‘UnPlanned’ influences historic U.S. House vote to defund Planned Parenthood


N.J. Congressman reads book during debate; Author Abby Johnson to discuss live on EWTN

Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) included an excerpt from Abby Johnson’s best-selling UnPlanned during his impassioned Feb. 17 speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of a bill that seeks an end to Federal funding of Planned Parenthood. The next day, the House voted 240-185 to pass the legislation and send it on to the Senate.

UnPlanned author Abby Johnson will appear live this Thursday on EWTN’s “The World Over” to discuss this extraordinary event and talk about her conversion from abortion-clinic director to pro-life advocate. “The World Over” air lives at 8 p.m. ET.

“This is a remarkable, historic development,” said Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press, which published the Catholic edition of UnPlanned. “This bill, which clearly represents the will of the American people, still faces debate and a vote in the U.S. Senate. But the Congressional Record of the House debate includes portions of UnPlanned as read by Congressman Smith.

“We knew from the beginning that Abby’s decision to tell her story represented a significant moment in the movement to defend all life, including the lives of the unborn. We applaud Congressman Smith for having the courage to make UnPlanned part of the official record of this important debate.”

In UnPlanned, Johnson tells the dramatic story of how she literally “crossed the fence” from Planned Parenthood leader to an advocate fighting for women in crisis – and the lives of their unborn babies.
Planned Parenthood® took Johnson to court in an attempt to keep a lid on her story. Johnson won. UnPlanned is the result.

The Ignatius Press edition of UnPlanned includes bonus content: a note from Ignatius Press Founder/Publisher Fr. Joseph Fessio; a foreword by Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life; and an introduction by David Bereit, founder of 40 Days for Life.

Excerpts from the book and other details are available at http://www.unplannedbook.com.

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