Supreme Court Considers Pro-Life Appeal Wednesday

Written by Susan Jones

(CNSNews.com) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will consider whether pro-life demonstrators may be sued under federal racketeering laws.

The defendant in one of the cases, Joe Schiedler, calls the case "a fundamental question of the freedom of speech and assembly guaranteed by the Constitution."

The National Organization for Women sued Schiedler, a pro-life activist, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, claiming his sit-ins and demonstrations outside abortion clinics amounted to extortion, because the protests obstructed business at the clinics and interfered with customers' ability to obtain services at the clinics

The lawsuit, filed in 1986, led to a seven-week trial in 1998. The jury found Schiedler guilty of racketeering and extortion, based on NOW's definition of extortion. Now the Supreme Court is being asked to decide if political protest can properly be defined as "extortion."

"Our country was founded on the right to protest injustice. There is no greater injustice than depriving unborn children of their right to life," Scheidler said in a statement. "By NOW's definition, most political protests that have effected social change over the past two centuries would qualify as extortion," he said, adding, "I am counting on the Supreme Court to uphold our right to protest and to put an end to the use of RICO to silence protesters."

Bush's 'Abortion Politics' Blamed For Deaths of Poor Women, Children

The United Nations Population Fund claims inadequate reproductive health is the biggest obstacle facing the world's poor, according to a report released Tuesday, and a New York congresswoman says the Bush administration is partly to blame.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) took aim at President Bush, accusing him of playing "abortion politics" at the expense of developing nations. She said the administration's decision in July to withhold the U.S. contribution of $34 million from the fund, known as UNFPA, has had a detrimental effect.

"This misguided decision will cost thousands of women and children's lives," Maloney said. "When we prevent money and services from reaching those in need, women die."

Bush Has 'Christian Duty' to Appoint Pro-Life Judges, Pro-Lifer Says

The founder of one of the nation's most vocal and visible pro-life organizations said Tuesday that President Bush is obligated by his faith to choose pro-life judges for the federal bench.

"When the Republican Party takes possession of the U.S. Senate, the president, we believe, has a Christian duty…to appoint only judges to the federal judiciary who will protect innocent human life," said Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry. "We are initiating prayer for him all over the country that he will just do his Christian duty, that he won't falter, that he won't be afraid and that he will fear his Lord more than he fears the voice of man," he added.