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Racketeer for Life: Fighting the Culture of Death from the Sidewalk to the Supreme Court
Joseph M. Scheidler has fought for the unborn since the Supreme Court allowed abortion on demand with its 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton rulings. He was the target of a lawsuit brought by the National Organization for Women under federal racketeering laws. Found guilty in 1998, Scheidler triumphed twice in appeals before the Supreme Court in 2003 and again in 2006.
Racketeer for Life explains how a former Benedictine monk and journalism professor was drawn into pro-life activism and describes his part in the history of the pro-life movement in the United States. Conversations, protests, and battles with clinic directors, doctors, politicians, judges, media personalities, and even other pro-lifers are woven together in this engaging account of the efforts of Scheidler and other activists to publicize the horrors of abortion, influence legislation, and, ultimately, to save lives.
Pro-life work has taken Scheidler around the globe. He’s crossed paths with some of the most famous leaders in recent decades, from President Ronald Reagan to St. John Paul II. Join sit-ins at abortion clinics, take part in rallies, listen to heated debates, and sit in a federal courtroom with one of the most dedicated warriors in the fight for the unborn as he shares his energy, wit, and faith in this engaging memoir.
Racketeer for Life explains how a former Benedictine monk and journalism professor was drawn into pro-life activism and describes his part in the history of the pro-life movement in the United States. Conversations, protests, and battles with clinic directors, doctors, politicians, judges, media personalities, and even other pro-lifers are woven together in this engaging account of the efforts of Scheidler and other activists to publicize the horrors of abortion, influence legislation, and, ultimately, to save lives.
Pro-life work has taken Scheidler around the globe. He’s crossed paths with some of the most famous leaders in recent decades, from President Ronald Reagan to St. John Paul II. Join sit-ins at abortion clinics, take part in rallies, listen to heated debates, and sit in a federal courtroom with one of the most dedicated warriors in the fight for the unborn as he shares his energy, wit, and faith in this engaging memoir.
508 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 22, 2017
This was a fascinating memoir about Joe Scheidler's years fighting abortion. Okay, although I'm very pro-life, I don't agree with all the tactics Joseph Scheidler uses – when I read 99 Ways to Stop Abortion I thought some of the things he suggested were unethical or counterproductive. But I went into this knowing that a lot of the way he is demonized by pro-choice factions is unjustified. He was tried in front of the Supreme Court in a lawsuit that alleged he was committing organized crime (racketeering) for preventing abortions and blocking abortion clinics with the people in his organization and in Operation Rescue. It was a groundless lawsuit, and I'm glad he was vindicated – some of the deeply unethical things the prosecution did were maddening and I'm glad he's written this book to get his side of the story out.
Also shocking was the way students behaved when he tried to speak on campus. I know many pro-lifers have been harassed at speaking engagements, but what he recounted is truly shocking. In the book, he had a lot of interesting stories to tell.
Also shocking was the way students behaved when he tried to speak on campus. I know many pro-lifers have been harassed at speaking engagements, but what he recounted is truly shocking. In the book, he had a lot of interesting stories to tell.
January 22, 2017
This is a memoir of a pro-life activist who believe in "direct action" (e.g. picketing abortion clinics) and who was involved in a decades long and legally dubious racketeering case. A lot of what he writes about the life of an activist is probably generally applicable to activists of all causes, but understandably the book will appeal most to people who care about the abortion issue.
Some of the most memorable parts of the book were the stories about his pre-activist life in the 1950s and 1960s, which give a sense of just how different a world it was back then. For example, at one point Schiedler was in the seminary but was unsure whether he really wanted to become a priest. He was sent to a psychiatrist, who gave him truth serum and asked him questions about his mother. I don't think you could get away with doing that these days.
One of the drawbacks of the book is that it skips around a lot in time to no obvious purpose, which makes the end of the book (where he wins his court case) pretty anticlimactic.
Some of the most memorable parts of the book were the stories about his pre-activist life in the 1950s and 1960s, which give a sense of just how different a world it was back then. For example, at one point Schiedler was in the seminary but was unsure whether he really wanted to become a priest. He was sent to a psychiatrist, who gave him truth serum and asked him questions about his mother. I don't think you could get away with doing that these days.
One of the drawbacks of the book is that it skips around a lot in time to no obvious purpose, which makes the end of the book (where he wins his court case) pretty anticlimactic.
January 23, 2021
I have to give a disclaimer to this review:
For about nine years, I periodically worked with Ann, the wife/mom of the book’s co-author’s, Joseph & Peter. I never had much of a dialogue beyond a cordial “good morning” or “hello” with Joe, since we passed by each other on an almost daily basis for a few years (depending on my walking route for the mornings). When I first became aware of this book in 2017, I always intended to get a copy, read it first, and then ask Joe to sign it for me after I had finished it. Well, “life” got in the way and I never got the book and eventually I stopped running into Joe & Ann — until six months ago. We reconnected through mutual friends! Again, although I had known Ann for ten years, it wasn’t until the last six months that both of them really became two very special people in my life and we shared enriching conversations. At some point over summer 2020, Peter had asked me if I read “Racketeer for Life” yet, and I felt embarrassed telling him “no, but it was on my list” especially considering I had known his mom for so long. At long last, I finally ordered my own copy of the book and started reading. I was instantly captivated by it and was already assembling a list of questions to ask Joe once I finished the book and…
…well, that would not be a reality. I was one-quarter of the way through this book when I learned that Joe had died unexpectedly this past week. Needless to say, when you’re reading someone’s 400-page autobiography, and you know that you can shoot him a text-message at anytime to ask about some superfluous detail, and then that be taken away makes for a serious mental disorientation. Therefore, clearly this book review is unusually biased in that regard:
•••
Racketeer for Life is a traditional memoir in the sense that it doesn’t follow a linear flow, but rather fluxes between the 1970s through to the 2010s. Yes, one could say that Scheidler’s book can be seen as an “evangelization” piece, as it’s more concerned with themes and ideologies rather than a play-by-play, yet Racketeer for Life is much more of a “cube” than a “square.” Scheidler regularly allows those with a different perspective than his (be it pro-choice OR pro-life) to speak in full, giving the book a significant amount of depth and perspective. Yes, this is Scheidler’s memoir, so his response will have the final word, yet few (if any) political autobiographies of this nature allow for conflicting opinions to have a voice - particularly in such an unabridged fashion. As with any legal narrative, the text will hit moments of confusion due to the complex nature of the subject (truthfully, I have never read a book about the SCOUTS that didn’t make me need to pause and re-read passages), yet Scheidler offers the reader moments of recap. Racketeer for Life has a cavalcade of emotions from personal convictions, moments of excitement, moments of fear, comedic bits and sad moments, all told with spunk, giving energy to the story that - given its a first person narrative - one might envision this 400-page book be adapted into a 3-hour long, Scorsese-like epic movie. One unique observation that will live on is that Racketeer for Life has recurring references to his (and his wife, Ann’s) intention to follow the example of Martin Luther King Jr., who’s federal holiday Joe passed away on.
For about nine years, I periodically worked with Ann, the wife/mom of the book’s co-author’s, Joseph & Peter. I never had much of a dialogue beyond a cordial “good morning” or “hello” with Joe, since we passed by each other on an almost daily basis for a few years (depending on my walking route for the mornings). When I first became aware of this book in 2017, I always intended to get a copy, read it first, and then ask Joe to sign it for me after I had finished it. Well, “life” got in the way and I never got the book and eventually I stopped running into Joe & Ann — until six months ago. We reconnected through mutual friends! Again, although I had known Ann for ten years, it wasn’t until the last six months that both of them really became two very special people in my life and we shared enriching conversations. At some point over summer 2020, Peter had asked me if I read “Racketeer for Life” yet, and I felt embarrassed telling him “no, but it was on my list” especially considering I had known his mom for so long. At long last, I finally ordered my own copy of the book and started reading. I was instantly captivated by it and was already assembling a list of questions to ask Joe once I finished the book and…
…well, that would not be a reality. I was one-quarter of the way through this book when I learned that Joe had died unexpectedly this past week. Needless to say, when you’re reading someone’s 400-page autobiography, and you know that you can shoot him a text-message at anytime to ask about some superfluous detail, and then that be taken away makes for a serious mental disorientation. Therefore, clearly this book review is unusually biased in that regard:
•••
Racketeer for Life is a traditional memoir in the sense that it doesn’t follow a linear flow, but rather fluxes between the 1970s through to the 2010s. Yes, one could say that Scheidler’s book can be seen as an “evangelization” piece, as it’s more concerned with themes and ideologies rather than a play-by-play, yet Racketeer for Life is much more of a “cube” than a “square.” Scheidler regularly allows those with a different perspective than his (be it pro-choice OR pro-life) to speak in full, giving the book a significant amount of depth and perspective. Yes, this is Scheidler’s memoir, so his response will have the final word, yet few (if any) political autobiographies of this nature allow for conflicting opinions to have a voice - particularly in such an unabridged fashion. As with any legal narrative, the text will hit moments of confusion due to the complex nature of the subject (truthfully, I have never read a book about the SCOUTS that didn’t make me need to pause and re-read passages), yet Scheidler offers the reader moments of recap. Racketeer for Life has a cavalcade of emotions from personal convictions, moments of excitement, moments of fear, comedic bits and sad moments, all told with spunk, giving energy to the story that - given its a first person narrative - one might envision this 400-page book be adapted into a 3-hour long, Scorsese-like epic movie. One unique observation that will live on is that Racketeer for Life has recurring references to his (and his wife, Ann’s) intention to follow the example of Martin Luther King Jr., who’s federal holiday Joe passed away on.
May 23, 2025
I came upon this book in a roundabout way: an episode of the podcast Conceiving Crime mentioned Pat Boone's song "16,000 Faces," and then when I searched that song, one of the YouTube comments mentioned this book. I was not familiar with Joseph Scheidler, but as someone who is firmly pro-life, I decided to give it a read.
First, I love his foresight that people will be reading this book after his death. A quick google search tells me he passed away in early 2021. What a shame that he couldn't have lived about a year and a half longer to witness the overturn of Roe vs. Wade.
Throughout the book he recounts stories of protests, demonstrations, sidewalk counseling, conventions, and of course, his racketeering trial. He repaints two letters on an old abortion billboard so that it reads "adoption." He walks right up to women working in abortion facilities and urges them to quit their jobs. He rescues aborted fetuses from a dumpster to give them a proper burial. He uses every possible opportunity to spread the pro-life message. His zeal is admirable. Congressman Henry Hyde says it best during his trial, "He has the guts I wish more of us had."
I appreciate what he has to say about children being inherently pro-life. I am always saddened by parents who choose not to tell their children about abortion, afraid that they aren't ready to hear about it. I'm pro-life BECAUSE I was told at such a young age. My private-school third grade teacher wasn't afraid to touch on hard topics, something I thought nothing of at the time but look back at with immense gratitude. As Scheidler points out, children aren't traumatized by learning about abortion. They recognize the fetus as a baby and feel sympathy for it. I have since seen some pictures posted on Facebook by the Pro-Life Action League showing children at protests. Their founder would be proud.
I think my favorite moment in this book was when, after a march, Scheidler and the other pro-lifers in his group spontaneously stopped at an empty park. Pushing the swings and merry-go-round, he remarked that this playground ought to be filled with the laughter of children, but those children were lost to abortion. It was a quiet yet sobering statement.
I enjoyed following Scheidler all over the world in his endeavors. He seems to have spent a lot of time in the Midwest, which is where I grew up. Watching him travel to cities where I've lived, even buildings I'm familiar with, made his life story and the pro-life movement as a whole feel more personal and accessible. Overall, this book was informative and inspiring. I would recommend it to every pro-lifer.
Side note, I did try calling his hotline, but it's out of service. I guess I didn't expect it to still be in operation after his death, especially since it was outdated in the age of social media, but I couldn't help feeling sadly nostalgic looking at the picture of him recording his daily hotline message among the photo gallery in the back of the book. Sorry I missed you, Joe.
First, I love his foresight that people will be reading this book after his death. A quick google search tells me he passed away in early 2021. What a shame that he couldn't have lived about a year and a half longer to witness the overturn of Roe vs. Wade.
Throughout the book he recounts stories of protests, demonstrations, sidewalk counseling, conventions, and of course, his racketeering trial. He repaints two letters on an old abortion billboard so that it reads "adoption." He walks right up to women working in abortion facilities and urges them to quit their jobs. He rescues aborted fetuses from a dumpster to give them a proper burial. He uses every possible opportunity to spread the pro-life message. His zeal is admirable. Congressman Henry Hyde says it best during his trial, "He has the guts I wish more of us had."
I appreciate what he has to say about children being inherently pro-life. I am always saddened by parents who choose not to tell their children about abortion, afraid that they aren't ready to hear about it. I'm pro-life BECAUSE I was told at such a young age. My private-school third grade teacher wasn't afraid to touch on hard topics, something I thought nothing of at the time but look back at with immense gratitude. As Scheidler points out, children aren't traumatized by learning about abortion. They recognize the fetus as a baby and feel sympathy for it. I have since seen some pictures posted on Facebook by the Pro-Life Action League showing children at protests. Their founder would be proud.
I think my favorite moment in this book was when, after a march, Scheidler and the other pro-lifers in his group spontaneously stopped at an empty park. Pushing the swings and merry-go-round, he remarked that this playground ought to be filled with the laughter of children, but those children were lost to abortion. It was a quiet yet sobering statement.
I enjoyed following Scheidler all over the world in his endeavors. He seems to have spent a lot of time in the Midwest, which is where I grew up. Watching him travel to cities where I've lived, even buildings I'm familiar with, made his life story and the pro-life movement as a whole feel more personal and accessible. Overall, this book was informative and inspiring. I would recommend it to every pro-lifer.
Side note, I did try calling his hotline, but it's out of service. I guess I didn't expect it to still be in operation after his death, especially since it was outdated in the age of social media, but I couldn't help feeling sadly nostalgic looking at the picture of him recording his daily hotline message among the photo gallery in the back of the book. Sorry I missed you, Joe.
July 15, 2021
Joseph Matthias Scheidler, the “Godfather of Pro-Life Activism,” embraced his membership in the communion of saints while on earth and, following his passing on January 18, 2021 at the age of 93, he most certainly is with Jesus surrounded by all the beautiful souls of those tiny innocents he fought to save.
December 2, 2025
Excellent!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews