A locally-founded anti-abortion organization will be represented Wednesday at a White House ceremony to welcome Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives for a private meeting with President George Bush.

Officials from 40 Days for Life, a campaign that began in College Station in 2004, were invited last week to attend the private ceremony.

David Bereit, a former College Station resident who now heads up 40 Days for Life's national office in Washington, D.C., said he was stunned when he got the e-mail from the White House.

At first, Bereit said, he thought it was a hoax.

"This is an incredible honor," Bereit said. "I am humbled and excited to be part of this."

Benedict will spend the next six days in Washington, D.C., and New York City as part of his first visit to the U.S.

That 40 Days for Life officials were invited to Wednesday's ceremony is a sign that the group is a leader in the anti-abortion movement, organization officials said Tuesday.

The group created a Web site and a franchise-like approach to marketing the program last summer, Carney said, when anti-abortion groups across the country started showing interest.

Since then, the movement -- which advocates a peaceful, prayerful approach to ending abortion -- has spread to

144 cities in 44 states and five countries outside the U.S.

Bereit opened the Washington, D.C., office last summer.

Carney, who now serves on the board of directors of the local 40 Days for Life organization, said the White House invitation is a tribute to local activists who have worked hard to get the movement off the ground.

"[Bereit] is representing all the people in this community who have put in so many hours and so much work on this," he said.

Being invited to such a prestigious event, Carney said, shows the campaign is receiving national attention.

"I think this is the beginning of something huge," he said. "It just shows that if abortion is to end, it's going to be from the grassroots level."

• Janet Phelps' e-mail address is janet.phelps@theeagle.com.

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