WASHINGTON — Groups on opposite sides of the abortion issue had varying reactions to the Supreme Court’s decision Feb. 26 that a federal racketeering law was wrongly used to halt abortion opponents such as Operation Rescue.
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, writing for an 8–1 majority, said there is no disagreement that abortion protesters interfered with operations at abortion clinics and committed crimes in some cases, the Associated Press reported.
“But even when their acts of interference and disruption achieved their ultimate goal of ‘shutting down’ a clinic that performed abortions, such acts did not constitute extortion,” he wrote.
Conservative Christian groups cheered the decision concerning the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
“The court was right to say that those who oppose the slaughter of innocent life should not be treated like racketeers,” said Focus on the Family President James Dobson. Several groups supporting the verdict said it would help other kinds of protesters as well.
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