“To pray, fast and peacefully witness for an end to intentional destruction of all innocent human lives, especially those most in need.”
In 2007, Madison hosted its first 40 Days for Life campaign at Planned Parenthood. Upon the conclusion of the 40 day, 24/7 prayer vigil, organizers Amy Hying and Anthony Carver founded Vigil for Life to serve as an umbrella organization that conducts the 40 Days vigil along with other vigils throughout the year.
Thus, in 2008, Vigil for Life began holding regular vigils at Planned Parenthood on the First Friday and First Saturday of each month. That spring, VFL partnered with the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe to hold the first Lenten Respect Life Retreat at Durward’s Glen retreat center.
In January 2009, Vigil for Life took a prominent role in combatting University of Wisconsin Health and Meriter Hospital’s plans to perform late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. VFL organized the first demonstration at the MSC and took the lead role in organizing a downtown rally that drew nearly 2,000 people. VFL also conducted a 40 Hours for Life vigil at UW Hospital and prayerful demonstrations at the MSC and Meriter Hospital – all while continuing to conduct First Friday and Saturday vigils and the 2009 40 Days for Life vigil.
On May 5, 2010 it was announced that abortion plans at the Madison Surgery Center had been scrapped.
In April 2012, non-surgical abortions (the abortion pill) at Planned Parenthood were ended in Wisconsin due to their “confusion over the new law” that places additional requirements on doctors performing abortions, per Foxnews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/20/planned-parenthood-suspends-pill-abortions-in-wis/).
Roe v. Wade was overturned on the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 24) in 2022. All glory to God! This paved the way for a Wisconsin state law from 1849 that prohibits all abortions in Wisconsin to once again become effective.
Heartbreakingly, on September 18, 2023, Planned Parenthood resumed doing abortions (both surgical and chemical) even though the 1849 abortion ban was still in place. On December 5, 2023, Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlipper ruled that the whole of Wisconsin Statute 940.04 (the 1849 abortion ban) applies to feticide, the intentional killing of a preborn child without maternal consent, and not to consensual medical abortion. Judge Schlipper did not issue an injunction blocking the statute’s enforcement, as the three district attorneys who are defendants in the case agreed to respect her ruling. This ruling is very unjust and shows that the judge is very tied to the ideology of the pro-abortion movement. Now, Vigil for Life continues to pray, fast and peacefully witness for an end to the intentional destruction of innocent human life while reaching out to those coming to Planned Parenthood in East Madison seeking to end the life of a tiny, defenseless, voiceless, and innocent human being.
