Unplanned: A personal reflection on the film

Unplanned, a must-see movie

But if I were to put a genre on it, this one is a horror film.

Successful in its presentation that abortion, though legal in some parts of the world, it is but a crime. Killing a defenseless unborn child is indeed mercilessly a crime.

The lead character Abby Johnson, born and raised by a rock solid Catholic family, at first, was blinded by the truth that getting pregnant outside the sacrament of marriage is okay. Because many young women are into it. And going through deliberate abortion process is morally tolerable. Because, again, many young women went through it.

She did it twice herself. The second one was painful, which almost took her life.

However, when she recovered, worst things happened. She even influenced young pregnant women they called “women under distress” and “women not prepared for responsibility of raising a child”, to pursue their preference of going through that dreadful abortion process despite protest outside the clinic.

For a mother to take the life of her own child straight from her womb is a heartless act.

If a mother is able to do it, killing anyone can be as easy as breathing.

Work is a gift and the ways we do our work is our gift to the Lord.

Abby in her affiliations with Planned Parenthood Company, as volunteer, then, as counselor transitioned quickly to becoming the Clinic Director, the youngest in the organization. She is competent and efficient in her job.

As worker, it is our responsibility to discern on what job we are into, who we work with, who we work for, what work do we do. Is it something that can please or glorify the Lord? We do not just work for bread and butter, for name or fame, for prestige, we work for God’s greater glory.

The family is our strongest support system

Abby is blessed with family support. Her parents being pro-lifers has been silently praying that she gives up her career in Plan Parenthood but patiently waited for her to decide. When the proper time came that she decided to finally leave the company, her family is the happiest. Her husband and child were filled with joy.

As Catholics, our faith, must be reflected in our lives. We cannot afford to be split-level Christians. We cannot worship during time of service or mass and do other things against our faith when we our outside the church. Our Catholic faith is a lifestyle.

God is good, all the time. When sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.

Abby’s realization and conversion came so ordinarily, when she was invited to the procedure room to monitor and watch how the abortion process is being conducted.

Conversion to God is always an invitation for a renewed life with God. The best part is when Abby made a choice, regardless of how challenging consequences were, she carried on. Renewed life with God is always a call to action. When we experienced God’s love and we have personal relationship with Him, telling the world of His love becomes our life and way of living.

God is with us, who can be against us. No evil work will sustain because God is at work. We just need to cooperate with Him and His plans. (Mari Banluta | Family and Life Apostolate, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Obrero, Davao City)