CTK Youth Changing Hearts at Delta Clinic

On a recent Tuesday morning overcast weather reflected the heavy hearts of women approaching Delta Women’s Clinic abortion facility, which they thought would take care of their pregnancy “problem.” Like rays of sunshine streaming through those clouds were prayers from a group of LSU students, part of the generation most impacted by abortion, to let them know someone is praying for them and wants to help. 

The goal of Pro-Life LSU is to educate and encourage people at the college to respect, protect and uphold the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. While the group is open to all students, most are from Christ the King Church and Catholic Center in Baton Rouge.

Focusing on abortion is important to Pro-Life LSU because it states, “it is the most relevant and personal issue people may face in their college experience.” It cited that the majority of abortions are performed on college-age women. And research by the Guttmacher Institute shows that over 50 percent of abortions in Louisiana are done on women in their 20s.

“This is something personal to us,” said senior Gabriel Gremillion, president of Pro-Life LSU and CTK member, who noted abortion has taken 1/3 of her generation.

Speaking out at campus’ free speech alley, group members ask their peers’ opinion on abortion and discuss the issue with them. 

“We’ve had some difficult conversations (there), a lot of spiritual warfare,” said Gremillion.

For sophomore Luke Corona, it’s a challenge he’s always ready to face.

“It is challenging to navigate pro-life conversations with people who feel very strongly toward the topic of abortion,” said Corona. “However, it is still enjoyable to have meaningful discourse with people and to hear about their beliefs and their reasoning behind them. Just being able to have a conversation with someone who may totally disagree with you is an awesome opportunity.”

The group prays for people who “do not see the evil of abortion and the truth about life.”

Members also speak out to their legislators about issues that impact the dignity of human life. 

At the group’s weekly meeting, guest speakers share personal testimonies. 

To support pregnant or parenting students, LSU Pro-life holds baby supply giveaways and helps in any way it can.

In addition to helping at crisis pregnancies centers and maternity homes, the group prays for and encounters women coming to Delta Women’s Clinic in Baton Rouge to help them choose life rather than an abortion that ends in the baby’s death and reaps tragic consequences for the women.

Having a strong pro-life advocacy mother, Gremillion had grown up praying at Delta Clinic since a child and she was a pro-life advocate in high school. She has been on the March for Life pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. five times.

“The importance of going to the clinic to pray is to show the girls who visit, and the workers, that there are people who love them."
Luke Corona

“It’s always been part of my life. This is my number one issue,” said Gremillion. 

Margaret Cazenavette, LSU sophomore and also a CTK member, said knowing women her age are getting abortions makes her aware of the desperation of the issue.

“Babies are dying. It’s not a story, it’s going on daily,” said Cazenavette, a graduate of St. Scholastica Academy in Covington.

In spreading the pro-life message, Cazenavette said while speaking with people who are ardently pro-choice, she may not see them change their minds.

“But their eyes light up like maybe there is something to it,” said Cazenavette.

When praying at the Delta Clinic, she said there are many sorrows when seeing “tons of women” going into the clinic, and the clinic volunteers and employees can be “crude.”

“But there is the joy of seeing so many young people and older people working together and praying with the same goal in mind (changing minds and ending abortion),” Cazenavette said.

And there are occasional confirmations that women who were going to have an abortion changed their minds.

“One time (the prayer group) was walking away and one of the (sidewalk counselors) came running up. He said a woman had pulled up into the driveway but turned around. As she was leaving she rolled down her window and (indicating her group and other counselors) said, ‘Thank God for people being out here. If it wasn’t for them I would not have changed my mind,’ ” said Cazenavette.

The group has also had other confirmations that God hears their prayers about wanting women to reconsider having an abortion.

Corona, Gremillion and Cazenavette talked about the time the clinic volunteers put portable petitions at the building entrance. They hoped to prevent the women from seeing the rosary group praying for them and the group from seeing the women they were praying for. As the group prayed the rosary, a gust of wind blew the barrier over twice.

“I was using a miraculous medal rosary,” said Cazenavette of her spiritual “weapon” of choice.

 But they said the most effective way to change women’s minds is through love and letting them know someone cares and wants to help them.

“The importance of going to the clinic to pray is to show the girls who visit, and the workers, that there are people who love them,” said Corona.

“Every time I go I can’t even imagine what those girls went through to bring them to that place. It’s sad and difficult to be there at times, but being a loving witness is more important, especially when someone may have no other loving people in their life. I would encourage anyone who is interested in coming to pray to do so, as it is a very eye-opening experience.”

 Pro-Life LSU is currently on summer hiatus, but its members say they are looking forward to getting back together for their mission in the fall. The group is always in need of prayers and financial support, Gremillion said. For more information on the club and how to donate, email [email protected].