September 1 1995

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Conversion reshapes Norma McCorvey's views.

Norma Leah McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" plaintiff of the famous Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in 1973, has been baptized as a Christian and announced her opposition to abortion, except in cases of fetal deformity or to save a mother's life.

"I'm pro-life. I think I've always been pro-life. I just didn't know it," McCorvey, 47, said after her August videotaped baptism was shown on ABC's World News Tonight.

RELATIONAL EVANGELISM: McCorvey's conversion came about after Operation Rescue National (OR) moved its offices last April into space adjoining the Choice for Women abortion clinic in North Dallas, where McCorvey worked as marketing director.

Flip Benham, director of OR, struck up a friendship with McCorvey, greeting her in the parking lot and discussing the music of the Beach Boys.

From there, conversations turned to spiritual matters. McCorvey eventually accepted an invitation to attend services at Hillcrest Christian Church, an invitation initiated by a seven-year-old daughter of an Operation Rescue staff member. Shortly thereafter, McCorvey accepted Christ and asked Benham, a Free Methodist minister, to baptize her.

McCorvey told ABC's Nightline host, Ted Koppel, "I don't think the [pro-abortion] movement is the issue here. I've found a spiritual path with Jesus Christ." McCorvey has also joined Benham's Dallas office staff as a filing clerk.

McCorvey's road to that walk with Jesus has been circuitous indeed. She was raped as a teenager, dropped out of high school, and married for a brief time at age 16. She has acknowledged a dependence on drugs and alcohol and dealing illicit drugs.

In 1971, McCorvey was a 21-year-old carnival barker when she became pregnant ...