In a county where expressions of opposition and resistance are a standard feature of the local landscape, three Catholic women praying the rosary quietly together outside the Planned Parenthood facility in downtown San Rafael elicited strong emotions on Sept. 26.

It was the first day of the 40 Days for Life campaign, an international pro-life campaign to end abortion that runs through Nov. 4. The movement started in 2007 with peaceful, around-the-clock prayer vigils outside abortion facilities in local communities.

Crawley, one of the leaders of the Marin County 40 Days for Life vigil, Massucco and Andrues take the outbursts in stride. “We come here to pray and defend life,” said Andrues. She and her sister have been doing just that for nearly their whole lives. Their parents, Bonnie and Peter DeRutt, were early pro-life advocates in Marin County.

“Some days there are far more positives than negatives,” Massucco said.

As they talked, one motorist offered a supportive thumbs-up. There were a few waves and some low-key horn taps, too.

According to the 40 Days website, 14,636 lives have been saved from abortion as a collective result of local 40 Days campaigns in almost 800 cities in 50 counties.

Andrues recalled a visibly pregnant woman who pulled her car up to the group of praying pro-lifers one year. “I just want you to know that I saw you out here and I changed my mind,” she said.

Full story at Catholic San Francisco.