National anti-abortion vigil planned

DALLAS (AP) – A coalition of conservative Christian groups plans a series of rallies to protest what they call the proabortion stance of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sandra Day O’Connor. Organizers predicted today’s “Rally for Life,” the first in the series of anti-abortion gatherings, would draw about 10,000 people to the Dallas Convention Center. Coinciding with the Dallas rally will be a nationwide vigil and silent prayer for “victims of abortion” in state capitals and major cities at 3 p.m. EDT. Religious Roundtable President Ed McAteer said state representatives of his group will hold the vigils from steps of federal courthouses in each state capital. “If this thing goes as we think it will, she (Mrs. O’Connor) wm be appointed to the Supreme Court,” admitted McAteer, organizer of the Dallas Convention Center rally. “But we will continue to inform people more and more about abortion and her record.” He said the “catalyst” for the rallies was President Reagan’s support of Mrs. O’Connor, the first woman nominated to the nation’s highest court. “We have already won the debate about the O’Connor nomination,” McAteer said. “No one is malting comments whether she in fact is pro-abortloh, but rather If she has really changed her position since the time that she voted in the Legislature.” His organization claims that Mrs. O’Connor supported abortion bills “on at least two occasions” while a member of the Arizona Legislature. Since her nomination, Mrs. O’Connor has stated that she was