40 Days For Life ‘Loving The Mothers And The babies’

When a woman approaching an abortion clinic is greeted with words of support for her and her unborn child, resource alternatives and prayers, she can change her mind. 

The ongoing Baton Rouge 40-Days for Life Campaign, which ends Oct. 31, provides that lifeline of hope for those women.

The international 40-Days campaign aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.

According to the 40 Days for Life national website, since its first coordinated campaign in 2007, 19,322 unborn lives have been saved. Additionally, 114 abortion centers have been closed and 222 abortion workers quit.

“Forty days for life is an avenue for faithful Christians (of all denominations) to express their concern for the sacredness of life and have a concrete way of demonstrating that,” said Darryl Ducote, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The office is partnering with Clelie Carpenter in coordinating the Baton Rouge campaign, which takes place outside of the Delta Abortion Clinic.

Ducote said some are concerned there is “nothing they can do” to be a voice for the unborn. There seems to be only two avenues to address it, either through legal means, which is basically up to legislators, or dealing with individual women who find themselves in crisis pregnancies. And neither of those avenues appear to be open to some of them.

“For them (40 Days for Life) is an option for them to express their concern through prayer and fasting and gathering together for prayer vigils. We re-enforce each other and express our beliefs in the sacredness of life,” said Ducote.

He noted campaign participants commit themselves to keep a peaceful vigil by signing a statement of peace before they begin praying.

Chris Sellers, one of the first individuals to contact the women as they drive into the parking lot of Delta Clinic, has been faithfully urging women to give their child a chance for life year-round for more than 30 years. He said, “We provide them alternatives to abortion in a nice way.”

This includes preserving the dignity of the mother, according to Wayne Gravois, life director for Knights of Columbus Council 10080 of St. John the Baptist Church in Zachary.

“Our goal is not to shame the mother and the father. But to help them so they don’t have the abortion,” said Gravois. “We believe in supporting the life of the unborn baby, but we also support the mother. She needs our support.”

Trained sidewalk counselors talk to the women and urge them to choose life and hopefully usher them to Woman’s New Life Clinic, which is located next to the abortion facility. Woman’s New Life Clinic provides support and resources for women in crisis pregnancies.

Gravois said he witnessed women coming to Delta Clinic, seeing people praying for them, talking to the counselors and keeping their babies.

This emphasizes the importance of letting women know that someone cares about them, said Michael Haskins, past grand knight of Knights of Columbus Council 9247 of St. Jean Vianney Church in Baton Rouge.

“Prayer is very important,” said Haskins. “If no one is out here, they would be walking in there (Delta Clinic) and getting the abortion.”

Haskins and Dennis Mistretta, warden of Council 9247, noted there is an ongoing push from some to have unrestricted abortion access and blurring the issue of “when life begins.” They said it’s important to allow the women seeking an abortion know they are carrying an unborn life in their womb.

“We need to shine the light of Christ so they can have a plan,” said Mistretta.

Charles Carpenter, coordinator of Baton Rouge Right to Life, who assists the 40 Day participants, said COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida have presented challenges for 40 Days for Life. He said the campaign, though, is “gaining steam,” which is critical because during 40 Days for Life there are about twice the number of mothers who choose to keep their babies than during the same time frame period during the rest of the year. 

“The power of prayer is out there,” said Carpenter, who is outside the clinic year-round. 

Susan Livaudais, a member of Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, who also prays at the clinic year-round, said when mothers indicate they are going to keep their babies, the counselors ask them to bring their children by so they can see them. And some do.

She strongly urged Catholics to come out and pray.

“We are told to love our neighbor. This is what we are out here doing right now. We are loving the babies and their mothers,” she said.

To sign up for the prayer vigil visit 40daysforlifebr.com. For more information, call Mila Gernon, 225-242-0323 or Clelie Carpenter, 225-954-4875, or email [email protected].

If you are interested in coming out to pray year round at Delta abortion facility, please contact Charles Carpenter at 225-954-4875 or [email protected].