This is Abby Johnson's letter to abortion clinic workers:
Dear Clinic Worker,
You entered the abortion industry because you wanted to help women. You were told that illegal abortion was dangerous. You didn’t want to see that happen to anyone. You came in with the right intentions. Or, maybe you just needed a job. Maybe you really didn’t know what Planned Parenthood was all about. Now you know. Now you see what abortion really is and you may feel uncomfortable…but how do you leave? You may be a single mom, or maybe you are woman who is supporting her whole family during this terrible economy. Maybe this is the first time you have ever had a job that offered insurance…not just for you, but for your children also. How will you support your family? Aren’t you doing the right thing anyway? Maybe you aren’t sure anymore.
You see people outside praying. You don’t know what they are doing. Are they praying for you or just the women going in to have abortions? You are told every day that they are dangerous and want to harm you. Do they? You have seen some crazy “pro-lifers.” Sometimes they may yell at you…or you have heard those stories from other workers you know. Sometimes they say hateful things. You hear about bombings at other clinics and workers that are killed…are these the same people? Your employer says they are. Some of them seem like they really want to help you. But you know you could never really trust them. They are the enemy, right?
You just don’t understand why people say that you coerce women into having abortions. You don’t feel like you are coercing them. It feels like you are just helping them make the best decision. I mean, a 14 year old shouldn’t be forced to have a baby. In fact, you went to a training on how to talk about abortion in “tough situations.” These women don’t seem to be upset when they come back. In fact, they are happy about the decision they made. They can’t thank you enough. So where are all these people that “regret” their abortions? You don’t see them. You tell women that “abortion is normal” and that women don’t feel sad after their abortion…maybe that is really true.
Sometimes women ask about their baby before the abortion. You don’t really know what to say. You haven’t been taught anything about fetal development. You really want to answer their questions…but you don’t know what the answers are. So, you just feel like you have to say something to ease the woman’s mind. You have only been taught about abortion. You know every detail of the abortion procedure. Why can’t these patients just stick to facts about abortion…that is what they are here for anyway.
People ask you where you work, and you don’t know why, but you always feel embarrassed to talk about it. Instead of telling them, “I work at an abortion clinic,” you simply say, “I work at a doctor’s office.” You just want to avoid the whole “abortion” conversation. Your family intentionally avoids talking about your job. It almost feels like they are embarrassed by what you do.
You hear about former abortion clinic workers…”traitors” they are called. When they are talked about, people always talk about how they betrayed women…how they betrayed the whole pro-choice movement. But you wonder how they did it? How did they get out? How did they leave everything behind? Their friends, money, stability…how could they do that? You have heard that pro-lifers helped them when they wanted to leave? Would they help you, too?
Yes, we will. We will help you. You can trust us. We don’t just want you to leave the abortion industry…we want a change in your life. We want you to find peace and happiness. You probably haven’t felt those things in a while. We know it will be hard for you to step out and trust people that are supposed to be your enemy. But if you will just take that first step, we will hold your hand through this difficult transition.
The road out of the abortion industry is not an easy one. Some people will question your conversion. Some pro-lifers will not trust you…some will even say terrible things about you. But remember, you do not want to leave to be popular…you want to leave because it is the right thing to do. Your current friends at work will desert you. You will literally be starting over. And even though that sounds like it would be really lonely, it’s not. It is the best new life you could ever ask for.
You may be confused and scared. Don’t be. We are here. We are waiting. We are praying.
Sincerely,
Caring pro-lifer
You entered the abortion industry because you wanted to help women. You were told that illegal abortion was dangerous. You didn’t want to see that happen to anyone. You came in with the right intentions. Or, maybe you just needed a job. Maybe you really didn’t know what Planned Parenthood was all about. Now you know. Now you see what abortion really is and you may feel uncomfortable…but how do you leave? You may be a single mom, or maybe you are woman who is supporting her whole family during this terrible economy. Maybe this is the first time you have ever had a job that offered insurance…not just for you, but for your children also. How will you support your family? Aren’t you doing the right thing anyway? Maybe you aren’t sure anymore.
You see people outside praying. You don’t know what they are doing. Are they praying for you or just the women going in to have abortions? You are told every day that they are dangerous and want to harm you. Do they? You have seen some crazy “pro-lifers.” Sometimes they may yell at you…or you have heard those stories from other workers you know. Sometimes they say hateful things. You hear about bombings at other clinics and workers that are killed…are these the same people? Your employer says they are. Some of them seem like they really want to help you. But you know you could never really trust them. They are the enemy, right?
You just don’t understand why people say that you coerce women into having abortions. You don’t feel like you are coercing them. It feels like you are just helping them make the best decision. I mean, a 14 year old shouldn’t be forced to have a baby. In fact, you went to a training on how to talk about abortion in “tough situations.” These women don’t seem to be upset when they come back. In fact, they are happy about the decision they made. They can’t thank you enough. So where are all these people that “regret” their abortions? You don’t see them. You tell women that “abortion is normal” and that women don’t feel sad after their abortion…maybe that is really true.
Sometimes women ask about their baby before the abortion. You don’t really know what to say. You haven’t been taught anything about fetal development. You really want to answer their questions…but you don’t know what the answers are. So, you just feel like you have to say something to ease the woman’s mind. You have only been taught about abortion. You know every detail of the abortion procedure. Why can’t these patients just stick to facts about abortion…that is what they are here for anyway.
People ask you where you work, and you don’t know why, but you always feel embarrassed to talk about it. Instead of telling them, “I work at an abortion clinic,” you simply say, “I work at a doctor’s office.” You just want to avoid the whole “abortion” conversation. Your family intentionally avoids talking about your job. It almost feels like they are embarrassed by what you do.
You hear about former abortion clinic workers…”traitors” they are called. When they are talked about, people always talk about how they betrayed women…how they betrayed the whole pro-choice movement. But you wonder how they did it? How did they get out? How did they leave everything behind? Their friends, money, stability…how could they do that? You have heard that pro-lifers helped them when they wanted to leave? Would they help you, too?
Yes, we will. We will help you. You can trust us. We don’t just want you to leave the abortion industry…we want a change in your life. We want you to find peace and happiness. You probably haven’t felt those things in a while. We know it will be hard for you to step out and trust people that are supposed to be your enemy. But if you will just take that first step, we will hold your hand through this difficult transition.
The road out of the abortion industry is not an easy one. Some people will question your conversion. Some pro-lifers will not trust you…some will even say terrible things about you. But remember, you do not want to leave to be popular…you want to leave because it is the right thing to do. Your current friends at work will desert you. You will literally be starting over. And even though that sounds like it would be really lonely, it’s not. It is the best new life you could ever ask for.
You may be confused and scared. Don’t be. We are here. We are waiting. We are praying.
Sincerely,
Caring pro-lifer
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