The recent Baton Rouge 40 Days for Life campaign created a culture of life and hope and offered alternatives to women in crisis pregnancies coming to Delta Clinic seeking an abortion.
Louisiana Right to Life and the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Baton Rouge corroborated in organizing the campaign, which took place Sept. 22 – Oct. 31.
During the campaign, 17 babies were saved when mothers who initially approached Delta Clinic verbally indicated they had changed their minds and were going to keep their baby, said Darryl Ducote, director of the OMFL.
“Certainly, I think that is significant that many lives were saved,” Ducote said. “I think equally important was the witness value of people who came to pray and to offer support to the women who were struggling with this decision (whether to have an abortion), as well as the ripple effect, the awareness among our Catholic parishes of the significance of this pro-life issue.”
He added, “I think that awareness is especially important right now since there are several right-to-life bills that are coming up for consideration in the (U.S.) Supreme Court.”
The closing prayer service Oct. 31 wasn’t specifically planned for the day before the Supreme Court heard opening arguments on the “Texas Heartbeat Law,” which bans abortions at the point of the “first detectable heartbeat.”
“But obviously the timing was important and probably guided by a higher power,” Ducote said.
On a related note, Charles Carpenter of Baton Rouge Right to Life gave prayer service attendees an update on pending legal issues and asked the group to pray for the guidance of the justices.
There was a good representation of Catholics during the 40 Days campaign, Ducote noted.
“Although it is an ecumenical function, the Catholic participants were the majority of the people present. Even the non-Catholic participants commented on the strong showing by the Catholic communities,” Ducote said.
He noted while participants may not know if a particular baby was saved, they were still effective in recognizing the reality that abortions were taking place. They also relied on their belief that God would use their witness to accomplish a higher purpose, even if they didn’t see the immediate results.
In looking at the tragedy of abortion, Ducote said he never saw a single smile on anyone’s face either entering or leaving Delta Clinic, which he interpreted as “the aura of death.”
“The whole experience that took away all joy, that was striking to me, the gravity of the whole situation,” Ducote said.
He was also pleased that 40 Days for Life participants honored their signed commitment to keep a peaceful vigil even in antagonistic situations.
“Sometimes the (abortion clinic) escorts would meet the women at their cars and from time to time would taunt the 40 Days for Life participants. Yet the 40 Days for Life participants maintained their peace,” said Ducote. “That’s something to commend them for.
“As a result of 40 Days, there were several volunteers who approached our office asking us to explore the possibility of continued pro-life witnesses and people committed to prayer throughout the year at the abortion clinic on the days it is open. And we are studying that possibility.”
Those wishing to volunteer can contact the OMFL office at 225-242-0135.