Following natural disasters, Americans are able to put aside any differences and help each other out.
There are those, however, who turn the issue into something else. Abby Johnson, formerly a Planned Parenthood director and now pro-life activist, recently exposed in an op-ed how the abortion industry is using Hurricane Harvey to exploit women with “free abortions.” This isn’t the first time it’s, either.
Following 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, when Johnson worked at a Houston Planned Parenthood, her facility used private donations to fund “free abortions” for affected women in Louisiana. As she describes it, “we thought we were helping,” though she acknowledges not in the way one thinks of helping each other out after hurricanes, such as helping out shelters, or collecting food items.
As Johnson explained about the process, “[i]t was easy to not only prey on vulnerable women during their time of crisis but it was easy to raise money because people who believed in abortion weren’t terribly hard to convince about sending us money for “free abortions.”” She also noted Planned Parenthood “never did anything for free and were paid one way or another.”
Now, after Harvey, abortion groups are raising money to “help” women with “free abortions.”
The “free abortions,” which Johnson believes are most likely being paid for by pro-choice billionaire and “population control fanatic” Warren Buffet, will take place this time at Whole Woman’s Health, the plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. The decision ultimately struck down safety regulations for abortion facilities, which polling has shown Americans agree with by strong majorities, across varying demographics and opinions on abortion.
Whole Woman’s Health has had a history of unsanitary conditions and had been forced to close before the Supreme Court stepped in to strike down health and safety regulations which were part of Texas’ HB 2.
In speaking with Faithwire, Johnson emphasized her point that “free abortions” do not actually help women, and that “the abortion industry is harming the very women they claim to help.” Johnson says to speak out against these abortions “is not only for the benefit of the women seeking abortions but the workers inside the abortion facilities who may think they are doing something great, but, in reality, are helping to worsen any problems that the woman is facing.”
Johnson is not merely speaking out against the abortion industry’s exploitation of women in word, however. After leaving Planned Parenthood, she formed And Then There Were None, a group dedicated to assisting those who wish leave the abortion industry.
The group is also helping women and families after Hurricane Harvey through a baby registry, which sends those in Houston and in surrounding areas directly to those who need them, which Johnson described as having “mountains of”.
Johnson told Faithwire about the baby registry on Walmart, which has provided the opportunity “for people all over the country to help pregnant women obtain these necessities” and that “the community answered.” She emphasized that these women “need to see they have support.”
It’s not just that Christians should speak out against these “free abortions” and not partake in them themselves. Johnson had further advice, which can pertain specifically to women who may be considering or who have had abortions:
We need to be loving and non-judgmental. Approach both women considering abortion and those working in the abortion industry with love. Screaming at these women outside abortion clinics doesn’t work and it’s not loving whatsoever and pushes women away who may need or want our help. Love them. Be compassionate. If you are on the sidewalk and you feel anger in your heart, then just leave. There is enough anger inside the clinic walls…we don’t need it on the sidewalk.
For women who have had an abortion, Johnson recommends they reach out to their local pregnancy center, as they often have resources for women who have had abortions. She spoke specifically of Hope After Abortion and Surrendering the Secret.