You can read her story here. Then you'll know what she's talking about:
Posted on 05/14/2013 4:33:19 PM PDT by Morgana
I am vehemently against the death penalty. Now stay with me…this is not a post about my opinion regarding that. You can disagree or agree with me on that some other time. I did want to share a little bit about why I take the words of prolifers so seriously. I have heard so much vitriol spewed from the mouths of “Christian prolifers” since the Gosnell trial has concluded. I feel like I must address it.
When I was confirmed as a Catholic, I chose Mary Magdalene as my confirmation saint. I felt an immediate connection to her. She had sinned so much…and was forgiven in even greater amounts. She knew she didn’t deserve forgiveness…but she received it anyway. And because of this, she clung to Christ. She knew she was nothing without Him.
I have also done my fair share of sinning. And I have also been forgiven much more than I deserve. I abused and betrayed women in the worst possible way. I convinced them to kill their children. Did I slit the necks of children after they were born? No. But, I was an accomplice to murder. Thousands of times…women I knew, women I didn’t, my friends, even my family. I lied to people. I lied to women when they came to me for accurate information. I was among the worst sinners…those that help to take and destroy life. I am no better than Kermit Gosnell.
I took my own children’s lives…twice. Not because I was coerced. Not because I didn’t know better. But because I thought children would be an inconvenience to my lifestyle. I am responsible for their deaths…no one else.
So when someone talks about Gosnell and says things like, “murderers and people like him don’t deserve to breathe the same air as I do,” or “I hope he burns in hell,” it hurts a little. Because that was me. But I am still here…breathing that same air…and trying to spend my life righting my wrongs. And it’s not just me. I know they hurt others like me, as well. People who have left the abortion industry and will work every day to recover from their sins. People who are still in the industry and think they will be shunned by the pro-life movement…maybe they would reach out to us if they knew we would accept them. I am always terrified that clinic workers will see some of the words from prolifers. I have been told by several former workers that they will NEVER come forward with their stories because they are so scared of how they will be treated by us…by US…the supposed “Christian” movement. Their fears are real AND legitimate.
I know some will say, “but you repented, that is the difference.” But what if I hadn’t…not yet. What if I was still inside the abortion industry? What if I was still an accomplice to murder? What if it took me longer to realize the truth? Do I deserve to die? Are we saying repentance is about our timing? Certainly, it is not about us. It about God and His perfect timing.
Right now, I shouldn’t be in this movement. I should be the COO of the 4th largest revenue generating Planned Parenthood affiliate in the country. I should be overseeing the largest abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere. I should be making 6 times the amount of money that I make in the pro-life movement. But I’m not. Why? Because of forgiveness. Because of mercy. Because of grace. Because of God. And because of REAL pro-lifers. The people I turned to accepted me for me…baggage and all. They knew that I was a broken person, and they loved me anyway. They knew I needed significant healing, and they helped to provide it.
I remember one story in particular which always makes me tear up when I think about it. One of the ladies, Karen, that immediately befriended me after I left Planned Parenthood was asked a question by a reporter. He asked her, “So, what was Abby like before she became pro-life? I mean, how nasty was she?” Karen’s answer was so genuine, and so Christ-like. She simply said, “I don’t remember that person. She is a new creation in Christ. I won’t talk about her past, I only want to talk about her future.” Wow. What grace. What forgiveness. She could have really spilled the beans on me, but she chose not to. Why? Because she truly loved me…and she always had, even while I was working at Planned Parenthood. She always believed the best in me, always believed that my conversion would happen.
It was Christ who changed me. It was the merciful and compassionate words of His people. It was no condemnation. It was not prayers that I would burn in hell. It was not those who yelled and called me names. It was the words of people like Karen. Those who prayed that I would, one day, walk out of that clinic. Those who had constant faith…even when that faith was a struggle to have. I am here because of THEM and because of their Christ-like witness.
Don’t we want that for every abortion clinic worker and abortion provider? Don’t we want that for Kermit Gosnell? I smile every time I imagine his conversion. What a heavenly victory that will be! Can it happen? If you say no, then you do not know the God that I do. My God is in the business of miracles. And my God does not want anyone to suffer in hell. He wants ALL of his children to come to him…yes, even those of us “monsters” that are in or have been in the abortion industry.
Hate comes from hell. Mercy comes from Christ. When we have hate in our hearts, our spirits are damaged. Be careful with your words. Not only are you a living witness of Christ and His truth, but you could put your own soul at risk. “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” 1 John 3:15 When we hate, we are no better than those who kill.
I am not the sweetest person. I’m not the one who catches all the flies with honey…sometimes I am all vinegar. What do you expect? You expect the most tender hearted to work in the abortion industry? Maybe we aren’t like all of you. Maybe we aren’t the most kind-hearted. Maybe you don’t understand how we could do what we have done. But those of us that leave…we are fighters. We are willing to take hits for our former sins. We are willing to stand up in places that are uncomfortable. We are willing to be bruised by others because we know that we have to…we know that will be the price we pay…it just hurts more when the bruises come from those who should be rejoicing in our repentance. We are passionate. We don’t waste time beating around the bush…not when it comes to life…especially the lives that we helped take.
Those of us that have worked in the industry all live our lives with a constant burden. One that will not be free from us until we reach heaven. We can’t let our burden slide off of our shoulders…it is what keeps us on fire. It reminds us of why we fight so hard. We have seen death and evil in a way that most haven’t…and we participated. We are forgiven.
So, should I be able to “breathe the same air as you?” That’s not really up to me to decide. But if you say things like that, know that a small piece of our heart is broken, and I have to believe that it grieves Christ. But even if you break our hearts, we forgive you. Even if you bruise us, we forgive you. He who has been forgiven much, loves much. And we love a lot. I am eagerly awaiting the day when I can call Kermit Gosnell a former and REPENTANT abortion provider.
She did repent, and that is the difference.
If she were still in the industry, and still unrepentant, then she would be as guilty as Gosnell.
This piece is a bit incoherent. She seems to recognize the heinous nature of what he has done and what she herself did, but is hurt if people are upset about it.
People are upset. What Gosnell did is horrific. What she did evidently is on par with it according to her.
God saved her. He can save Gosnell too if he will ask.
Human justice demands that Gosnell pay a price, and lets her walk. There is something wrong with that, but it is what it is. Divine grace, on the other hand, washes her clean and offers to do the same for him if he will repent and accept it. But he'd have to face what he did to repent of it. He'll have a lot of time to think about it, so it may yet happen.
But Elohim commands the death penalty !
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
NAsbU Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds man's blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God He made man.
By the way, I’m not implying you should maintain a vengeful attitude either. Just the opposite. But when there is nothing you can do, it’s best to just shake the dust from your feet and move on. Forget rather than forgive.
“Human justice demands that Gosnell pay a price, and lets her walk. “
Might bit of a difference in what happened here too.
Gosnell did the abortions. Johnson only held the ultra sound on the women while another doctor did the abortion.
Gosnell killed the live baby. Johnson only ran the clinic.
Now keep in mind as long as Roe vs Wade is legal Johnson has not committed any crimes. In fact had Gosnell only done abortions then he would not have either. However as all abortion doctors go he got greedy. When he got greedy he got sloppy. He botched abortions and killed women due to bad staff and poor conditions. All because he wanted to save a buck. Then when the baby survived the abortion he killed it breaking the Infant born alive law. I know this sounds like a lot of legal mombo jumbo but that is the way it is. Until we make Roe Vs Wade overturned we can not go after others who were like Abby Johnson.
Don’t give up however. It was that little “Infant born alive law” that got Gosnell. Now it can be used to get others like him.
No ... she is disturbed that some people seem to prefer his damnation to his repentance. She's right, that is disturbing.
It doesn’t disturb me one tiny bit.
Ah but you know
I just wonder
How long it will take
As Gosnell sits in his little cell all alone.
Before he is haunted by the ghost of every baby and woman he killed.
Give it time.
I am disturbed that it comes from people who call themselves “Christan”
We can and should forgive the sin others cause to us. That is called mercy and only we can give that. We cannot and should not forgive the sin others cause others or to society. That is why Achan was stoned even after he confessed. Please read Judges 7.
God want us to judge righteously.
Best post. Forgiveness does not mean that the person is absolved of all the penalties. They still pay the price.
I have found that the proud christian only fits half his bill.
That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Cite source on that. (I do not believe there is one)
You may be correct... I don't believe the Bible (King James Version at least) actually states that you must 'ask for foregiveness.' It does use the words believe, confess and repent as in the following three verses. Do you think that it's a stretch to suggest that if one believes (recognition that Christ has the power to forgive sins), confesses (acknowledges their sins and that they are are a sinner) and repents (to be so remorseful as to do a 180 degree turn in one's life).... then it is implied that the individual asked for forgiveness?
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
No, you’re right, I believe I mispoke. But repentance is required for God’s forgiveness. Perhaps not ours.
"...and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...
I guess it depends on what your definition of "as" is.
True, but that is not the point. No one is arguing that what's his name should be acquitted of his crime. The point is that death penalty robs one of possible repentance, and adds nothing to the society since he is not going to kill again.
Of course, I have no interest in going after Abby. I accept her repentance, and I accept her as a sister in Christ.
The legal niceties that separate a legal abortion from an illegal one will keep a legal abortionist out of jail, but of course the baby is still dead. That was my point.
A separate subject is God’s grace. Gosnell can yet be saved if he will avail himself of it. That was Abby’s ultimate point, I believe. Grace doesn’t diminish the horror of what he did, the horror of it magnifies the miracle that is grace.
She is wrong to criticize people who are upset at what he did. And if in the heat of anger people said something that she thinks is over the top, she shouldn’t be surprised. People are people. If she wants to extend grace to the abortionist, she can extend a little to the people who responded in anger to something that was really shocking, revolting even.
But she is right that people in the industry are human beings in need of salvation just as we all are, and that she is living proof that God can save them.
You can read her story here. Then you'll know what she's talking about:
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