It Was “Unplanned”

By Connie Ross

It actually was a spontaneously put together event. Collier County Republican Executive Committee (CCREC) hosted a movie-night and discussion in cooperation with Paragon Pavilion on Monday, April 15th. Carol Manning and Jan Face-Glassman, with the support of local Republican clubs, organized a private viewing of the 2019 movie Unplanned, and it didn’t take long to fill the theater. This type of forum has always been a well-received opportunity to openly discuss Conservative ideologies in Naples.

Unplanned is the novel-inspired true story of Abby Johnson’s 8 year journey with Planned Parenthood and her complicated personal relationships. The film walks you through Johnson’s life that begins when she joins a Texas Planned Parenthood in college sincerely inspired to do good, who quickly works her way up in the organization to become one of the youngest Clinic Directors in the nation. She eventually falls from grace when she publicly voices a concern.

Following an awaking experience that no one should forget, the course of Johnson’s life is forever changed.

The movie opens with a young wife and mother telling the audience, “My story isn’t an easy one to hear. I think I probably ought to warn you of that up front.”

Indeed there’s more than one uncomfortable scene that provokes mind-bending questions.

Hannah Custer with Pregnancy Resource Center was in attendance to lead a discussion with the over 100 community members who attended the viewing event.

Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) is a 501c3 faith-based crisis organization funded solely by donors in Collier and Lee Counties with a mission to prevent abortion and present eternal truth with clinics in Naples and Estero. Their vision is a transformed community where every baby is wanted.

Statistically where a woman goes first for help will determine what she does with her pregnancy 80% of the time, so PRC provides services free of charge to individuals struggling with an unplanned pregnancy in a non-judgmental, informative and supportive environment. In 2018, of the roughly 1,600 patient encounters, 73% determined to abort then chose life because of the compassionate approach to handling an unplanned pregnancy.

Despite the efforts of PRC, Collier and Lee Counties “documented” 4,007 abortions in 2018.

Many women go on to regret the choice to terminate a pregnancy and emotionally struggle with their decision; for them PRC provides Restorative Healing Services.

Patients prescribed the Abortion Pill during the first 70 days of their pregnancy have a 48 to 72 hour window of opportunity after taking the first of two pills to reverse the outcome.

PRC is the only facility south of Sarasota to offer an antidote to RU-486. To date, seven lives have been saved in the Collier and Lee County area as a result of PRC’s services. It is not enough, however, to simply bring a child into this world. Whether the mother’s choice is to parent or adopt out, patients and fathers have available to them comprehensive physical, emotional, educational and spiritual services for a period of 16 months.

Janet Custer – Executive Director at Pregnancy Resource Center believes, “In saving a life and ensuring a better life for both mother and child! We defund Planned Parenthood every day, as women come to our clinics first! The best part is, because all of our services are free, she actually keeps the money she would have used for an abortion.”

Republican views on abortion are “rooted firmly in the belief that an unborn child, like any individual in this country, has an individual right to life that should not be infringed upon by others. The party adamantly believes that the rights guaranteed to all Americans in the 14th Amendment apply to unborn children as well.” The 2016 Republican Party Platform strengthened its pro-life plank to call for the first time, the defunding of Planned Parenthood and banning dismemberment abortion. Conservatives believe all lives have a divine purpose.

For more information on how you can help in your community, Pregnancy Resource Center can be reached in Naples: 239-280-5523 / Estero: 239-317-0015. PRC welcomes donations and volunteers to serve as patient advocates or assist with administrative tasks, join their Bridge-Partners program with local churches, or simply to participate as a Prayer Warrior.