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Lynn Dyer holds vigil outside a central Phoenix Planned Parenthood Sept. 24. She has been a sidewalk counselor for more than two decades, standing outside abortion clinics to try and convince women to consider alternatives. (Photo by Andrew Junker)

Tomorrow afternoon, pro-life advocates will unite in prayer from 12-1 p.m. in front of Tempe Planned Parenthood, 1250 E. Apache Blvd. They will again join in prayer a week later, Oct. 25, at the same location.

October is Respect Life month.

Earlier this month, we ran a story about ongoing efforts to promote the pro-life cause. Andrew Junker’s story covered the prayers of 40 Days for Life, the work of the Office of Marriage and Respect Life Issues and VirtueMedia commercials.

Yesterday, I came across a good, pro-life article on insidecatholic.com. The writer, Steve Skojec, recounts an interaction he had with a group protesting outside an abortion clinic.

“He then launched, unsolicited, into a story about how a clinic shut down in Cleveland had been filled with witchcraft paraphernalia, finishing with a supposition that they were ‘probably worshiping Satan or something,’” he writes.

“I have great admiration and respect for those who give generously of their time to pray in front of abortion clinics or volunteer on pro-life committees,” Skojec added, “but is this the sort of impression we want the world to have of pro-lifers — that we’re so angry that we lack basic tact, charity, and common sense?”

His point, as I understand it, is that being pro-life is more than just rallying for the cause. It’s bringing about a culture of life with loving acts.

“In a country where the majority of citizens believe that abortion in some form should be legal, pinning all our hopes on a presidential election or Supreme Court nomination is an exercise in extreme wishful thinking,” he writes.”We need to win converts and forge friendships with those who disagree with us and must find ways to effectively persuade our opponents.”

Skojec also made a point that resonated deeply with me as a father of a 14-month-old Lukas. Being pro-life really means “loving and welcoming children into our families, even though it entails sacrifice; being supportive of others who have children, rather than wishing they’d go somewhere else for Mass; and speaking charitably to (and about) our enemies, and remembering to pray for them.”

“If we’re going to win this fight, we must be personal examples of the pro-life culture,” he writes, “even if we’ve never seen the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic.”