40 Days for Life, a faith organization dedicated to ending abortion, is coordinating a nationwide "prayer campaign" ahead of Wednesday's opening arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg sent out an urgent plea to the faithful to participate in the vigil, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We need you!” the diocese posted on Facebook Nov. 15. “Join us for a local 'emergency' 40 Days for Life prayer campaign Nov. 30 and Dec. 1st. The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, on Dec. 1st. And 40 Days for Life will have vigils throughout the country, INCLUDING ALL THREE OF OUR 40 DAYS FOR LIFE LOCATIONS, in Tampa Bay.”

The case is Thomas E. Dobbs, State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and it potentially could overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973. 40 Days for Life, a grassroots faith organization, is encouraging churches and others in support of ending abortion, to gather in prayer around the country Tuesday and Wednesday to pray for the Justices. 

In 2018, Mississippi enacted HB 1510, the Gestational Age Act, a law that bans abortion after 15 weeks except in cases of medical emergencies and severe fetal abnormality. There are no exceptions for pregnancies due to rape or incest. This is the first case the Supreme Court has considered in which a state is asking the court to overturn the right to abortion.

“Mississippi is not contending that 15 weeks gestation is a point in pregnancy when a fetus is viable outside the womb, but rather is asking the Supreme Court to either overturn the constitutional right to abortion or to allow states to ban some pre-viability abortions if it does not 'burden a substantial number of women,'” according to KFF, an information organization focusing on health issues. 

40 Days for Life organization works to “end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.” It has called abortion the leading cause of death in the country.

Statista reports approximately 857,000 legal abortions were performed in 2000; by 2018, the number had decreased to about 620,000.

The Diocese for St. Petersburg has included on its Facebook page additional information about the events happening locally, including locations and how to register to participate.