The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York

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somewhat affiliated with the NRLC. 5 Three main nationwide events spurred these statewide groups to increase their coordination. In light of the passage of new abortion laws in eleven states from 1966-1969, the perpetual introduction of new legislation in the majority of states in 1970-1971, and news of two pending Supreme Court abortion cases from Texas and Georgia in April 1972, abortion leaders throughout the country realized the pressing need to organize nationwide quickly and effectively. 6 In August of 1970, the NRLC sponsored a small weekend meeting in Chicago for anti-abortion leaders throughout the nation, drawing MCCL founders Robert and Mary Joyce and Fred Mecklenburg. A second meeting was held in June of 1971 at Macalaster College in St. Paul, MN, which again conveniently drew even more MCCL leaders. However, the result of this initial involvement was not as constructive as Minnesota activists, and the national organization in general, had anticipated. In fact, discussions in each event upset representatives from statewide groups across the country, especially those from Minnesota. State actors became frustrated with the inflexible agenda and tactics of the group’s Catholic leaders and controllers. This clash came to a head in June of 1972, when the NRLC again drew anti-abortion leaders to their third annual convention in Philadelphia. MCCL founders Fred and Marjory Mecklenburg, Paul Andreini, Joe Lampe, and David Mall were all in attendance. 7 For these MCCL delegates, the NRLC conventions did not spur their subscription to the existing 5 Critchlow, 138. 6 “Comparison of State Abortion Laws Passed in 1966-1969 U.S.A,” ACCL Records, Box 6, Folder: NRLC-1974 (2), Gerald Ford Library, and “Pennsylvanians for Human Life Newsletter,” Vol 3, No 1, April 1972, ACCL Records, Box 3, Folder: Miscellaneous Reference Materials (4), Gerald R. Ford Library. 7 “Registration List, National Right to Life Convention,” ACCL Records, Box 4, Folder: NRLC – Rosters/Mailing Lists (1), Gerald R. Ford Library. 69
nationwide effort organized by the Catholic-sponsored group, but rather drove them to develop a wholly new and improved one themselves. A handwritten memo, apparently written shortly after the convention, explains how Marjory Mecklenburg, Joseph Lampe, and Dr. Paul Andreini met in Rochester, MN to compile a proposal for “a more independent,…effective and representative national pro-life organization.” 8 With regard to the 1970 meeting in Chicago, MCCL leaders claimed “[e]ven at this early date it was obvious to those attending that Msgr. McHugh totally dominated the NRLC and that it was a façade, not a national right to life organization.” 9 The memo-writer, likely Marjory Mecklenburg or Joseph Lampe (from similarities with their other handwritten notes, also included in consulted archives), described how delegates raised issue with how both the meeting and the national organization at large were run, while “no changes were made by Msgr. McHugh and no alternative plans were offered…[T]here was great sentiment for a commitment to an independently structured and funded NRLC, but to no avail.” 10 After three years of such incidents, MCCL activists saw the NRLC as an organization completely dominated by Msgr. McHugh and the Catholic Church, as an “autocratic organization” that could not sufficiently meet the desires of the broadening base of the anti-abortion movement. 11 The draft for a new group stated the improved national organization would be modeled after the most successful statewide groups, which were on the whole older and more established than the existing nationwide ones. MCCL was specifically mentioned as one such model group. Marjory Mecklenburg certainly knew the NRLC, its tactics, 8 Untitled Memo, ACCL Records, Box 4, Folder: National Right to Life Convention June 16-18, 1972, Gerald R. Ford Library. 9 Ibid. 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid. 70
Page 1 and 2:
Abortion as a “Medical Problem Br
Page 3 and 4:
Table of Contents Acknowledgements
Page 5 and 6:
Abbreviations ACCL - American Citiz
Page 7 and 8:
this first neighborhood grassroots
Page 9 and 10:
in New York, California, and Colora
Page 11 and 12:
is a unique and important one to te
Page 13 and 14:
major factors led to MCCL’s victo
Page 15 and 16:
Well before Blackmun’s 1972 Mayo
Page 17 and 18:
Chapter 1: The Pre-History of the C
Page 19 and 20:
practice. The law as it stands is t
Page 21 and 22:
would have functioned independently
Page 23 and 24: instances also increased awareness
Page 25 and 26: threat of abortion criminalization
Page 27 and 28: the actions of new twentieth-centur
Page 29 and 30: of the MCLTP. 3 In the early 1970s,
Page 31 and 32: from the Great Depression in its se
Page 33 and 34: underestimated his opponents, as MC
Page 35 and 36: who shared a “communitarian ethic
Page 37 and 38: However, the Council did not offer
Page 39 and 40: issue-based and activist politics f
Page 41 and 42: Blake and Fred Mecklenburg and lobb
Page 43 and 44: yet united front against abortion l
Page 45 and 46: anti-abortion movement, but also be
Page 47 and 48: emerging organizations across the c
Page 49 and 50: the 1970s, and an additional thirte
Page 51 and 52: When news of Roe and Doe broke, MCC
Page 53 and 54: their efforts prior to the decision
Page 55 and 56: the part of state groups and create
Page 57 and 58: physical space in Minneapolis and r
Page 59 and 60: 58 of them were enacted. 37 Even fo
Page 61 and 62: looms as a menace to all mankind an
Page 63 and 64: War.” 56 President Gerald Ford di
Page 65 and 66: the 1976 Republican Party Platform,
Page 67 and 68: should be noted that pro-life activ
Page 69 and 70: with us.” 81 Needless to say, by
Page 71 and 72: ecord of being vindictive.” 90 Ca
Page 73: decades of involvement. Yet before
Page 77 and 78: in drastic (at the extreme, irrecon
Page 79 and 80: and increase political effectivenes
Page 81 and 82: willing to be window dressing - no
Page 83 and 84: Warren Schaller, and others to form
Page 85 and 86: women, which would become the speci
Page 87 and 88: On multiple levels, ACCL became a p
Page 89 and 90: multi-issue approach was a tactic a
Page 91 and 92: asserted, “often a few key people
Page 93 and 94: Lampe, and others) split to form AC
Page 95 and 96: nomination. Jefferson’s tactics w
Page 97 and 98: administration. 82 Lampe took over
Page 99 and 100: and was also a member of Planned Pa
Page 101 and 102: As previously explored, Mecklenburg
Page 103 and 104: million; Schweiker’s stance and a
Page 105 and 106: Almost immediately after her appoin
Page 107 and 108: The last straw came when Mecklenbur
Page 109 and 110: on the national scene cautiously, m
Page 111 and 112: abortion debate she encountered as
Page 113 and 114: Conclusion Supreme Court Justice Ha
Page 115 and 116: legislatures, and celebrated occasi
Page 117 and 118: ecognized nationwide as “one of t
Page 119 and 120: Bibliography Archives and Interview
Page 121 and 122: Gorney, Cynthia. Articles of Faith.
Page 123: Press, Eyal. Absolute Convictions:
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The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York

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