cover image Crusaders: Voices from the Abortion Front

Crusaders: Voices from the Abortion Front

Marian Faux. Carol Publishing Corporation, $19.95 (289pp) ISBN 978-1-55972-020-5

Faux ( Roe v . Wade ) here chronicles the recent history of abortion law debate in portraits of prime movers and camp followers of pro-life and and pro-choice factions. Although allying herself with the latter, she accurately covers events surrounding the Webster v . Reproductive Health Services lawsuit, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1989, and considered a victory for pro-life forces for ``allowing the states to pass some restrictive laws'' on abortion. Under scrutiny are lawyer Frank Sussman, who argued the pro-choice cause in the case; Randall Terry, chief of Operation Rescue which had blockaded abortion clinics and harassed their clients and staff; B. J. Isaacson, director of Reproductive Health Services, an abortion clinic; ``foot soldier'' Moira Bentson, a factotum for Terry; Vernice Miller, a political organizer serving the pro-choice cause; and former nun Frances Kissling, head of Catholics for a Free Choice. Faux's account is a cool-headed, sometimes plodding, perhaps overly optimistic appeal for compromise in the abortion controversy. (July)