Prayer vigils for unborn babies kick off across nation

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

Prayer vigils led by the pro-life group 40 Days for Life are underway this week, from Sept. 23 to Nov. 1, across the nation.

40 Days for Life is a pro-life group that leads prayer vigils outside abortion clinics across the U.S. and around the world. The group prioritizes prayer and fasting, nonstop prayer vigils, and community outreach. The group’s most well-known event is likely its Lenten vigil campaign, but 40 Days for Life operates year-round.

For the current campaign, the group will rally against abortion pills, according to Shawn Carney, president and CEO of 40 Days for Life.

“We are saving more babies from abortion pills than ever before by offering abortion pill reversal,” Carney told EWTN News. “We are also going on offense with a national billboard campaign that warns against the abortion pill and offers abortion pill reversal — including in some of the most pro-abortion cities in the country, like San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Boston.”

When asked about what inspires people to join 40 Days for Life, Carney highlighted how the group saves lives.

“There is very little you can do in life that will literally save the life of another human being,” he said. “There is nothing like it, and it is beautiful to see that it has been done nearly 27,000 times.”

“People get involved in 40 Days for Life because it is proven,” Carney continued. “It is proven to be peaceful. It is proven to deepen our spiritual lives. And it is proven to save babies.”

“We have not only saved babies, but helped their mothers with medical care and follow-up,” Carney said. “Former Planned Parenthood workers have said the no-show rate for an abortion appointment can go as high as 75% when we are outside praying.”

Local leaders can volunteer to help lead vigils in their communities.

“One of the most beautiful things about 40 Days for Life is how many babies are born and named after the local 40 Days for Life leader — and in some cases, that local leader becomes the child’s godfather or godmother,” Carney said.

“It is beautiful, and it is one of the reasons demand for 40 Days for Life is at an all-time high,” he said.

Man who poisoned pregnant girlfriend, killing baby, sentenced to six months

An Ohio man, Hassan-James Abbas, was sentenced to six months in prison after he allegedly forced abortion pills into his pregnant girlfriend’s mouth in December 2024.

Jona Affholder was hospitalized and ultimately lost her baby.

Pro-life leader Marjorie Dannenfelser spoke out against the short sentence, saying U.S. law is behind on abortion poisonings, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“The fact that this guy got only six months in prison for his crime says a lot about the state of our culture right now,” Dannenfelser said. “This was a very much wanted pregnancy. She could support the baby on her own and didnʼt need his help. But he had other ideas in mind.”

Virginians on both sides of abortion ballot measure raise funds

Abortion advocates have raised over $2.8 million to advocate for an abortion amendment in the state constitution, while opponents of the referendum have raised more than $400,000.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, so far Virginians for Reproductive Freedom, a group largely funded by Planned Parenthood organizations and the American Civil Liberties Union, has raised over $2.8 million to advocate for the amendment.

The proposed abortion amendment would establish a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the ability to make and carry out decisions relating to one’s own prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion care, miscarriage management, and fertility care.”

The amendment, if passed, could jeopardize already-existing laws protecting unborn children as well as Virginia’s parental notification law. Virginia’s Catholic bishops have strongly opposed the amendment, as it could lead to unlimited abortion and would likely overturn parental involvement laws and cut safeguards for women.

Campaigns against the amendment include No Safeguards, No Deal and Protect Virginia 2026.