Ethan Walker
Abby Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood clinic director who left her job after assisting in the abortion of a 13-week-old fetus. She is now a prominent anti-abortion activist and CEO of the pro-life ministry And Then There Were None. Johnson grew up in a Christian conservative household and has since become a Catholic, citing the Catholic Church's stance on abortion as a key factor in her conversion. She has published a memoir, Unplanned, which chronicles her journey from volunteering at Planned Parenthood to becoming a vocal opponent of abortion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Abby Johnson |
| Occupation | Anti-abortion activist, former clinic director at Planned Parenthood |
| Date of Birth | July 11, 1980 |
| Education | Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Arts in Counseling |
| Religious Background | Raised Baptist, previously Episcopalian, became Catholic in 2012 |
| Pro-Life Conversion | Attributed to witnessing an abortion on ultrasound, joined the pro-life movement |
| Speaking Engagements | The Catholic University of America, Republican National Convention, March for Life |
| Publications | Memoir "Unplanned" and "UnPlanned" |
| Ministry | And Then There Were None, focused on helping abortion workers leave the industry |
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What You'll Learn
Abby Johnson's Catholic conversion
Abby Johnson is an American anti-abortion activist who previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director. Johnson, who was raised in a conservative family opposed to abortion, began volunteering for Planned Parenthood in 2001 after seeing their booth at a volunteer fair at her college. She worked at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Texas for eight years, escorting women into the clinic and eventually working as director of the clinic. Johnson regularly encountered activists from Coalition for Life (40 Days for Life), a local anti-abortion group that demonstrated at the clinic.
Johnson resigned from Planned Parenthood in October 2009, stating that she did so after watching an abortion on ultrasound. The veracity of her account and the details and motivation for her conversion have been challenged by investigative reporters, as medical records contradict some of her claims. After her resignation, Johnson began volunteering with Coalition for Life. She told the group's director, Shawn Carney, that she could no longer continue assisting women in getting abortions.
Johnson's story received national coverage starting in November 2009, at which point she was embraced by the anti-abortion movement. She published a memoir, "Unplanned," in 2011, detailing her work at Planned Parenthood and her conversion to abortion opposition. The book was made into a film released in 2019. In the book and a webcast, Johnson explained how she became involved in the abortion industry, despite her strongly Christian upbringing.
Johnson also decided to enter the Catholic Church. She studied Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" and other sources of Church teaching. Johnson's final decision to reject contraception, like her change of mind on abortion, occurred suddenly because of something she saw. While sitting behind a woman with an infant during Mass, Johnson finally understood the Church's insistence on marriages remaining open to new life. Johnson and her husband, Doug, who was raised Lutheran, stopped attending church for two years before joining the Episcopal Church. After going public with her conversion to the anti-abortion position, Johnson said she felt unwelcome at this church, and so she and her husband converted to Roman Catholicism in 2012.
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Johnson's anti-abortion activism
Abby Johnson is an American anti-abortion activist who previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director but resigned in October 2009. Johnson, who was raised in a conservative family opposed to abortion, began volunteering for Planned Parenthood in 2001 after seeing their booth at a volunteer fair at her college. While working at Planned Parenthood, Johnson regularly encountered activists from Coalition for Life (40 Days for Life), a local anti-abortion group that demonstrated at the clinic.
Johnson's perspective on abortion changed radically after she was called to assist in an ultrasound-guided abortion in September 2009. She continued working at the clinic for nine more days, but soon met with Shawn Carney, the leader of Coalition for Life, and told him she could no longer assist women in getting abortions. Johnson resigned from Planned Parenthood on October 6, 2009, and her story received national coverage starting in November 2009, at which point she was embraced by the anti-abortion movement.
Since leaving Planned Parenthood, Johnson has dedicated her life to anti-abortion activism. She founded And Then There Were None, a ministry that helps abortion staff transition out of the industry by providing financial, emotional, legal, and spiritual support. She has also authored several books, including Unplanned, Fierce Mercy, and The Walls Are Talking: Former Abortion Clinic Workers Tell Their Stories, in which she shares her story and the stories of other women who have left the abortion industry. In addition, Johnson has spoken out against the COVID-19 vaccines because of their potential links to abortions, stating that Christians have a moral obligation to reject them.
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Johnson's time at Planned Parenthood
Abby Johnson, born on July 11, 1980, is an American anti-abortion activist. Johnson previously worked at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Texas, for eight years, starting in 2001. She began volunteering for Planned Parenthood after encountering their booth at a volunteer fair at her college. Johnson, who identified as "extremely pro-choice", worked as a clinic director, escorting women into the clinic and assisting in abortions.
During her time at Planned Parenthood, Johnson regularly encountered activists from the Coalition for Life (40 Days for Life), a local anti-abortion group that demonstrated at the clinic's fence. She described extensive harassment and death threats from these activists against her and her family. Despite this, Johnson was named employee of the year in 2008.
In September 2009, Johnson was called to assist in an ultrasound-guided abortion at thirteen weeks of gestation. She watched as the baby squirmed and twisted to avoid the tube into which it would be vacuumed. Johnson described the baby's backbone being "sucked into the tube" before her eyes. This experience left her shocked, and she continued working at the clinic for nine more days.
Shortly after, Johnson met with Shawn Carney, the leader of Coalition for Life, and told him she could no longer assist in abortions. She resigned from Planned Parenthood on October 6, 2009, stating that her supervisors had pressured her to increase profits by performing more abortions. Johnson's allegations were denied by Planned Parenthood, who stated that abortions accounted for only 3% of their health services.
Following her resignation, Johnson published a memoir, "Unplanned", in 2011, detailing her experiences and her decision to join the pro-life movement. She also rejected contraception and converted to Roman Catholicism in 2012. Johnson has faced criticism for her allegations against Planned Parenthood, with some questioning the veracity of her claims and the motivations for her conversion.
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Johnson's pro-life book, 'Unplanned'
Abby Johnson's memoir, "Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line", was published in 2011. It details her work at Planned Parenthood and her conversion to abortion opposition. The book provides a unique perspective on both sides of the abortion debate, shedding light on life-and-death encounters, courtroom battles, and spiritual transformation. Johnson, who was once a self-described "extremely pro-choice" Planned Parenthood clinic director, shares her journey towards becoming a leading pro-life advocate.
In "Unplanned", Johnson recounts her experience in September 2009 when she was called to assist in an ultrasound-guided abortion at thirteen weeks of gestation. The sight of the fetus squirming and twisting to avoid the vacuum tube used for the abortion deeply disturbed her. Despite her initial reluctance to acknowledge the impact of this event, Johnson continued working at the clinic for nine more days. However, the encounter marked a turning point in her perspective on abortion.
Johnson's memoir offers insight into the internal conflicts and external pressures she faced during her time at Planned Parenthood. She describes how her supervisors pressured her to increase profits by performing more abortions, a practice she found morally questionable. Johnson's allegations were met with denial by Planned Parenthood, who stated that abortions accounted for only 3% of their health services. Johnson's inability to reconcile her experiences with her values ultimately led to her resignation from the organization in October 2009.
The book also delves into the legal battles that ensued following Johnson's departure from Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood sought a court order to prevent her from discussing her past work, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Johnson's memoir includes details about Planned Parenthood's business model and its treatment of women, information that was previously shielded from public knowledge due to legal constraints.
"Unplanned" provides a personal and intimate account of Johnson's transformation from a Planned Parenthood leader to a prominent voice in the pro-life movement. It offers a nuanced perspective on the complex abortion debate, inviting readers to consider the ethical, spiritual, and personal dimensions of this contentious issue. Johnson's story underscores the power of personal experiences to shape beliefs and the potential for individuals to undergo profound ideological shifts.
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Johnson's views on COVID-19 vaccines
Abby Johnson is an American anti-abortion activist and a Catholic who previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director. Johnson has stated that she intends not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, citing distrust in the fast-tracked approval process by the FDA. She has also claimed that all Christians have a moral obligation to reject the new COVID-19 vaccines due to their potential links to abortions. Specifically, she has pointed out that the AstraZeneca vaccine was created using fetal cells from decades-old abortions. However, it is important to note that the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines were not created with fetal cells, although fetal cells were used in the development of the mRNA technology.
Johnson's stance on COVID-19 vaccines stems from her ethical position and her interpretation of the Catholic Church's teachings. She believes that the COVID-19 vaccines are tantamount to murder, aligning with the pro-life movement's concerns about the vaccines' connection to abortions. Johnson has criticized the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for their statement encouraging Catholics to get vaccinated if no other alternatives are available. She accused the USCCB of being hypocritical and "cowering to Big Pharma."
In addition to her views on the vaccines themselves, Johnson has expressed concerns about the FDA approval process. She does not trust the expedited approval given by the FDA and has stated that she is "not anti-vaccine." Johnson's skepticism extends beyond COVID-19 vaccines, as she has also rejected contraception and certain medical treatments.
Johnson's views on COVID-19 treatments have also been a topic of discussion. She claimed that she was prescribed Ivermectin by a questionable group of doctors and administered it to her family during their bout with COVID-19. Ivermectin is a drug typically used in veterinary medicine, and the FDA has warned against its use for treating or preventing COVID-19 due to potential serious side effects. Johnson's decision to use this unproven treatment further highlights her skepticism of mainstream medical advice and her willingness to explore alternative approaches.
Johnson's stance on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments has sparked debates and attracted attention, especially within the context of her anti-abortion activism and Catholic faith. Her views on vaccines are influenced by her interpretation of Christian morality and her alignment with the pro-life movement. While Johnson has been vocal about her opposition to the COVID-19 vaccines, her position has also been met with criticism and scrutiny.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Abby Johnson is Catholic. She left the Episcopalian faith in 2012 to become Catholic because her public pro-life stance was welcomed in the Catholic Church.
Abby Johnson is a prominent leader of the pro-life movement. She is the CEO of the pro-life ministry "And Then There Were None". She is also an author and has written a memoir, "Unplanned", which was made into a movie of the same title in 2019.
Abby Johnson previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director but resigned in 2009 after assisting in the abortion of a 13-week-old fetus. She has since become a vocal pro-life activist, sharing her testimony of leaving Planned Parenthood and fighting for the rights of unborn children.
