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Faithful spend Lent praying, fasting for unborn
Nancy Erikson, Editor
Patti Gabb knows what it’s like to have someone give her a choice.
Many years ago when she was pregnant, her doctor asked she wanted to undergo testing to determine if there were any birth defects or other disabilities--giving her information on whether or not she wanted to terminate her pregnancy.
A member of St. Basil the Great Parish, Brecksville, Gabb said she told her doctor “absolutely not,” there was no way she would ever abort her child. She had suffered through one miscarriage before. As far as she was concerned, any baby--regardless of his or her abilities--was a gift from God.

That’s why Gabb is joining the 40 Days for Life campaign this Lent. The movement is aimed at pray and fasting for an end to abortion. People of all faith traditions are encouraged to give silent witness in front of abortion clinics, town squares and other public arenas to help bring awareness about protecting life.
“I have so much to be thankful for,” Gabb said. “I feel so strongly about it that a person doesn’t have to kill their child. There is always adoption.”
Feeling strongly about saving lives is what has kept Mike Campanelli, member of Holy Rosary Parish in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood, dedicated to the pro-life cause.
Despite sub-freezing temperatures, winds, rain and sleet, those who participate in 40 Days for Life pray and fast in various locations throughout the diocese from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day until Easter Sunday.

NANCY ERIKSON
Tom Dome, a member of St. Helen Parish, Newbury, prayed the rosary in front of an abortion clinic on Cleveland’s east side.

Campanelli said the campaign is peaceful and that they do not argue with those who are going into the abortion clinics. However, they will tell the women and men who enter that they are praying for them. He said more often than not, the peaceful witness of prayer has made people turn around and change their minds about having an abortion.
“We’re praying to end abortion,” he said. “We pray for the women. We pray for the children. We pray for the workers. It’s all about trying to be Christ-like.”
Campanelli along with Tom Raddell, a member of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Euclid, have seen what the 40 Days for Life witness can do and believe in the power of pray and peaceful witness. They said they’ve seen women go in and then come out saying, “I didn’t do it. I’m on your side.”
Raddell said the connection between the 40 days of Lent and the 40 days for prayer and fasting for the end of abortion go hand in hand.
“It’s the very essence of the Gospel to love God and love your neighbor,” he said. “But how can you love your neighbor when your neighbor is being destroyed. You can’t say your against abortion and do nothing. The most effective tool we have is prayer.”
For Tom Dome, a member of St. Helen Parish, Newbury, this Lent is his first time witnessing for the lives of the unborn. He said he felt compelled to “do something more” this Lent which led him to praying the Rosary in 19-degree weather.
He said what has most inspired him was a man named Doug who identified himself as a member of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist who came and prayed with them on Ash Wednesday. He said he was taken by the man’s humility and strength in living his faith.
“I’ve been most inspired and humbled by the deep faith and commitment to the unborn of the people I’ve met on this sidewalk the past few days,” he said. “What I think would really help would be for more women, more young people, more minorities to join us in prayer in front these abortion clinics. We need to display that all people regardless of gender, race, age and religion want to fight for the unborn.”
In Akron, faithful also prayed and fasted at an abortion clinic on East Market Street where Judith Hoyt, advocacy coordinator for Right to Life of Summit County explained, “We are not just saying, ‘Don’t have an abortion and have a nice day.’ We realize that a crisis pregnancy is really a crisis that can and does change everything...We are here to help.”
For information about 40 Days for Life during this Lent and future campaigns, visit the Web site at www.40daysforlife.com.