40 Days for Life London 2011 FAQ From our previous 40 Days for Life campaigns, we noticed that

the same questions kept cropping up. These questions were asked by passers-by, newspaper reporters, radio interviewers, and the general public on websites and twitter. We have set out the commonly asked questions, with clear and to the point answers. People want to speak with us, ask questions, and often share their experiences of abortion. 1. Why do you stand outside the clinic? Cant you do it in your church or home? (a) The abortion centre is a place of hopelessness and death. The love of Christ needs to enter. We, in a simple way, want to be that spiritual presence, prayer & public witness. (b) It is a public act for the whole of society. We want people to wake-up to the reality of what happens in our city every day. In this sense we are doing what countless other groups do throughout the year in London for other causes. (c) We also provide counselling and practical help to any mother considering abortion, so what better place to be than where the mothers and babies are?

(d) We also want to engage with abortion staff and general public; we are here for them too. (e) We do pray in our homes and churches, not just outside the centre. 2. Isnt it illegal to stand outside an abortion clinic? (a) It is legal. (b) We do not block the entrance to the abortion centre, public roads, or public footpaths. (c) We inform the London Metropolitan Police. The location and boundaries are finalised with them. (d) The manager of the abortion centre is informed. (e) We have a sheet detailing the relevant laws and how we ensure all our participants abide by them, including a Statement of Peace. (f) We also have a short booklet and factsheet detailing the relevant laws that affect the prayer vigil and counsellors. 3. Do you harass the mothers walking into the centre? (a) No, we never do that in any way, either verbally or physically. (b) One of our trained counsellors or volunteers will

offer any mother a leaflet and the opportunity to speak. (c) Mothers are free to say no, or ignore us. (d) A boyfriend or husband may wait outside. In these cases, a counsellor may say hello and offer to talk to him. Again, he is free to say no thanks. (e) Mothers considering abortion are already under considerable pressure, we do not want to add to it, but relieve it and offer help. 4. Do you actually offer any real, practical help? (a) We offer whatever help the mother might need. (b) Sometimes this may simply be letting a mother know that she doesnt have to go through with abortion. (c) We have at least one trained counsellor or volunteer present, if possible a mother with lots of experience talking to mothers considering abortion. (d) We work closely with a pregnancy centre that helps hundreds of women a year. They can offer free pregnancy testing, help with accommodation, claiming social welfare, baby clothes, and financial help, and friendship.

5. Why do you hand out magazines that say abortion causes breast cancer? Surely thats not true. (a) The article in our You can stop Injustice magazine lists the peer-reviewed academic studies that have demonstrated a link between induced abortion and increased likelihood of breast cancer. (b) See the Abortion-BreastCancer website for more evidence. 6. Isnt this just an attempt by Americans to export their anti-choice methods? (a) Although 40 Days for Life began in the USA, it is an international movement in all five continents. (b) There is nothing particularly American about 40 days for Life London. Participants are from Britain, the help we provide is based in London, and our prayers are Christian. 7. How much money from American churches do you get? (a) 40 Days for Life London is financed by the voluntary contributions of individuals. (b) We are not affiliated to any churches or other organisations that support us financially.

8. Do you film the staff who work at the centre? (a) We never film abortion centre staff or mothers going in or out of the centre. (b) On a rare occasion, a designated member will video participates of the pray vigil, with their permission. (c) On several occasions, unsympathetic passers-by have filmed participants as a method of intimidation. Others film out of curiosity. (D) If a vigil participate did film staff or mothers, they would immediately be asked to stop. Such photos or videos would not be used by 40 Days for Life London. 9. Why have you got men involved? Its got nothing to do with them (a) 40 Days for Life is for everyone, men and women, old and young. We do not exclude on the basis of sex. (b) People need to see that men do care about mothers in crisis pregnancy. (c) Men are affected by abortion too, and their pain often goes unheard. Male passers-by have stopped to share their experience of abortion with men praying at the vigil. (d) It is better to have men involved for security reasons,

particularly when it is dark, late in the evening, or when there are fewer people at the vigil. 10. Im calling the police; you have no right to do this. (a) The police know we are here already. (b) We are doing nothing illegal. (c) You are still free to call the police. However, it will be a waste of police time. (d) Why not talk to us about whats bothering you. We are always free to talk about what we are doing.