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Each year, members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson gather in the afternoon after a Sunday Mass to become a Life Chain.

They line the north side of westbound U.S. 90 in front of Cardinal Lumber, waving signs at passing cars to express their opposition to abortion.

And, although the U.S. Supreme Court gave pro-life forces their greatest victory Friday, church members will be a Life Chain again this October.

“There’s a lot more to be done,” said the Rev. Herbert Bennerfield III, St. Joseph’s pastor.

“As long as there are people out there who don’t believe in the sanctity of life, there’s a lot to do.”

That work includes caring for mothers and children, he said.

“We need to help mothers with troubled pregnancies,” Benner-field said. “We need to help their babies.”

Even so, Friday’s Su-preme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade made it “a good day for life,” Benner-field said.

The Supreme Court ruling, in a challenge to a Mississippi law ban-ning abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy, broke the Roe precedent in force since 1973. Roe prevented states from banning abortion outright.

Associate Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion in the Mississip-pi case said Roe was wrongly decided.

The ruling ignited a series of protests around the country by people who say Roe left the abortion decision to individual women, and who believes the Su-preme Court has taken away women’s right to control their own bodies.

The ruling came only days after Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill toughening Louisiana’s abortion “trigger law,” which conditioned a Louisiana abortion ban on a Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe.

The bill signed by Ed-wards exempts women who undergo abortions from prosecution, but it would send health care workers who perform abortions to prison for up to 10 years.

The law includes no exemptions for rape and incest.

Edwards signed the bill June 21. It was proposed by Sen. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe. The original law outlawing abortion in the event the Supreme Court strikes down Roe was passed in 2006.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy praised the court’s decision Friday.

“Being pro-life means being pro-mothers, pro-babies, and pro-healthy futures — a philosophy I carry with me in the Senate,” said Cassidy, R-La., in a press release.

“This is a deeply emotional issue for many Americans, no matter which side one stands, but it is now up to individual states to enact their own policies.”
This week, Cassidy introduced the Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act, legislation that criminalizes individuals who leak confidential information from the Supreme Court of the United States.

The likelihood of a decision striking down Roe was leaked to the press a month ago.

The Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act re-quires a $10,000 fine and imposes a prison sentence of up to 10 years for those who leak confidential information from the Supreme Court.

The law would also allow seizure of funds derived from media accounts derived from such leaks.

A statement from the Louisiana Democratic Party said the decision “will undoubtedly disrupt the lives of women and families across Louisiana. It will trigger laws that resemble Louisiana HB 813, which attempted to criminalize contraception and in-vitro fertilization, to go into effect all over the country. The Republicans pushing these laws do so under a pro-life banner, but do not put forth any policies that support the viability of human life.

“We are in uncharted waters, and there are many consequences of this decision that will become apparent later.”

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette and St. Mary’s representative in the House, called the Supreme Court ruling “a major victory for life. The sovereign states will now have greater authority to implement strong pro-life protections. The Supreme Court’s majority justices showed courage and resolve in standing by the leaked draft opinion. The radical left-wing mob did not and will not win. We will protect innocent life.”

Residents of Berwick and Morgan City were among the three people killed in a two-vehicle crash early Sunday in Lafourche Parish, according to Louisiana State Police Troop C.

State police identified the deceased as Ramiro Pineda-Perez, 44, Berwick; Alexander Vigil, 38, Morgan City; and Grant Gremillion 47, of Sulphur.

State police reported that shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday, troopers were notified of the crash on La. 308 about half a mile south of La. 3220.

The preliminary investigation revealed Gremillion was traveling north on La. 308 while driving a 2013 Ford F-250. At the same time, Pineda-Perez was traveling south on La. 308 while driving a 2010 Chrysler 300. For reasons still under investigation, Gremillion crossed the centerline into the path of the Chrysler while in a right curve.

Pineda-Perez attempted to avoid a collision by steering to the right, but was struck by the Ford pickup. The impact caused the Ford to overturn and the Chrysler to travel off the roadway as the vehicles came to a stop, state police said.

Gremillion was unrestrained at the time of the crash and suffered fatal injuries. Pineda-Perez and his passenger, Vigil, were both restrained at the time of the crash and also suffered fatal injuries. All were pronounced dead at the scene.

A toxicology sample was collected from both drivers and submitted for analysis.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, state police said, motorists should always make good decisions while operating motor vehicles. Never drive while impaired, fatigued, or distracted.

Troop C has investigated 24 fatal crashes resulting in 28 deaths in 2022.

Janaa Coulon, a 2022 Morgan City High School graduate, earned the 2022 Matthew and Phyllis Glover Scholarship. The award is given annually to a senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, citizenship, and responds to a written essay. The $8,000 scholarship will remain active for four years. Presenting the scholarship was Phyllis Stackhouse Glover.

Submitted Photo

Elizabeth Bridget Billiot Matherne “Maw Bea”, 95, Matriarch and the last full blooded American Indian in her clan, descendant of The Bayou Lafourche Band of The Biloxi-Chitimacha Indians, and a resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family, Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Elizabeth was born November 19, 1926, the daughter of Elphege Billiot and Emelia Dardar.

Bea had the biggest heart and never judged anyone. She always had a meal cooked and
made sure everyone had enough to eat. You could always find her working in her garden; except on Sundays when she would be at church.

Elizabeth will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sister Odelia Billiot; children, Joyce Matherne Kaczmarek and husband James “Jim,” Andy Matherne Lee, Vincent Matherne and wife Pauline. Her grandchildren Jeffrey and wife Courtney; Donna and husband Chris; Debbie and husband Kenny; Jenny and husband Brad; Corey and fiancé Erica; Star and husband Wade; Donny and wife Tammy; Ted and wife Monica;Toby and wife Heather; ; Jeannie; Paula; and Chris. She will also be survived by twenty-one great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren; numerous loving nieces, nephews and many friends.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Gillis A. Matherne, Sr.; children, Tex Matherne, Velma Matherne Graham, Gillis Matherne, Jr.; parents, Elphege Billiot and Emelia Dardar Billiot; brothers, Orlean Billiot, Frank Billiot; and son in-law Harold Lee.

Visitation will be on Monday the 27th day of June 2022 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City, LA. Visitation will resume on Tuesday the 28th day of June 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City at 9:00 am with a recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 10:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am followed by burial in St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Amelia, LA.