Abby Johnson shares her experience leaving Planned Parenthood
By Hannah Leeman · Contributing Writer
Pro-life advocate and former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson detailed why she turned against the abortion industry in front of attendees on Tuesday evening in Rathburn Hall.
Approximately 150 people gathered in the Morledge Great Room to hear her recall God’s faithfulness and how He opened her eyes to the true horror of abortion.
She opened with the story of the first of her two abortions, which led to her working for Planned Parenthood for eight years and aiding nearly 22,000 abortions.
“The first thing I ever charged to my credit card was my $500 abortion,” Johnson said. “That very poor decision led me into a life that is unrecognizable to me now. That abortion disconnected me from the will of God. It hardened my heart.”
When living what she called a “sinful” life, Johnson stated that people want to drag others into it with them. She suggested to the audience that the abortion industry thrives because “no one sees it.”
“(The babies) are unseen victims,” she added.
One day at work, when called into the procedure room, she witnessed an ultrasound guided abortion. It changed her life.
“It was the first time I had come face to face with the humanity of the child,” Johnson said.
Johnson realized she was not witnessing what some argue is “choice,” “healthcare” or “justice.” She described watching the practice as witnessing murder. Johnson then immediately left the abortion clinic and has since become a prominent pro-life advocate and mother to eight children.
After her testimony, Johnson encouraged students to do what she had not in working for Planned Parenthood, stopping the sin in which they might be living. She called them to a higher moral standard, under which friends and family hold them accountable.
“You can always make a U-turn and go back to God,” Johnson said.
To close, Johnson responded to audience questions concerning men in the pro-life movement, proper responses to a woman considering abortion and student involvement in pro-life advocacy.
Answering questions, Johnson primarily encouraged students to find their passion within the pro-life movement and to know their testimony and be able to share it well, giving a message of hope, forgiveness and love.
The Institute for Faith & Freedom (IFF), Young America’s Foundation (YAF) and College Republicans sponsored the event. In its planning, the chair of the College Republicans, Jonathan Steen, sent invitations to several YAF speakers, to which Abby Johnson’s team responded.
Lucy Tuttle, vice chair of College Republicans and first-year fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom, believed that Johnson’s appearance at the college was the best option for the Republicans. Johnson’s message of life and advocacy resonated with Tuttle’s view of the organization.
As part of the decision to invite Johnson, Tuttle also saw a specific need for Johnson’s talk at Grove City. Tuttle said she noticed an apathy toward the issue of abortion — an issue about which she thought a Christian and conservative college ought to be more passionate.
Considering this note, Tuttle hoped students left the event desiring to fight for the unborn by raising awareness for the pro-life movement among friends and acquaintances. In this way, Tuttle believed students could share true freedom with those around them.
“One cannot be free if one is in opposition to goodness, truth and beauty,” Tuttle said.
“Johnson’s story is one of learning the truth about abortion and coming to realize its fundamental evil. This freed her.”
