Bryan Planned Parenthood Seeks Restraining Order Against Former Director
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Bryan Planned Parenthood Seeks Restraining Order Against Former Director
Bryan’s Planned Parenthood chapter is seeking a restraining order against its former director, who now supports a pro-life group after she quit over what she said was pressure to bring in more women who wanted abortions.
Reporter: By Ashlea Sigman, KBTX-TV
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BRYAN (November 2, 2009)--Planned Parenthood has been a part of Abby Johnson's life for the past eight years; that is until last month, when Abby resigned as director of Bryan Planned Parenthood.

Johnson said she realized she wanted to leave, after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.

"I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that's it," Johnson said.

She handed in her resignation on Oct. 6 after working as the Bryan Planned Parenthood Director for two years.

According to Johnson, the non-profit was struggling under the weight of a tough economy, and changing its business model from one that pushed prevention, to one that focused on abortion.

"It seemed like maybe that's not what a lot of people were believing any more because that's not where the money was. The money wasn't in family planning, the money wasn't in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that," said Johnson.

Johnson said she was told to bring in more women who wanted abortions; something the Episcopalian churchgoer recently became conflicted over.

"I feel so pure in heart (since leaving). I don't have this guilt, I don't have this burden on me anymore that's how I know this conversion was a spiritual conversion."

Johnson now supports the Coalition For Life, the pro-life group with a building down the street from Planned Parenthood.

Coalition volunteers can regularly be seen praying on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood.

Johnson has been meeting with the coalition's executive director, Shawn Carney, and has prayed with volunteers outside Planned Parenthood.

On Friday both Johnson and the Coalition For Life were issued temporary restraining orders filed by Planned Parenthood.

Rochelle Tafolla, a Planned Parenthood spokesperson issued the following statement: "We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff, however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary."

The temporary restraining order contends that Planned Parenthood would be irreparably harmed by the disclosure of certain information, but does not bar Johnson or Coalition For Life volunteers from the premises.

As of Sunday evening, neither Johnson nor Carney had seen the complaint filed against them that prompted the restraining order.

A hearing about the order has been set for November 10.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Julie Russell Location: Moore OK on Nov 9, 2009 at 04:17 PM

Just wondering when people are going to have some compassion for these babies. Surely we can see it in our hearts to let them live, or at least more of them.
Posted by: Greg Location: California on Nov 6, 2009 at 09:58 AM

Planned Parenthood is parasite on society. It may pretend to offer other medical services but its bread and butter is abortion. The founder, Margaret Sanger, wanted to find ways to kill black and brown babies because they were "inferior". There ought to be an undercover investigation by KWTX into just how much pressure there is on a walk-in patient to choose abortion rather than adoption. How about an ACORN style sting operation?
Posted by: mercury Location: oklahoma city on Nov 3, 2009 at 04:13 PM

i have heard that drug stores easily sell pregnancy test kits, ok, if somebody was raped or any unwanted pregnancy, they should test it at the early stages of embryo, not letting until it is a well formed baby...that would be a murder then
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