Pro-life supporters line Dodge St. in Omaha to bear public witness to the sanctity of life during last year’s Life Chain. The event takes place again this year on Oct. 2. MIKE MAY/STAFF
News
Pro-life efforts continue with annual commemoration and public witness
September 27, 2022
This October, commemoration of Respect Life Month takes place in an atmosphere of hope with the dawning of the post-Roe v. Wade era.
But pro-life supporters and organizations know the effort to bring an end to abortion through changing hearts and minds continues.
To mark Respect Life Month, a period of prayer and reflection called for by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Nebraska Right to Life and Nebraskans Embracing Life will hold their annual public demonstrations of support for the unborn.
From Sept. 28 through Nov. 6, Nebraskans Embracing Life will sponsor “40 Days for Life” as pro-life advocates gather for daily vigil before Omaha and Bellevue abortion clinics.
As part of an international campaign, which began in Texas in 2007, local participants are asked to maintain a prayerful presence between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for one or more hours in the public right-of-way outside the Abortion and Contraception Clinic of Nebraska at 1002 W. Mission Ave. in Bellevue and the Planned Parenthood facility at 3105 N. 93rd St. in Omaha.
To sign up for a time at the Omaha Planned Parenthood facility, contact Liz Sambol at elizabeth.sambol@gmail.com, 402-399-0299, or at the Bellevue abortion clinic, contact Bob Henchal at henchal@runbox.com, 402-880-5447. For more information people can contact the pro-life coordinator at their parish, call Nebraskans Embracing Life at 402-399-0299, or visit www.40daysforlife.com.
Another tradition during Respect Life Month is the annual Life Chain, held on Respect Life Sunday, the first Sunday of October, this year Oct. 2.
Life Chains provide a prayerful, pro-life witness in more than 25,000 communities throughout the United States and Canada. Locally the event is sponsored by Nebraska Right to Life.
Participants line busy main streets and highways in their communities, generally for one hour, holding signs and praying for an end to abortion.
Catholic parishes often coordinate the event in their areas. To find the locations and times of Life Chains near them, people can go to: https://www.lifechain.org/participate#life-chains/?view_3_page=8.