unPlanned

Abby Johnson
2011 Ignatius Press
ISBN: 9781414348353
Introduction by David Bereit, 40 Days for Life
Foreword by Fr. Frank Pavone Priests for Life
Publisher's Note by Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.

(Note: There are 2 editions of this book published. The 1 by Ignatius Press & an edition by Tyndale House Publishers/SaltRiver, ISBN13: 9781414339399. The Tyndale version does not include the intro, forward or publisher'snote found in the Ignatius edition.)

(I have actually finished this book a while ago, along with a couple others I plan to write about in the next few days, but I haven't had a chance until now to review it.)

Back in October of 2009 quite a stir was raised in both the Pro-life & pro-abortion circles when it was announced that Abby Johnson had resigned as the director of the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Bryan, TX & was now opposed to abortion. She explained that it was due to her having witnessed what happenned as she assisted the doctor with an ultrasound-guided abortion.

Planned Parenthood was swift to denounce her. They also took her to court in an effort to silence her. They filed a tempororay restraining order saying claiming that she threatened the confidentiality of clients & staff. The restraining order was also filed against the local Pro-life Coalition for Life as well. A week later the judge threw out the injunction.

In the time since these events happenned Abby Johnson has been both praised & villified. Some in the pro-life movement raised questions about her turn arround wondering why she didn't quit immediately. Well, this book answers all those questions & more.

I have to start by sharing something Abby Johnson says herself in an opening note she has in the book. The story is "not neat and tidy". Nor is it "a comfortable on to read". But it is definitely a worthwhile read.

I say that because, above all else, her story helps you understand how someone can get involved in Planned Parenthood with all the good intentions in the world & be deceived in doing so. Abby Johnson's intentions were good. She thought Planned Parenthood's claims were true. As a result, she made what she says are "the wrong choices for the right reasons".

The book starts out with her sharing what happenned that fateful Saturday in September of 2009. Unexpectedly she is asked to help by holding the ultrasound probe. & while she was reluctant at 1st, she convinced herself that knowing about this "safer proceedure" would help her in couseling women who came to the clinic. Instead she sees the truth about what happens to the child during the proceedure. & it wasn't pretty. In telling this part of the story she does not hold back on what she saw. She lets us know exactly what happenned to the 13 week old unborn child. & the feelings she went through. Many of those feelings were based on what she had been through 3 years earlier when she was pregnant with her daughter Grace. The truth of what an abortion actually does hit her like a bolt of lightening.

At this point she goes back & tells her story of how she came to be involved with Planned Parenthood her Junior year at Texas A&M. On a fateful day in September of 2001 she is walking through the Flag Room at the student center. There is a volunteer fair going on & she ends up talking to the woman working the Planned Parenthood table. The woman begins with the usual speil about safety for women, giving them quality care & providing birth control to reduce the number of needed abortions. As Abby admits, she was niave & unaware at the time. & also how she was already hiding things that went contrary to what she believed.

By now many people are aware of the secrets she was keeping even then. However, for the few that don't I won't reveal them here. What I will say is that her story of what happenned in her personal life as well as how she got deeper & deeper into her involvement with Planned Parenthood held my interest. She finally ends up back at the Bryan PP clinic that she 1st did volunteer work at.

It was at the Bryan clinic that she had her 1st esxperiences with those protesting abortion. By the time she came back in 2006 the Coalition for Life was leading the protesting, praying & witnessing to those going into the clinic. She got to know some of those out there including Shawn Carney. As time went on some trust was built up between her & the Coalition people. Her work at the clinic eventual resulted in her being awarded employee of the year for the PP affiliate in 2008. She was also going through a lot of inner turmoil as what she believed & what she saw came more & more into conflict.

Then came that fateful day in 2009 when she helped with the abortion. She gives us an in depth look at the struggles she was going through. During this time she was also going through with her duties as director of the clinic until she could get out. Things began falling apart as she struggled to find another job. Finally she contacted Coalition for Life & snuck into their offices. she admitted to them what was going on & how she wanted out of Planned Parenthood. It took a few more days but on 6 October she resigned.

It was then that she found out some of those at Planned Parenthood were her friends weren't. She also found out that she was no longer welcome at the Episcopal Church she belonged to. It was fine when she was pro-abortion, but it was clear that being pro-life was not acceptable to them. While it doesn't talk about it in the book, her & her husband Doug are in the process of converting to Catholicism.

As I mentioned, Planned Parenthood quickly got a restraining order issued against her. They also initiated a lawsuit claiming she violated her employment contract. Once the judge lifted the restraining order the lawsuit was quickly dropped. The story of the hearing about the restraining order outdoes any fictional courtroom drama.

It is clear that Abby feels no anamosity towards those who turned against her at the hearing. The final chapter then goes on to look at how the events at the Coalition for Life & 40 Days for Life over the years played out over the years.

There is so much more I could share about the book. But to do so would ruin the story. I will say that it is a truly fascinating story. 1 that is well worth reading. As you get to know who Abby Johnson is, & where she came from, you can understand why Planned Parenthood was not happy when the prayers of those at the Coalition for Life were answered in such a powerful way. The book also answers any questions that some people may have about her actions that didn't always make sense at the time. That includes why she didn't immediately quit.

I highly recommend this book. Her story held my interest from start to finish. It also helped to give me some more insight into how people with good intentions can end up getting caught in Planned parenthood's web & buying into their agenda. Many of us have done the same thing in some way or another at some time in our lives. This book serves to remind us that they pro-abortion side are people as well. We may hate what they do, but we must never hate them. We must pray for them instead & do our best to love them. Take it from me, I don't always do this as well as I should & I need reminders like the book provides to goad me on to be sure I do pray for them in a loving manner.

I know there are some people who will still doubt her sincerity. But I found her honest & straight forward. Part of it was because she didn't try & give the story the spin that many would expect. No, things aren't wrapped up nice & neat by the end of the book. But life rarely is.

Abby Johnson is now working with Live Action as chief research strategist.

(Added @ 6:27 am) I forgot to add 1 thing. Abby's story also tells us how powerful a tool ultrasounds are in the battle to defend life. & why Planned Parenthood & other abortion providers are so oppsed to them.
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Abby Johnson will be in DBQ on 30 April 2011 as the speaker at the annual DBQ Co. Right to Life L.I.F.E. Dinner. The event will be held at the Grand River Center in DBQ. For more info go to the DCRTL website.