CRANSTON — More than 200 faith-filled defenders of human life gathered Monday at the Women’s’ Center on Broad Street for a peaceful “Prayer Vigil to End Abortion” in response to President Barack Obama’s visit to Rhode Island scheduled later that afternoon. The vigil was held in conjunction with the 40 Days of Life campaign and was attended by pro-life supporters of all ages from all parts of the diocese as well as neighboring Massachusetts. Many parents brought their children to pray during the vigil. Holy Name of Jesus Church, Providence, parishioner Dawn Cousineau brought her five children, who are home-schooled, to the rally. “This is a very integral part of home-schooling,” she emphasized. “Our faith is incorporated into everything we do.” Cousineau said she brought her family because she wants her children to be witnesses to their faith and to stand up for truth. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin and Father Robert Forcier, pastor of nearby St. Paul Church and chaplain of the diocesan Human Life Guild led the participants, many of whom were holding rosary beads, in reciting the rosary and praying for an end to abortion. “This is a very important witness for us and for our community,” Bishop Tobin told those gathered. He asked the participants to pray that President Obama will soon have a change of heart and develop a respect for human life at all stages, and asked the faithful to also pray that the clients and employees of the abortion facility will also undergo a conversion and understand the gift of life that God gives to every human being. Dr. David Maglio, director of the St. Vincent de Paul Medical Clinic at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Providence, was encouraged by Bishop Tobin’s presence at the vigil. “To have the bishop come here to show support for the people of the diocese and for the pro-life cause was immense,” he said. Fall River, Mass., resident Beatrice Martins and her friends attended the prayer vigil to show support for the bishop and his efforts to promote the sanctity of human life. “We wanted to support Bishop Tobin because he’s the leader of the flock and we prayerfully petition to our Lord to end abortion and to convert the heart of President Obama to support the dignity of all human life,” she said. Carol Owens, coordinator of the diocesan Office of Life and Family Ministry, said she was encouraged to see many young adults and children at the event united in prayer. “People of all ages — babies and little children — lined the sidewalk of the abortion clinic,” Owens recalled. “What moved me most were the little children that were praying the rosary – a profound witness to life and support for the most vulnerable of all, the baby in its mother’s womb.” According to the most recent figures reported by the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Database, 3,672 Ocean State women underwent abortions in the state during 2007, while an additional 1,148 women traveled to abortion facilities outside of Rhode Island during that same time; 656 abortions were performed in Rhode Island on women ages 15 to 19; 2,208 women identified themselves as “white”; and 3,621 aborted fetuses were under the gestational age of 20 weeks.
