In my high school and early college days I was “pro-life”, but only politically. I was supportive of exceptions such as rape and incest, and to me, abortion was just one political “issue” among many, and not even the most important one at that. However, my sophomore year of college I actually went to an abortion clinic to pray, and the reality of the evil of abortion hit me in the face like a two-by-four. There were actually little children being brutally killed in that building! The shock this caused jolted me out of my complacency; I realized that legalized abortion is not simply a political issue, it is the most destructive force in the world today.

Because of my experience, I always encourage people to make the effort to go to the local abortion clinic and pray in front of it. But my words are only so effective; what is most compelling is to see our leaders take the battle to the heart of evil. This is what my ordinary, Archbishop Wuerl, did recently:

Archbishop prays rosary outside District abortion clinic

As Archbishop Donald Wuerl led a small group of mostly college age people in praying the rosary outside Planned Parenthood’s Metropolitan Washington clinic on Oct. 24, three sidewalk counselors tried to reach out to people walking into the abortion clinic.

Archbishop Wuerl then spoke quietly to encourage those praying there as part of the 40 Days for Life Campaign against abortion, which began on Sept. 23 and continues through Nov. 1.

“Thank you for being here. Thank you for being a witness. To do it quietly and in prayer is a beautiful form of witness,” the archbishop said. “Abortion may be legal, but it’s wrong. If enough people say it, someday it will cease to be a part of the fabric of our nation.”

God bless you, Archbishop Wuerl! I hope your example leads many others to take their prayers to where the killing is happening.