An irate Helms told Smith, "I was fighting abortion when you were still wetting your diapers," and to attach his rider to something else.

With 3,000 affiliates nationwide, the anti-abortion group usually limits itself to issues that directly affect life - from fighting abortion to opposing euthanasia.

Such tactics attracted many converts from the less confrontational groups that had been fighting abortion through prayer, vigils and peaceful demonstrations.

Our interest is to fight clandestine abortion and we have to produce a law that respects the result of the referendum.

In Birmingham, leaders of the anti-abortion movement condemned the bombing, saying it was the wrong way to fight abortion.

The Vatican certainly expects that the considerable resources the church has mustered to fight abortion will be sent into battle on the new biomedical issues.

'He's the Mistake' But Mr. Smith dismisses suggestions that his leading role in fighting abortion makes him vulnerable at home.

While a Right to Life leader, she fought legal abortion, even for victims of rape and incest.

"Rudolph's a Christian and I'm a Christian and he dedicated his life to fighting abortion," said Crystal Davis, 25, a mother of four.

Ever since, he has been associated almost exclusively in Washington with fighting abortion, which he equates with murder, even genocide.