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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Right to Life: COVID-19 vaccines and abortion

By Will Hall, Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – “We need 100 percent ethical options,” Ben Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, is urging Louisianans to demand of elected officials regarding COVID-19 vaccines as well as common immunizations. Clapper issued the plea in a statewide electronic message addressing the ethical concerns in the development and testing of vaccines now being distributed to inoculate citizens against the novel coronavirus that originated in China and since March 2020 has claimed nearly 400,000 lives across the United States, including nearly 8,000 Louisianans, as of January 12, 2021. “Tragically, for years, biological research has used cell lines derived from the fetal tissue of a few aborted babies in the 1960s and 70s to produce and test drugs and vaccines,” Clapper said. He added that the cells harvested from the aborted babies have been replicated indefinitely, and that no further abortions have been performed to procure these cells. But, he said, funding of research using the old abortion-derived cell line was allowed to continue. “And because of that, we still face the issue of vaccines that have utilized the abortion-derived cell lines,” Clapper … [Read more...]

Pro-life marches planned for eight locations, Jan. 23

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The 2021 Louisiana Life Marches have moved to a one-day socially distanced life chain event Jan. 23. Originally, the life marches were scheduled to take place around the state over a three-week period in January and February, but novel coronavirus pandemic concerns caused organizers to alter the format for “Stand for Life, Louisiana.” Only the Baton Rouge event will include a program from 9-10 a.m. on the Capitol building steps and will feature messages, music and prayer that will be streamed live on the Louisiana Right to Life Facebook page. A lineup of speakers will be announced closer to the event date. Attendance will be limited to 500 people, who must register online. Following the event in Baton Rouge, pro-life supporters will gather from 10:30 a.m. to noon at designated locations around the state: -- Alexandria (Intersection of Jackson Street and McArthur Boulevard) -- Baton Rouge (756 Colonial Dr. and also Plank Road in front of St. Isadore Church) -- Bossier City (Airline Drive between Viking Drive and George Dement Boulevard) -- Marksville (Intersection of Ferdinand Street and Tunica Drive) -- Metairie (Intersection of Veterans Boulevard … [Read more...]

Amite native, Alabama WR DeVonta Smith thanks God after MVP performance

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MIAMI, Fla. (LBM) – Devonta Smith’s stellar career with the Alabama Crimson Tide came to a close with a record-breaking performance in the national championship game Jan. 11, but in his postgame interview the former Amite High School star was quick to give credit to the Lord for his on-field success after a 52-24 win over Ohio State. Smith, who was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player, set championship game records for the most receptions (12) and receiving touchdowns (3) while accounting for 215 of the Crimson Tide's 464 receiving yards, all of which came in the first half, according to Alabama Sports Information statistics. He left early in the third quarter with an injury to a finger in his right hand. “I wouldn't be able to do any of this without my teammates or without God,” Smith said in the postgame interview. “I just put in the work every day no matter what the situation was, just believing in my coaches to put me in the right situations just to make plays.” The week before, during the Heisman Trophy presentation, Smith gave credit to the Lord for helping him win the award given to the nation’s top college football player. Smith, who helped Amite win the … [Read more...]