Abby's Road: From Planned Parenthood to Pro-Life Champion, Abby Johnson

Abby Johnson was confronted with the truth about the dignity of every human life and the evil which occurs during every procured abortion. That truth has set her free.  I have always been deeply moved by the biblical account of the woman who washed the feet of Jesus at the Pharisees home with ointment and tears, weeping with love and kissing them. (Luke 7:36-50) Jesus said of her, "she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."  Abby is that woman.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - Last week could not have been a better week to speak with Abby Johnson, bestselling author of "Unplanned."  Abby has walked quite a road, going from Planned Parenthood clinic director to being one of the leading voices for life, for children and for women in crisis. I have followed her story with great interest and read her extraordinary book back in its galley stages. I recommend it to everyone - she is a Pro-Life hero.  Recently, I read the floor testimony of another Pro-Life hero, Congressman Chris Smith; a Catholic who has remained faithful to the truth. He refuses to compromise on the fundamental human rights cause of our age, the struggle to restore the recognition of the unalienable Human Right to Life in the civil law. He knows that the Pro-Life position is not simply a "religious" position but the fundamental human rights struggle of this hour.

On Tuesday, May 4, 2011 the U.S. House of Representatives passed landmark legislation which he championed, HR 3, "The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act." It calls for permanently prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion, across all federal programs. He delivered two speeches in support of the bill during debate on the House floor. In one of them he made this reference to Abby's road: "Even Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director Abbey Johnson was shocked into her new pro-life view by witnessing an ultrasound guided abortion of a 13 week old baby who was dismembered and pulverized in real time right before her eyes at the clinic. Abbey Johnson wrote in her book Unplanned: "I could see the tiny body violently twisting, it looked as if the baby was being wrung like a dishcloth, twirled and squeezed and then the little body crumpled, ­ the last thing I saw was the tiny perfectly formed backbone sucked into the tube. "And then everything was gone. The image of that tiny baby mangled and sucked away kept replaying itself in my mind. What was in this woman's womb ust a moment ago was alive. It wasn't  tissue.  It wasn't cells. This was a human baby, fighting for life. A battle was lost in the blink of an eye. What I have told people for years - 8 years as a clinic director at a Planned Parenthood clinic ¨-  what I have told people for years" Abby Johnson continues, "what I believed and taught and defended is a lie." Abby Johnson was confronted with the truth about the dignity of every human life and the evil which occurs during every procured abortion. That truth has set her free. There are two reasons I said it could not have been a better week to speak with Abby Johnson. The first, because all last week we heard the accounts of the conversion of the Apostle Paul from the Acts of the Apostles during daily Mass. He went from being Saul, persecutor of the early Church and accomplice in the martyrdom of the Deacon Stephen, to becoming the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Throughout history, his story has been replicated in the lives of countless millions of men and women. Abby is now numbered among them. In our conversation I told Abby that she reminded me of a modern day St Paul, a friend of mine, the late Dr Bernard Nathanson. I met "Bernie" Nathanson at a retreat many years ago sponsored by the personal prelature of Opus Dei. I will never forget the moment I first saw him. He was kneeling in the chapel, obviously deep in prayer. He seemed profoundly burdened. I had known of him for many years. However, that weekend and for years to come I really came to know him and in receiving the gift of his friendship I was changed.  As an obstetrician, Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson became the director of an abortion clinic where he presided over at least 60,000 abortions. He instructed others who performed 15,000 more abortions. He estimated having personally performed about 5,000 abortions. He acknowledged that he killed his own child whom he and a girlfriend had conceived in the 1960's. Co-founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now NARAL ProChoice America) Bernard Nathanson was a leader of the early abortion movement. However, that is not how history remembers him. Bernie Nathanson is forever remembered, and deservedly so, as one of the greatest heroes of the Pro-Life movement.   Like Abby Johnson, it was sonogram technology which opened Bernie's eyes. His 1985 film, The Silent Scream, is one of the most powerful testimonies to the truth of what occurs in every procured abortion. His documentary film, Eclipse of Reason, explains the gruesome procedures used to execute the child in the first home of the whole human race. In 1979 he co-authored Aborting America which ripped the veneer of civility off of the beginnings of the abortion movement.

Years ago, expressing deep anguish, Bernie told me that he helped to come up with the use of the word "choice" to hide the truth. It was obvious that he felt deeply responsible for the horror that such sophistry unleashed. He also acknowledged that he and his abortionist colleagues lied about the number of women who died from illegal abortions in order to garner support. In his 1996 autobiography, The Hand of God, the weight of all of this is made clear. He wrote, "Abortion is now a monster so unimaginably gargantuan that even to think of stuffing it back into its cage is ludicrous beyond words. Yet that is our charge - a herculean endeavor." He openly acknowledged "I am one of those who helped usher in this barbaric age."

In 1996 Bernie was baptized into Christ by Cardinal John O'Connor in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral and received confirmation and first Communion. He wrote of the day, "I was in a real whirlpool of emotion, and then there was this healing, cooling water on me, and soft voices, and an inexpressible sense of peace. I had found a safe place." Abby Johnson noted the effect that Bernie's book had upon her in our conversation last week. Now, it is Abby Johnson's book, "Unplanned", which is doing the same for many people. I have always been deeply moved by the biblical account of the woman who washed the feet of Jesus at the Pharisees home with ointment and tears, weeping with love and kissing them. (Luke 7:36-50) Jesus said of her, "she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Abby is a contemporary example of that woman. She knows she has been forgiven much. Her genuine humility moved me deeply during our recent conversation. I told Abby that of the many commendable efforts in which she is engaged, I was most moved by "Operation Conversion."  Here, Abby invites those who follow her work to pray with her for the conversion of those engaged in the evil of the abortion industry. She told me she had gotten some "flak" for the effort but insisted "I know how powerful that is."  She acknowledged it was Pro-Life people of prayer who "prayed me out of there", referring to her involvement as a Director at Planned Parenthood. She continued "I know the power of prayer for specific people."  Abby reminded me that "There is a place for everybody in the pro-Life movement. We have neglected the most important evil of our time, the taking of innocent human lives for convenience." We must not forget. That is why the Lord of Life sends us heroes like Bernie Nathanson - and now Abby Johnson - to keep the truth always before us. Abby Johnson is calling us all to continue in the great human rights struggle of our age. On Tuesday evening May 17, 2011, at 8 p.m., she will lead a "Unite for Life Webcast".  In addition to hearing from those who are helping women to receive the caring, confidential support they need to choose life for their babies, we will also hear from Shawn Carney, the co-founder of the extraordinary 40 Days for Life effort who befriended Abby when she worked at Planned Parenthood. Now, in conclusion, I share with my readers the second reason why I said that last week was such a good week to speak with Abby. I heard an update on Abby's Road home to the fullness of the Christian faith that is found within the full communion of the Catholic Church. She and her husband Doug are continuing their journey and will soon be received.

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Once again, just like it happened to Dr. Bernard "Bernie" Nathanson, the magnetic attraction of the splendor of truth continues to draw this wonderful woman into the fullness of freedom and newness of life. This is Abby's Road, from Planned Parenthood to Pro-Life Champion - and soon all the way home to the Catholic Church, the great defender of life and seed of the coming Culture of Life. Let us continue to welcome her along the road with our prayers.

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