CHICAGO - The National Organization
for Women, a powerful pro-abortion feminist group in the United States,
is claiming success in its attempts to cripple the pro-life movement by
engaging its leaders in costly lawsuits.
After years of costly litigation,
Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry agreed not to block the entrances
of abortion clinics. Under the settlement, Terry is prohibited from participating
in certain forms of demonstration against abortion. Any violation would
make Terry liable for a $15,000 penalty, and would allow NOW to reinstate
its lawsuit against him.
NOW and two abortion clinics
filed a lawsuit in 1986 after a clinic was allegedly ransacked by anti-abortion
demonstrators in Florida. The case was initially brought against Joseph
Scheidler of Chicago, his Pro-Life Action League and other pro-life activists
under federal anti-trust laws.
Two years later, the case
was expanded to include Randall Terry and Operation Rescue.
The settlement covers only
Terry, not Operation Rescue. The case against the other defendants, principally
Scheidler, is scheduled to go to trial March 2. Similar cases, which have
yet to be settled, were brought forward against pro-lifers in Canada by
abortionist Henry Morgentaler and the Ontario government under former NDP
Premier Bob Rae.
Anyone wishing to contribute
to a pro-life defence fund may do so by sending a contribution to Campaign
Life Coalition, 53 Dundas St. East, Suite 305,
Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1C6
-- via LifeSite News Service
