Rebecca St James supports Pope's call for prayer for unborn

Grammy-winning Christian music artist Rebecca St James has urged Protestants to join Pope Benedict XVI’s unprecedented call for worldwide prayer against abortion.

St James, who performed for Pope John Paul II during his US visit in 1999, said she applauded Pope Benedict for his call to pray for the end of abortion and respected his stand for life.

“I dearly hope and pray that Protestants and Catholics alike will draw together in unity, especially as it pertains to protecting life,” said St James in a statement Monday. “I, as a Protestant, have been able be partner with many Catholics to promote the pro-life message together. It's a true joy for me to do this."

Earlier in November, the Pope made a call for global prayer on November 27. He is asking Christians to pray for the unborn and their parents, for an end to abortion and research that destroys embryo, and for respect of human life. He asked that not only Catholics but “all Diocesan Bishops (and their equivalent) of every particular church preside in analogous celebrations involving the faithful in their respective parishes, religious communities, associations and movements”.

The Pope plans to begin Advent by celebrating a solemn “Vigil for All Nascent Human Life” at St Peter’s Basilica on November 27.

“We hope that Catholics understand the historical significance of Pope Benedict’s invitation,” said Joseph Meaney, Human Life International’s director of international coordination, according to LifeNews.com.

“The Holy Father for the first time in history has asked the Universal Catholic Church to gather together in a common liturgical event and pray for our pre-born brothers and sisters who are being slaughtered around the world by abortion and other attacks of the culture of death.”

S. James has been particularly vocal about abortion since she starred in a pro-life movie called “Sarah’s Choice”, released last year. The Australian-born songstress has dedicated much of her time this year to a series of special appearances and events for Crisis Pregnancy Centres throughout the United States.

“Sarah’s Choice” revolves around the life of a young career woman, Sarah Collins, who becomes pregnant outside of marriage. The character faces the decision of having an abortion and continuing to climb the ladder of success or keeping the baby and facing the complications that will result. The movie has been used by Crisis Pregnancy Centres across the US.

“I feel it’s an important film with a godly message that I am praying will profoundly touch lives,” she said last year.

St James is a Grammy Award winner and the recipient of multiple Dove Awards. She has produced seventeen Top 10 singles – nine of which have reached the No 1 spot on the charts to date – and garnered international success that has driven her record sales into the multi-millions globally.