Prayer vigil seeks to keep abortion funding out of health care reform

Washington D.C., Sep 9, 2009 / 04:21 am

A 27-hour prayer vigil will be held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this Sunday to pray that no taxpayer money will be used to pay for abortions as part of health care reform legislation.

The vigil will begin on Sunday September 13 at 7 p.m. and will end the following day at 10 p.m., a press release from vigil organizers reports.

Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the group Faith and Action, said the nation was not only in an economic crisis or a health care crisis but “a spiritual crisis.” He said that the only way to address that crisis is through prayer.

“Every American, no matter how young or old, can and must pray,” he added.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said that Americans have always turned to God in prayer at times of great challenge and crisis.

“We have set these 27 hours apart to seek God for his wisdom, direction and counsel for our nation. This is especially true concerning the national debate on health care.”

Those gathered at the Capitol vigil, he said, will “humble ourselves and cry out to God for social justice and human rights.”

“We will be specifically praying that no public monies are used in any way to pay for abortions as part of health care reform.”

According to Rev. Mahoney, participants will be a “bold public and prophetic witness” that abortion is not health care and that health care reform should bring “healing and compassion” and not “violence and brokenness.”

“As people of faith, we do not have to sit on the sidelines and watch as events unfold on the world state. Rather, through prayer, fasting and repentance we can help shape history."