Anti-abortion protests in Fredericton end Sunday

New Brunswickers who participated in daily vigils outside the Morgentaler clinic in Fredericton since Sept. 23 as part of an international campaign against abortion will end their demonstrations Sunday night.

About 100 people from across the province travelled to the capital city to take part in the protestsas part ofthe 40 Days for Life campaign, saidRev. Ian Wetmore, who was among them.

"Most of us just do our shift, whether an hour or three or four hours, or whatever, and we pray mostly," he said.

"So you'll see people standing with their rosaries in hand, or with their eyes shut, praying. And just praying for an end to abortion."

The protesters also held up signs and talked to any passersby willing to listen to theiranti-abortion message.

At least three New Brunswick women who were considering an abortion changed their minds after chatting with the protesters, according to Wetmore.

Internationally, "40-plus lives have been saved.Forty unborn babies have been spared," he said.

Reactions to the protests have been mixed, Wetmore said.

"Some people walk by and they're friendly. Some people will cross the street and avoid us."

A closing ceremony is scheduled to be held Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 8 p.m. AT.The protesters will then walk together to the clinic.

Dr. Henry Morgentaler, a pioneer in the fight for abortion rights in Canada, is suing the New Brunswick government to force its medicare program to pay forabortions performed at his clinic. The province currently only pays for abortions approved by two physicians and performed in hospitals.