Abortion Practitioner on 40 Days for Life: Praying to End Abortion Doesn’t Work
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 26, 2010
Fayetteville, AR (LifeNews.com) — An Arkansas-based abortion practitioner’s take on the international 40 Days for Life campaign is sure to draw guffaws from pro-life advocates. William Harrison says people engaging in the campaign to raise awareness of the problem of abortion centers is ineffective.
Harrison gave a local television an interesting insight into his mindset when asked about the pro-life people participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign in the northwest Arkansas college town.
"I think it’s silly," he told the reporter. "Standing across the street and praying to end abortion — that doesn’t work."
The comment is somewhat surprising given Harrison’s previous remarks that "abortion cancels souls."
He "thanked" vigil participants for pointing out his location, because he doesn’t advertise and claims that people praying outside will help newcomers find his abortion business to schedule abortions.
Harrison also advised local 40 Days for Life coordinators to look more serious and to bring a priest with them.
"You know, if they’re going to be praying and fasting, they ought to take this
job seriously," he said in a mocking tone.
Juliet Cassell, one of the local coordinators, responded and said local pro-life advocates are serious — and they’re praying for Harrison.
"We want this to be a positive, peaceful event and really call attention to
what’s going on across the street. Children are losing their lives," she told the reporter.
"One of my biggest prayers is that he would have a conversion of the heart and use his medical skills and knowledge to promote life, not death," said Tiffany Dickinson, another of the 40 Days for Life coordinators.
David Bereit, the national coordinator of the 40 Days for Life campaign, scoffed at Harrison’s comments and said prayer definitely changes people.
"I personally pray for everyone involved in the abortion industry, including William Harrison. He may seem determined and unwilling to even think about quitting. But then again, so did someone I know — Abby Johnson," he said.
"For eight years, Abby worked at Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas. She rose to the position of director and was the Planned Parenthood affiliate’s employee
of the year," he explained. "She watched the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign
from her office window in 2004 — and kept watching as five more peaceful, prayerful campaigns unfolded over the next several years. Last October, during the fall 40 Days for Life, she had a change of heart … and quit her job."
Now, just four months later, Johnson stands outside the abortion center she once directed and spoke at the local 40 Days for Life kickoff event encouraging people to come out and pray for an end to abortion — as her former co-workers watched.
Bereit said: "If God can reach Abby Johnson, you know He can do the same for everyone in the abortion industry — even someone as hardened as William Harrison."
Bereit added that he is energized by the local television coverage of the 40 Days for Life campaigns across the country.
"I’m inspired by all the local TV reports about 40 Days for Life. In two minutes or less, they can show your entire community the true nature of your peaceful, prayerful outreach," he said in an email to LifeNews.com. "Often, these reports will feature only a written statement from the abortion center staff. They’re not always eager to appear on camera."
Related web sites:
40 Days for Life – https://40daysforlife.com
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