Bishop Earl Fernandes joined several men and women to pray outside of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Columbus’ east side Tuesday.
The bishop took part in the 40 Days for Life campaign, held in cities across the country for an end to abortion. In Columbus, the campaign is being held outside of Planned Parenthood Surgical Clinic on E. Main Street, which exclusively offers abortion services.
Bishop Fernandes joined diocesan and Greater Columbus Right to Life staff and volunteers, who gathered to spend an hour in prayer. The bishop led the group in praying the rosary outside of the abortion clinic, offering prayers for the preborn and their mothers.
“We were so overjoyed to have Bishop Fernandes and curial staff join our volunteers this morning,” said Beth Vanderkooi, president at Greater Columbus Right to Life. “It is a beautiful continuation of the bold pro-life leadership he demonstrates, and I pray his witness encourages more of our fellow Catholics to join us.”
An average of 12 abortions a day are performed in Franklin County, according to data reported to the Ohio Department of Health.
Four abortion clinics currently operate in the county: Aria, Jenson Family Health, Your Choice and Planned Parenthood. The clinics offer the abortion pill up to 12 weeks gestation. Planned Parenthood also offers surgical abortions up to 21 weeks and six days gestation.
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40 Days for Life, an internationally coordinated campaign, aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil. The first campaign was held in 2007 in Bryan-College Station, Texas, and has grown to more than 1,000 cities in 60+ countries.
40 Days prayer vigils are held outside of Planned Parenthood centers and abortion businesses every spring and fall.
“Praying outside of an abortion clinic can be daunting because, in a very real way, we are confronted by the fact that unborn children are being killed so close by,” said Mary Kristof, associate director for the diocese’s Office of Pro-Life Ministries, who joined in prayer for the 40 Days for Life campaign.
“As Christians, we are called to be courageous and to provide hope even in the darkest of circumstances. Our prayerful witness shows that we have not surrendered to the world but that we have surrendered all things to God—and that we hope to help women and children no matter what the circumstances.”
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Leslie Baab, who joined Tuesday to pray outside of Planned Parenthood, has served as a sidewalk counselor since 2013. She completed a training through Greater Columbus Right to Life and has participated in various 40 Days for Life campaigns.
Baab recalled the story of a woman who planned to have an abortion but turned away after seeing individuals on the sidewalk. The mother later described her now 7-year-old son as the light of her life.
Baab began sidewalk counseling in hopes of offering women like her an option.
“I think mostly we plant seeds,” she said of sidewalk counseling. “I don’t see a lot of turnaways directly, but it’s my hope that they leave … or it nurtures something in them that grows later.”
This year, the 2026 fall campaign runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. Individuals and parishes can join Greater Columbus Right to Life by adopting an hour, a day or partial day to spend in prayer.
“We’re encouraging everybody to come out and join us for one hour of prayer this 40 days for Life. We’re just about halfway through, so there are still plenty of hours to adopt,” Vanderkooi said.
“We know that 12 abortions are happening on average every day in Franklin County, and with 12 hours of prayer, that means, if you adopt one hour, you’re adopting one baby and one mom.”
To learn more, visit 40 Days for Life – Greater Columbus Right to Life and 40 Days for Life.