raymond Pro-Life coordinator Liz Hildebrand shared a great story of her efforts to spread the word about 40 Days for Life in her church, and leads many fellow Christians to join together for their vigil commitment.
• Discussion/Material Pick-up: Attendees had the opportunity to talk with team leaders, take a look at the newly printed prayer books, and pick up some signs and flyers for their friends and neighbors. 

Full steam ahead to our Kickoff Rally! Mark your calendars now for the evening of Monday the 20th or Tuesday the 21st (more details tomorrow!) -- and plan to attend with your family and friends!

Other Pro-Life Opportunities

The following are several items of interest to pro-lifers:

• Speech Tonight: Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List, is speaking on Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Raymond of Peñafort Parish (8760 Pohick Road, Springfield, VA 22153). For more information see our earlier post.
• Year of Prayer and Fasting: In this 40th year of legalized abortion, consider joining other pro-life Christians in a special effort of spiritual commitment and prayer for an end to abortion in our country. Learn more and join the group here, or email Jacinta at jacinta.40days@gmail.com.
• Hospitality: Jonathan Darnel is looking for people to host full-time pro-life activists in their homes to get more volunteers into the pro-life effort this year. For more information contact him at 419-889-0881 or jonathan.darnel@gmail.com.
• Action Alert: The Senate debate on conscience protection for adoption agencies is expected to be stiff, with votes pending now. Please click here to view a pre-drafted (but editable) message that could be sent to your Senator to urge his or her support for this bill.

Making history ... AGAIN!

In Thursday morning's email announcement, Shawn Carney, our national Campaign Director, shares exciting news about this upcoming spring's 40 Days for Life:

It’s official, and the news release was just sent. The next 40 Days for Life will be the largest spring campaign EVER!

Click here for the rest of the story, and if you haven't done so this year, remember to sign up with the national team for their daily devotionals and updates during this spring's campaign!

Come to Alexandria 40 Days for Life Cast the Vision Meeting Tuesday!

40 Days for Life organizational meeting is this Tuesday evening, February 7, at 7pm, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 6222 Franconia Road, Alexandria.

Please come to get the details on our spring campaign, including

• updated prayer books
• two separate prayer vigil locations
• guest speaker Liz Hildebrand from St. Raymond Church on effective church outreach
• door-to-door as well as crowd outreach opportunities

Meetup with team leaders and other pro-life coordinators in our area, listen to our guest speaker and take a look at our upcoming vigil calendar. Make your personal commitment to this spring's 40 Days for Life campaign, and be a successful witness for life! 

We hope to see you there!

Susan G. Komen Foundation Issues Clarifying Statement

In a carefully worded statement published Friday, Susan G. Komen board members and CEO Nancy Brinker explained recent changes to their grant criteria, and what impact these changes may have on current grant recipient Planned Parenthood.