The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The new group calls itself “Missourians United for Life.” But its name underlies a divide in Missouri’s self-described “pro-life” community.

Missouri Right to Life has long been a leader in Missouri’s powerful and effective anti-abortion majority in the Capitol.

But some Missouri lawmakers who consider themselves “pro-life” — particularly Republicans — have increasingly become frustrated with the criteria Missouri Right to Life uses to rate lawmakers and make endorsements. As a result, the group’s Capitol influence has waned.

On Wednesday, the startup group Missourians United for Life commanded a House committee room full of curious anti-abortion activists as it outlined its vision and its plans to make endorsements and financial contributions in the 2008 elections.

In that regard, it’s essentially setting itself up as a rival to Missouri Right to Life.

“We’re going to fight for real pro-life candidates,” said Ed Martin, a former chief of staff for Republican Gov. Matt Blunt who organized the new group.

Martin has a long history as an anti-abortion activist, including working as an attorney for Americans United for Life, which he said is not connected to his new group.

Among those looking on as Martin hosted a panel discussion Wednesday were many of the state’s top anti-abortion lobbyists, representing Campaign Life Missouri, the Missouri Catholic Conference, the Missouri Baptist Convention and the Missouri Family Network.

Not on hand was anyone representing Missouri Right to Life.

Patty Skain, executive director of Missouri Right to Life, said she didn’t think it was necessary to go to another group’s meeting. But she said the new group could provide a disservice to anti-abortion voters by issuing its own endorsements.

“It’s going to be very complicated and very confusing to the public; it already has been,” Skain said.

The division within Missouri’s anti-abortion community has its roots in embryonic stem cell research.

Missouri Right to Life and most other anti-abortion lobbying groups opposed a state constitutional amendment narrowly approved by voters in 2006 that creates a right to conduct stem cell research. Covered by that is an embryonic cloning procedure that opponents say creates and destroys human life at its earliest stages.

Some Republicans, including Blunt, supported the ballot measure.