Small groups of people plan to hold prayer vigils at the intersection of Helmcken Road and Island Highway for the next 40 days.

Members of Choose Life Victoria are hosting a vigil each day due to abortions performed at the Vancouver Island WomenB次元官网网址檚 Clinic.

B次元官网网址淲e are praying for women and their unborn children,B次元官网网址� said Steve Weatherbe, Choose Life Victoria president. B次元官网网址淲e are praying for women to change their minds and to keep their babies and deliver them.B次元官网网址�

Members are standing outside a 30-metre buffer zone and praying in shifts during business hours of the clinic. B次元官网网址淭his is not a protest or  to scare anyone ... itB次元官网网址檚 a prayer vigil,B次元官网网址� Weatherbe said.

A clinic staff member indicated the womenB次元官网网址檚 centre had never had protesters before. Staff declined to comment on the vigil.

At the start of the prayer vigil Wednesday morning, West Shore RCMP officers were on hand investigating vandalism in the clinic parking lot and on the sidewalk of Helmcken Road. The words B次元官网网址淧ro Choice,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淓veryday for ChoiceB次元官网网址� were spraypainted on the sidewalk. The vandalism occurred sometime in the evening of Sept. 27 or early on Wednesday.

Although the Choose Life Victoria members say the vigil is to pray for support for the women, not all groups feel this way.

B次元官网网址淚 think the tactics they use are meant to intimidate women who have chosen to access a legal medical service, and that is harassment,B次元官网网址� said Tara Paterson, spokesperson for the Victoria-based Reproductive Justice Organizing Coalition. B次元官网网址淚 am appalled it is going on for 40 days, but I am glad it is not everyday.B次元官网网址�

Groups from Canada, the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia are taking part in 40 Days for Life Vigil from Sept. 28 to Nov. 6

B次元官网网址淭hese vigils are being held in about 300 cities,B次元官网网址� Weatherbe said explaining that the 40 days reference comes from the bible. B次元官网网址淐hrist spent 40 days in the wilderness.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver Island WomenB次元官网网址檚 Clinic offers a variety of womenB次元官网网址檚 sexual health services, including abortion, IUDs and surgical completions after a miscarriage.

Paterson is organizing a counter rally called B次元官网网址渞ock for reproductive justiceB次元官网网址� on Oct. 22 at Centennial Square in Victoria in response to 40 Days for Life campaign.

B次元官网网址淲e hope to broaden the conversation to more than just abortion,B次元官网网址� Paterson said. B次元官网网址淩eproductive justice includes the right not to have children, the right to have children and the right to parent.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com