Planned Parenthood Director Leaves, Has Change of Heart

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Updated: 12:02 AM Nov 2, 2009 Planned Parenthood Director Leaves, Has Change of Heart Planned Parenthood has been a part of Abby Johnson's life for the past eight years; that is until last month, when Abby resigned. Posted: 11:23 PM Nov 1, 2009 Reporter: Ashlea Sigman Email Address: Sigman@kbtx.com

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Planned Parenthood has been a part of Abby Johnson's life for the past eight years; that is until last month, when Abby resigned. Johnson said she realized she wanted to leave, after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.

"I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that's it," said Jonhson.

She handed in her resignation October 6. Johnson worked as the Bryan Planned Parenthood Director for two years.

According to Johnson, the non-profit was struggling under the weight of a tough economy, and changing it's business model from one that pushed prevention, to one that focused on abortion.

"It seemed like maybe that's not what a lot of people were believing any more because that's not where the money was. The money wasn't in family planning, the money wasn't in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that," said Johnson.

Johnson said she was told to bring in more women who wanted abortions, something the Episcopalian church goer recently became convicted about.

"I feel so pure in heart (since leaving). I don't have this guilt, I don't have this burden on me anymore that's how I know this conversion was a spiritual conversion."

Johnson now supports the Coalition For Life, the pro-life group with a building down the street from Planned Parenthood. Coalition volunteers can regularly be seen praying on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood. Johnson has been meeting with the coalition's executive director, Shawn Carney, and has prayed with volunteers outside Planned Parenthood.

On Friday both Johnson and the Coalition For Life were issued temporary restraining orders filed by Planned Parenthood.

Rochelle Tafolla, a Planned Parenthood spokesperson issued the following statement: "We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff, however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary."

The temporary restraining order contends that Planned Parenthood would be irreparably harmed by the disclosure of certain information, but does not bar Johnson or Coalition For Life volunteers from the premises.

As of Sunday evening, neither Johnson nor Carney had seen the complaint filed against them that prompted the restraining order.

A hearing about the order has been set for November 10.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Mary Location: Ormond Beach, Florida on Nov 20, 2009 at 08:16 AM

Dearest readers ... keep this lady in your prayers she has done a wonderful thing by resigning...say thanks to God for her conversion...my family is less one that child because of the death due to abortion... I wonder almost daily what he/she would have been...it is around this time of year the pain is more...this baby was not a mass of cells like the pro-abs say...she/he was a human being...I will miss seeing the growth of a little one to an adult...I hope the little one knows I miss her/him...God Bless Ms. Abby Johnson...that she saw God...send her my prayer and love...may she be able to stop the Sodom and Gomorah that we seem to have now...the Angel's in Heaven rejoice...when one righteous will be found for His name...
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Posted by: Craig Location: St. Paul, MN on Nov 17, 2009 at 11:12 PM

Marsha, Interesting that although my comments were directed to no specific person, you chose to respond. Judging by your no less than 11 postings, my sense is you are angry & very defensive. You seem compelled to confront every threat to your beliefs. 1) I did not "threaten people with God" or with hell. This is what you chose to hear through the distorted prism in which you view the world. I believe in a loving and merciful God who stands with outstretched arms ready to forgive everyone of all sin, including abortion. 2) You obviously make no distinction between God's truth and human truth. God's truth is perfect and unchanging vs humans' perception of the truth. I sense in you a lack of openess to God. Only God can change your heart. God respects our free will and will not force his way into our hearts. I hope I do not offend you when I say I will pray for you. I have no power to change anyone. I simply try to be a witness for Christ & leave the rest to him. Peace be with you.
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Posted by: Marsha Location: Oregon on Nov 16, 2009 at 09:37 PM

Craig, it adds nothing to an argument about legal matters to simply threaten people with God. If you believe that truth has not changed from age to age & society to society, you are mistaken (for instance, in Margaret Sanger's time, it was considered immoral to mail birth control info through the US mail). If your only argument against women's right to choose is the not-so-subtle threat of hell, you have nothing on which we can agree. Please feel free to fear God. Please understand that many do not. So what we are left to discuss-since I don't believe anyone will fry in hell-is individual freedom, right here in America, right now in 2009. Hopefully, you cherish your freedom and want to maintain it. You have a choice to help preserve personal freedom in America or to begin to limit it. Choose wisely.
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