I have just finished reading the book with the above title. It is the story of Norma McCorvey, internationally known as “Jane Roe” the central figure in the infamous case of “Roe versus Wade,” which was instrumental in changing the United States law and giving women virtually abortion on demand.

That was in 1973, 25 years ago. While most people, particularly in the U.S., know the name “Jane Roe” it is only recently that it has become known that Jane - whose real name is Norma McCorvey - had in the 1990s a complete conversion from pro-abortion to pro-life.

I am, by nature, a slow reader but I went through this book in record time because, to use the old adage, “I couldn’t put it down.” It is quite expensive ($19 U.S.) - I have mine on loan! - but it is worth every cent to those who are on the side of life.

Norma does not give us too much detail about her early life, except that her parents separated when she was eight. She had an unhappy life as a child. As a girl, she had three pregnancies, with three different men as far as I can gather, and one of them was the occasion of the “Roe vs. Wade” case.

The inside cover of the book gives the following summary of the situation: “Poor, pregnant and desperate, Norma McCorvey fell into the hands of two young and ambitious lawyers. They were looking for a plaintiff with whom they could challenge the Texas state law prohibiting abortion, and Norma signed on.” It later describes the Norma of the time as “uneducated, unskilled, a drug user and an alcoholic. She became a helpless pawn in a powerful political game.”  In January (1998) this “uneducated and unskilled” girl began a tour of the United States for her book in which she states that the decision was a “horrendous mistake, which has launched a holocaust.”

She admits that she swore under oath that she had been gang-raped and that this was a total lie. She made the statement on the dictation of the two young women lawyers - one of whom had had an abortion herself.

Needless to say it is impossible to give more than a very brief summary of Won By Love - but I hoping that it will encourage readers of the Interim to purchase and read it. Norma believes that her conversion from being pro-abortion to being pro-life was an act of God and, having read it, I cannot but agree with her.

At the time of the case, Norma was about 25 and without a regular job. After the case, when she had become “famous” she began to work in an abortion “clinic” in Dallas, Texas. Her principle function was to answer the phone and make appointments for women who wanted abortions. But she was also used as an assistant in the actual abortions. The doctor, whose name was “Arnie,” gave her the job of reassembling the parts of the aborted babies. This horrified her and eventually she refused to do it.

As she was the “‘famous’ Jane Roe”, he could not easily dismiss her, so he had to reassemble them himself. Jane apparently continued to work there for several years but somewhere inside her there was a growing uneasiness, which she calmed by taking more drink and drugs. As far as I can gather, Norma was a “practical atheist.” Religion does not appear to have any influence on her and her reaction to abortion at that time was simply what any woman would/should feel at the sight of the murder of a baby.

In 1995 something extraordinary happened, which was to have incredible influence on the life of Norma McCorvey. The office beside - and actually attached to the abortuary in which Norma was working - fell vacant. The owner of both buildings phoned Dr. Arnie and informed him that he was renting the adjacent office to “Operation Rescue.” Operation Rescue, as every pro-life person knows, is one of the most active pro-life organizations in North America. It was founded by Randall Terry and its chief purpose is to “rescue” babies from being murdered by abortion. Dr. Arnie couldn’t think of a more unsuitable arrangement but he had nowhere else to go so he had to submit.

The Director of the Operation Rescue office is an interesting person. His name is Rev. Philip, “Flip” Benham and his story is certainly worth another book. 

Norma tells it briefly in her book. Flip was born and raised in the saloon business. When he was 27 years old, he owned the Mad Hatter Saloon in Florida. In his own words, he was a “total drunk with a lot of money - the most dangerous kind of alcoholic you can be.” He describes himself as “The most selfish man who ever lived.” He did not practise any religion and didn’t think he needed to. Shortly after his marriage to Faye, she became pregnant. Flip wanted her to have an abortion but she replied, “You have no choice. We’re going to have this baby.”

In her book, Norma says, “Faye remained firm and Flip now loves her for it. She produced twin boys, who are now Flip’s best friends.” One day, a coffee-maker salesman came into the saloon. He began talking about religion and the outcome of it was that Flip became Christian and eventually a Protestant minister.

From a pro-life seminar he became avidly anti-abortion but was not very active. Then one day he saw a little old lady being handcuffed and thrown into a police van, because she was picketing outside an abortuary. His personal reaction was, “We have the same theology, but she’s living it out while I am not.” He began to participate in rescues and eventually became director of Operation Rescue in 1992. He was still in that position when Operation Rescue, moved in beside “A Choice for Women,” the abortuary in which Norma was working.

One of Flip’s assistants was a young mother named Ronda, who had two really beautiful little girls named Emily and Chelsey, aged eight and six respectfully. At first, relations between the occupants of the two offices were by no means friendly and sometimes nasty remarks were exchanged. But, as they occupied the same parking lot and could not avoid meeting on an almost daily basis, they began to be more tolerant and even chatted casually. However, what really made their relationships more and more friendly was the fact that the two little girls, who didn’t know the differences between the grown-ups, simply fell in love with “Miss” Norma and wanted to talk to her every day. Ronda had also taken a liking to Norma and allowed the children to visit her in the office. She sensed that they were having a good effect on Norma, whose three children had been taken from her because of her addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The presence of these two little girls was bringing her maternal instinct to life. Then one day, when Ronda and Norma were talking very confidentially, Ronda said, “You know, Norma, Emily was nearly aborted.”  She then related how her husband had wanted to have Emily aborted and had left Ronda because she would not agree. This had an extraordinary effect on Norma. She says that the thought which occurred to her was this, “This precious little girl, throwing more love my way than anybody ever has, might not have been born because of an affidavit I had signed.” The next thing she saw was a sticker on Ronda’s car, which she had not noticed before. It read, “Abortion Stops a Beating Heart.” This again had a devastating impact and left her almost breathless.

As the weeks went by it became more and more obvious to Rev. Flip and Ronda that the time had come to approach Norma about attending church. They decided that the best one to approach her would be little Emily. So one Saturday morning, according to plan, Emily said, “Miss Norma, why don’t you come to church with us this evening?” Norma replied, “I can’t go this evening honey. But I shall go next Saturday.”  Emily gave a big whoop and Norma knew that she would have to stick to her promise. The rest is history.

On August 8 1995, Norma was baptized as an Evangelical Christian in a family swimming pool. The Baptizer was Rev. Philip Benham. For a while after her change to pro-life, Norma was not quite clear on the pro-life position and thought that abortion was tolerated during the first few months of pregnancy. However, that was cleared up and she is totally convinced at the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death. The dedication of her book makes her position abundantly clear.“This book is dedicated at all the children who have been torn apart by abortion. I am sorry you are no longer here, but you are now in Heaven with our Father. And to all the women who, through abortion, have had their lives changed. Amazing Grace can heal your heart and you too can be won by love.”