Lenten initiative begins Feb. 22

The Louisville area’s seventh annual 40 Days for Life campaign will begin this year on Feb. 22.

The 40 Days for Life is a pro-life initiative that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting, 40 days of peaceful vigil at abortion facilities and 40 days of grassroots educational outreach.

Louisville is one of 251 cities around the country and the world participating in the ninth annual international prayer effort, which is an attempt to change hearts and minds about abortion.

According to a press release, since the campaign began locally in the spring of 2008, more than 50 children have been spared abortion. More than 700 people participated in the 2011 spring campaign, many of them involved for the first time in pro-life ministry, according to the release.

Representatives from 59 Catholic churches, 24 Protestant churches, 11 schools including Sacred Heart Academy, Trinity High School, Holy Angels Academy, and various youth and homeschool groups, as well as eight community/religious groups, also participated.

(The Record 2.16.12)