Posted on Nov 3, 2009 | by Staff

BRYAN, Texas (BP)--The director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in southeast Texas quit her job and is supporting a pro-life organization after watching an ultrasound of an abortion.

Abby Johnson, 29, worked at the abortion clinic for eight years and told FoxNews.com she had been "extremely pro-choice" during that time. That all changed in September when she watched an ultrasound of an unborn baby being vacuumed out of a woman's uterus. She quit in early October.

"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,'" she told KBTX-TV in Bryan. Johnson added in the interview with FoxNews.com, "I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart ... a spiritual conversion."

The clinic had been the location of a peaceful pro-life prayer vigil by those associated with the nationwide 40 Days for Life initiative. Some participants also fasted.

Johnson, who became the clinic's director two years ago, also said she became disgruntled with Planned Parenthood when officials began pressuring her to get more abortions for the facility to generate more revenue.

"Every meeting that we had was, 'We don't have enough money, we don't have enough money -- we've got to keep these abortions coming,'" Johnson told FoxNews.com. "It's a very lucrative business and that's why they want to increase numbers."

Johnson is thankful she left and has no regrets.

"I feel so pure in heart [since leaving]," she told KBTX. "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 is working to prevent abortions and has prayed on the sidewalk with members of the pro-life group Coalition for Life, which has an office just a short walk from the Planned Parenthood building. Some of those members once prayed for Johnson to have a change of heart. A statement from the organization called Johnson's conversion "by far the most amazing thing that has happened to the Coalition for Life throughout its entire history." Coalition for Life members have participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign.

After Johnson quit, Planned Parenthood asked for and received a temporary restraining order against Johnson and the Coalition for Life. A hearing is set for Nov. 10. Planned Parenthood issued the following statement to KBTX: "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."

A press release from 40 Days for Life says Johnson is one of eight workers from various clinics who have left their jobs during 40 Days for Life campaigns. Johnson is the highest ranking of the eight.
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Compiled by Michael Foust, assistant editor of Baptist Press. For further information, visit www.40daysforlife.com or www.coalitionforlife.com.