"My story is not a comfortable one to read.
I think it's only fair
to warn you of that up front.
Not comfortable, but honest and true."

With these words, Abby Johnson invites us all
to stop for a moment,
to put aside everything we thought we knew,
and listen to her story.
Take some time to walk in her shoes,
and to look through her eyes.

You will never be the same.

"I reveal my story not because I am proud of it.
I am not.
But my thinking and choices are not unlike
those of so many people..."

During her junior year in college,
Abby Johnson, made a decision that,
at the time,
seemed so simple and so right.
She became a volunteer.

In her role as a volunteer, she was told that she would
support women in need, make them feel cared for,
and show them compassion.
Abby was studying to be a counselor. She loved helping people.
This organization seemed like the perfect fit!

As she signed up, Abby says:
"I found myself vaguely aware of a flicker of inner conflict
threatening to rouse itself,
but I managed to push it back down
and squelch it."

WHY?

Even though Abbey didn't like abortions,
she had signed up as a volunteer
for Planned Parenthood.

But WAIT!

Maybe you are thinking that you've
already decided how you feel about abortion,
so you don't need to read any more.

Maybe the topic of abortion makes you uncomfortable...
so you are tempted to delete this email right now.

Maybe you feel like abortion is just a private affair,
and the topic has already been beaten into the ground,
so you don't want to hear about it any more.

Maybe you are completely pro-life and already know
all about "the other side" -
so this story would be like "preaching to the choir".

YOU DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE STORY

Let Abby tell you why:

"My story is not neat and tidy,
and it doesn't come wrapped in easy answers.
Oh, how we love to vilify our opponents - from both sides.
How easy to assume that those on "our" side are
right and wise and good;
how those on " their" side are
treacherous and foolish and deceptive.
I have found right and good and wisdom on both sides.
I have found foolishness and treachery and deception
on both sides as well.
I have experienced how good intentions can be warped
into poor choices no matter what the side...
But don't slam this book shut because of what I've just said.
Read it for that very reason...
Maybe you will be the one loving someone
on the other side of the fence."

Or, like many, maybe they are still sitting ON the fence.

What's the rest of the story?

When Abby first started working with Planned Parenthood,
she didn't like that they were performing abortions.
However, the recruiter told her:
"Our goal at Planned Parenthood is to make abortions rare. "

Abby believed it, and threw herself completely into her work,
focusing on all the positive things
Planned Parenthood taught during her training:

Abby steadily rose through the ranks of Planned Parenthood,
until she became director of the same clinic
where she had first started as a volunteer.
In 2008, she was named Employee of the Year.

But by now, things inside Planned Parenthood were starting to change.

The clinics were having financial trouble.
New, cost-cutting measures were introduced,
staff members were laid off,
and priorities started to change.
Family planning services were cut due to budget shortages.

The focus shifted completely to procedures
that would bring in quick, easy money...
Abortion.
The later the abortion, the higher the cost.
A late term abortion costs up to $4,000.

During a budgeting meeting, Abby was told that
her job as a clinic director
was to find a way to increase the number of abortions.
Instead of performing abortions every other Saturday,
they would now market medication abortions
and provide them every day of the week.

Abby protested,
"Abortion will never be my priority! Never."

But she kept working for Planned Parenthood
for five more months.

WHAT FINALLY CHANGED HER HEART?

"I'm going to perform an ultrasound-guided abortion on this patient.
I need you to hold the ultrasound probe,"
the doctor explained.
As I took the ultrasound probe in hand and
adjusted the settings on the machine,
I argued with myself,
I don't want to be here.
I don't want to take part in an abortion.
No - wrong attitude - I needed to psych myself up for this task...
It's a good learning experience - I've never seen
an ultrasound-guided abortion before...
Maybe this will help me when I counsel women.
I 'll learn firsthand about this safer procedure.
Besides, it will be over in just a few minutes... "

"I could not have imagined how
the next ten minutes
would shake the foundation of my values
and change the course of my life."

Unplanned

on sale for $20.69
Hardcover
288 pages
*SPECIAL CATHOLIC EDITION*
Introduction by David Bereit, 40 Days for Life
Foreword by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life

Order online now or call
1.866.522.8465
www.catholiccompany.com

Unplanned is a heart-stopping personal drama
of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle,
and spiritual transformation
that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy
that surrounds this complex issue.
Telling Abby's story from both sides of the
abortion clinic property line,
this book is a must-read.

Read the first chapter!

Listen to our interview with Abby Johnson

Inside, you will read Abby's own words, which reveal:

Since her departure from Planned Parenthood,
Abby has been traveling the country sharing her story
and motivating others to continue the pro-life fight.
She also works on projects for the national 40 Days for Life team.
Abby lives in Texas with her husband and daughter.
The family is currently going through formation
to enter the Catholic Church.

You may also be interested in this related book:

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