Beverly Churches Conducting 40-Day, Anti-Abortion Protest

BEVERLY, MA -- Members of St. John The Evangelist Parish, St. Margaret Parish and St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish have been gathering outside of the Cummings Center in Beverly between 7 am and 7 pm since the start of Lent on March 6. According to a newsletter for Beverly's three Catholic churches, the anti-abortion protest will continue throughout Lent.

"You are warmly invited to join other Christians for 40 Days for Life – 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion," a noticed in a bulletin distributed in the churches on Sunday read. "You are also invited to stand and peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil in the public sidewalk in front of the Cummings Center, Route 62, Beverly (HealthQuarters abortion clinic is located on the premises), and also to help spread the word about this important community outreach."

HealthQuarters provides sexual and reproductive health services at offices in Beverly, Haverhill and Lawrence. A person who answered the at the Beverly office for HealthQuarters declined comment on the protest Tuesday.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).