(LifeSiteNews) — The 40 Days for Life 2022 fall campaign has saved nearly 50 babies from abortion during the past two weeks.
In an October 10 article posted on the apostolate’s website, president and CEO Shawn Carney shared that 49 unborn children had been saved across the world as a direct result of 40 Days for Life prayer vigils and volunteers.
“Even with abortion availability down across the United States—thanks to the Supreme Court—God is still using your prayers to save babies!” Carney wrote. “Today, we know of 49 babies spared from abortion since September 28!”
The update, posted on the thirteenth day of the campaign, also highlighted the miracles taking place at a hospital in Mexico City, where “between 30 and 50 women line up at 5:00am to get free abortions” each day, including weekends. When they are finally allowed inside, nobody is permitted to accompany the women.
“Locals are given abortion pills while foreigners receive surgical abortions,” Carney explained in the post.
“The local [pro-life] pregnancy help center has a mobile ultrasound unit on site, but lately those who serve there have been struggling to persuade women to take them up on their offer of free help … until 40 Days for Life began.”
According to the Latin American campaign director, “four girls accepted the help offered, saw ultrasounds, and chose life.”
READ: 40 Days for Life’s first post-Roe campaign gets underway in a record 622 cities
UPDATE (01/30/23): Mark Houck has been AQUITTED on both charges!
Thanks be to God LifeSiteNews can report that Mark Houck has been found "Not Guilty" on all counts today.
In a statement to LifeSiteNews, Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania spokeswoman and Houck family friend Ashley Garecht said “We rejoice and celebrate that Mark Houck has been found not guilty on all counts.”
“This case was always about a father’s right to protect his son, and never had anything to do with the FACE act,” she said. “We are grateful to the judge for his integrity, and to the jurors for their thoughtful deliberations. We are grateful to Mark’s attorneys who labored so diligently in his defense. And we are grateful for all of those who surrounded and supported Mark and his family in prayer through this challenging ordeal.”
“Most of all we praise and thank God for his protection and provision,” Garecht added. “To Him be all the glory.”
The Thomas More Society is set to hold a press conference today on the 6th street side of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia.
Monday’s verdict came after a tense weekend wait following a deadlocked jury on Friday.
Several hours into Monday’s deliberations after the jury reconvened, an alternate was chosen to replace one of the jurors. Just before 3:00 p.m. EST, the jury delivered its verdict, acquitting Houck on both charges.
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Mark Houck, a pro-life Catholic father of 7, became the latest victim of an FBI raid and arrest on the morning of Friday September 23 — for supposed “FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act” violations — at his rural home as his children looked on “screaming.”
The arrest and raid stems from an altercation with a Planned Parenthood worker.
According to Mark’s wife Ryan-Marie, a “pro-abortion protester” would verbally harrass Mark's 12-year old son — hurling vulgar and derogatory statements.
When the protestor encroached in the boy's space, Mark defended his son. At that point, “Mark shoved him away from his child, and the guy fell back,” Ryan-Marie recounts.
The protestor was not injured, but he tried to sue Mark Houck for the assault but his case was thrown out of court in the early summer.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE LEFT TO HARRASS PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES THIS WAY!
It's vital to stand in solidarity with a pro-family and pro-life man being unjustly persecuted - please SIGN & SHARE our message of support now.
In case you hadn't caught on already, the satanic Biden administration is waging war on Christians. https://t.co/E6ChpZVDYW
— Michael (X) Knowles ✊ (@michaeljknowles) September 24, 2022
The description of this arrest sounds like it took place in a totalitarian state. A tragic unraveling of Justice in America. https://t.co/e3vEID7E39
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) September 25, 2022
If convicted, Houck faces up to a maximum of 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000, according to the Justice Department.
Additional conservative pro-life leaders have weighed in — this is why we need your support ASAP.
“Just in the last few days we’ve seen some pretty glaring examples of what appear to be instances of DOJ [Department of Justice] overreach. You’ve got a Catholic father of seven who formed a group designed to encourage young men to be faithful to their commitments, arrested in front of his seven children just recently. You’ve got all these instances of overreach. It’s deeply concerning to us all. These are all things we’re gonna be looking into.” — US Senator Mike Lee
Tell the Houck family that you stand by them!
SIGN: We stand with pro-life Catholic dad of 7 raided by Biden’s FBI
Please share this petition widely. Let's stand in solidarity with Mark Houck and his family.
Thank you.
Upon seeing their business revenue leaving, the hospital tried to divert attention from the pro-life services by leading women into their building through a different entrance. However, director Lourdes Varela said that this ruse did not succeed in turning everyone away from the ultrasounds, and four babies were saved as a result.
The first post-Roe 40 Days for Life campaign began on September 28 with renewed momentum to fight abortion on the local level. It is the largest campaign in the apostolate’s history. On the second day, the fall campaign saved its first baby, also in Mexico City.
On October 11, 2021, Carney reported that “the number of saved babies reported at the vigils is up 48%” from the previous year. At that time, 259 unborn children were spared from abortion during 2021.
This year, 20 lives were saved after only five days of prayer vigils. On Saturday, a woman left a Planned Parenthood in Richmond, Virginia and told 40 Days for Life volunteers that “something made [her] say ‘No’” to the abortion pill.
Participants also celebrated the closing of a Mexico City abortion clinic, which was named “Our Lady of Guadalupe Maternity,” just last week.
RELATED: Canadian judge rules in favor of 40 Days for Life in ‘sabotage’ attempt by pro-abortion TikTok user