'Unplanned' Earns $17M, Supporters Launch Plan to Take Film Straight to Planned Parenthood Clinics - CBN News Christian Ellis,Benjamin Gill

Unplanned movie

'Unplanned' Earns $17M, Supporters Launch Plan to Take Film Straight to Planned Parenthood Clinics

04-22-2019

CBN News Christian Ellis,

Benjamin Gill

Box office success for "Unplanned" continues to grow after total sales hit $17.2 million this weekend. With only a $6 million budget, Pureflix's pro-life movie started making a profit on its opening weekend, after debuting with $6.1 million.

But box office success isn't the only goal for the film's supporters. It's about changing hearts and lives. So one group is even planning to air the film on the public sidewalk right in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Washington, DC at 1225 4th St. NE.

Their original plan to show it on Good Friday was delayed by weather, but they're still planning to show it at that location. More here. 

Related

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Almost 100 Abortion Clinic Workers Seek to Leave Industry After Seeing Pro-Life Movie ‘Unplanned’

PAULA WHITE: How 'Unplanned' Became a Smash Hit, Despite Roadblocks by the Liberal Entertainment Mafia

'We're Taking on a Monster': New Film Pulls Back the Curtain on America's Ugly Abortion Industry

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"Our hope is to launch a nationwide campaign to eventually show 'Unplanned' in front of Planned Parenthood abortion clinics across America," explained Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition which is sponsoring this special viewing.

The film's success comes despite roadblocks from the entertainment industry.

"'Unplanned' has been censored and discriminated against by social media giants, television networks and other outlets," Mahoney says. He says it has faced an unprecedented blockade from Google and Twitter, with ads also being blocked by TV networks like Hallmark, Bravo, The Food Network, and Lifetime.

The movie is based on the pro-life transformation of a former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director named Abby Johnson.

CBN News recently reported close to 100 abortion clinic workers have left their jobs since seeing the film.

During his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Chuck Konzelman, director of "Unplanned", said 94 clinic workers have approached Abby Johnson's nonprofit, And Then There Were None, about leaving the abortion industry, according to Pure Flix Insider.

In a recent interview with Fox News, Ashley Bratcher, the actress who portrays Abby Johnson, shared her response to the impact the movie has made on many lives.

"The response had been incredibly positive. I mean, through it all – this has been the most rewarding and fulfilling role I've ever had in my entire career," Bratcher told 'Fox & Friends'. "To be able to hear someone come up to you and say, 'I was so affected by your work that I decided instead of having an abortion, that I'm now going to have my child' – I don't know how to really explain the way that feels to know that you could have potentially just saved a life."

"There's not a lot of actors who get to say that, and I am so honored to be able to have a part of this," she added.

Abby Johnson recently joined senior pastor of megachurch Free Chapel Church, Jentezen Franklin, for his 'Life Is Beautiful' Conference. More than 4,000 people were encouraged to speak out against abortion at the event.

Franklin encouraged grace for those who had an abortion or worked in abortion industry.

"With just as much passion and just as much fervency, we are going to extend grace and compassion to anyone who has experienced an abortion, been anyway involved in it, we're not mad at you. Jesus loves you and we love you. And we're here to walk through life. We're all flawed people. We need God's grace," he said. "We can make our world a place that values life because life is beautiful."

Stunned by NY's Late-Term Abortion Law? Well, Prepare to Be Stunned Again - CBN News Crystal Woodall,Benjamin Gill

Stunned by NY's Late-Term Abortion Law? 

Well, Prepare to Be Stunned Again

01-25-2019

CBN News Crystal Woodall,

Benjamin Gill

As heinous as critics find New York's decision to legalize abortion up until the day of birth, former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate Abby Johnson warns this is nothing new. It's a much bigger issue than most people realize.

The controversial Reproductive Health Act, which was signed into law Tuesday by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), does away with restrictions on abortion past 24 weeks. Given the state's track record on reproductive issues, Johnson says the news comes as no surprise to her.

"New York is already known as the nation's abortion capital, so I don't think that's going to change with this new law," she recently told CBN News.

Related

---

Hypocrisy, 'Homicide', and 'Horrors': New York's Brand New 'License to Kill' Viable Babies Sparks Intense Outrage

'A Sad and Evil Day': New York Legalizes Abortion Up to Baby's Birth Day on Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

How Awful Is New York’s New Abortion Law? This Video Pretty Much Sums It Up

---

However, in a wake-up call to pro-life Americans, Johnson notes that similar late-term abortion scenarios have long been unfolding across the United States.

"I know that many are disheartened by the New York vote to legalize abortion through birth, but let me be clear," she writes in a Facebook post. "This is already happening in almost a dozen other states. THIS IS NOT NEW. Babies have been aborted through birth for quite some time now. New York has now just been added to the list."

Johnson also predicts that abortion doctors in other parts of the country may soon be relocating to The Empire State. "I think that what will happen is that a lot of these late-term abortion providers are going to be now seeking practices in New York so that they can perform late-term abortions without any penalty," she said.

How Widespread is Late-Term Abortion?

The Guttmacher Institute reports that while most states restrict later-term abortions, many of those restrictions have been struck down – mostly because they don't contain a health exception.

And according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the following states don't have any prohibitions on abortion later in pregnancy:  Alaska, Colorado, District of Colombia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont.   

In addition, 24 other states make an exception, allowing late-term abortions for the sake of the mother's general health. Pro-life advocates contend that the generic "health" exception essentially allows abortion-on-demand, saying late-term abortions can be allowed in any states that have a generic exception for the health of the mother.

Faithwire's Will Maule explains, "Effectively, abortion will be available 'on demand' up until birth — if the woman wants to terminate her fully-formed child because she claims it is too much for her to deal with financially, emotionally or otherwise, she will be allowed to do so."

Other states from the KFF list make it clear that the mother's life or "physical health" must be at risk to allow a late-term abortion, which seems to be proof of that pro-life claim regarding the general "health" exception.

What exactly is late-term abortion? Christian author and speaker Lisa Bevere offers this heartbreaking description:

And Johnson offers this rebuttal to the health argument that pro-choice advocates make for late-term abortion.

The Broader Nationwide Battle Over Abortion

Meanwhile, in yet another blow to the pro-life cause, a district court judge ruled Tuesday that Iowa's pro-life "fetal heartbeat" law is unconstitutional and may not be enforced. The law would ban abortions once a baby's heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks into gestation.

Many abortion advocates are hoping developments like the ones in New York and Iowa are a sign that 2019 will be a watershed year in what they view as the fight for women's 'reproductive health.'

"This is a time where women are feeling they have some political power. This is not a foregone conclusion, but there's no time to stand on the sidelines anymore," the Pacific Standard quoted Julie McClain Downey, senior director of campaign communications at the pro-abortion Emily's List.

Johnson, however, argues there has never been a better time to advance the cause of the unborn – and perhaps ultimately overturn Roe v. Wade.

"I think it is the right time to take a personhood or heartbeat bill to the Supreme Court. And so that's sort of the hope – that a bill will be passed in a state that the pro-choice groups (Planned Parenthood, NARAL, NAF) will then challenge the state law and then take it to the Supreme Court," she told CBN News.

"And then, hopefully, the Supreme Court would hear that case and would then overturn Roe v. Wade and would allow states to make the decision whether or not they want abortion in their own state," she said.

That's precisely the reason Cuomo and New York Democrats gave for expanding abortion rights and adding them into New York law. They say Roe v. Wade could be overturned soon, which would then leave the future of abortion rights in the hands of the individual states. So they want to enshrine abortion into New York's state constitution next to ensure that abortion will always be legal in New York, even late-term abortions up until the point of birth.

'God Plays a Very Big Role in My Life': Trump Takes Soft Tone as Angry Media Blasts Him After Election - CBN News Benjamin Gill

'God Plays a Very Big Role in My Life': Trump Takes Soft Tone as Angry Media Blasts Him After Election

11-07-2018

CBN News Benjamin Gill

President Trump faced a very antagonistic media on the day after the midterm elections, offering a soft tone about his desire to work across the aisle with Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in the House. He said he understands that Pelosi loves the country and he hopes compromise can be possible.

The president began the wide-ranging press conference with a focus on the election results, but it soon devolved into brazen and shocking media attacks that appeared designed to frustrate and enrage the president.

CNN's Jim Acosta stood defiantly on the front row, badgering the president over and over about the caravan and the Russia election, refusing to release the microphone, standing right in front of the president in a shocking confrontation.

The president told him his time was done, telling him to sit down and to stop being a "rude, terrible person." Eventually, Trump had to walk away from the microphone because Acosta wouldn't stop creating a spectacle.

Near the end of the hour-long event, the president circled back to the issue saying he hopes the tone in America can get better if the media will tone down their attacks. 

Then more members of the media hurled loud questions at him about whether it's his job to change the tone. He said it's because of rude and unfair media attacks that he's taken such a confrontational approach. "I'm fighting back not.

At another point, a reporter repeatedly questioned Trump about whether or not he's a racist and whether he has ever made racist comments. Trump said he's not. Another reporter also asked if Trump was a racist because of support from white nationalists. He turned the question against the reporter, saying it was a racist question, that he loves America and that he has delivered many jobs for African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans.

While much of the media criticized him for sparring with journalists, Trump says he has to be aggressive because he's not treated fairly by the media. 

"My issue with the media's treatment of Trump is less that they are critical of him, and more that they aren't equal opportunity critics," The Washington Examiner's Tiana Lowe told CBN News. "They took an eight-year break during the Obama Administration and as we saw with every glowing profile of Beto O'Rourke, of Andrew Gillum, they are only hard on one party and its all determined by what letter you have after your name. So, should Trump be as critical of the media asking legitimate questions about his presidency? I don't think so. Clearly, it resonates with his base. However, he's not wrong when he says that there is clearly a bias not only in coverage but also in tone and tenure. "

One of the few productive and peaceful moments of the event came when a Jewish reporter asked the president about God's place in his administration.

"God plays a very big role in my life," Trump said. He pointed out that God's place is apparent in the lives of many members of his administration, including the vice president.

When asked about congressional action for the rest of the year, the president said he could not imagine taking up the issue of immigration and recognized the new Democratic House and the Republican Senate may go in different directions when it comes to legislation.

"Areas for legislative agreement will be more limited," he said.

"The one issue that Leader Pelosi and I discussed this morning where there could be a possible bipartisan agreement would be something on infrastructure, but there could be a lot of other things."

The president also said he would consider raising other tax rates to pay for a middle-class tax cut. He had proposed another 10 percent tax cut while campaigning for the midterms. 

But he said if Democrats offer an idea for tax cuts he would work with them, even if it would require "some adjustment" to other rates.

"I would certainly be willing to do a little bit," Trump told the room full of reporters.

The president said Democrats would need to propose a plan, and that he would need bipartisan support on the legislation in the Senate. 

Lowe told CBN News the next Speaker of the House needs to tone down the angry rhetoric in her base to efficiently partner with Republicans to pass legislation. 

"I think that if Nancy Pelosi wants to remain, Speaker of the House, she knows that appealing to the most emotional and angriest portion of her base is not going to get much done for her or her agenda, " she said. "Perhaps she will realize this is an opportunity." 

In one of the lighter moments of the news conference, a reporter asked the president if he would choose Vice President Mike Pence to be his running mate in the 2020 election. 

"Well, I haven't asked him, but I hope so," Trump responded. "Where are you? Mike, Will you be my running mate?" Some of the media in the room responded with laughter.

Then the president told Pence to stand up and raise his right hand. Pence stood in front of his chair located at the side of the room. 

"No, I'm only kidding," Trump said. "Will you?"

Pence nodded his acceptance and Trump said: "Thank you. The answer is yes." 

White House Suspends CNN Correspondent's Press Pass

Later on Wednesday, the White House announced it had suspended Acosta's press pass after he and President Trump got into a heated exchange during the news conference earlier that afternoon. 

According to The Associated Press, journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staff decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of “placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern,” calling it “absolutely unacceptable.”

Responding to the White House through their Twitter account, CNN said: "A free press is vital to democracy, and we stand behind Jim Acosta and his fellow journalists everywhere.”

In announcing Acosta’s suspension, Sanders said, “The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, it is an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this administration.”

Watch interview here: God & Trump - CBN News

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'The Valley of the Shadow': Anne Graham Lotz Facing a More Serious Cancer Battle Than First Thought - CBN News Benjamin Gill

'The Valley of the Shadow': Anne Graham Lotz Facing a More Serious Cancer Battle Than First Thought

10-07-2018

CBN News Benjamin Gill

Anne Graham Lotz is facing many weeks of chemotherapy after her doctors discovered her case of 

breast cancer is more advanced than they first thought.

Lotz, the daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, is a Bible teacher and best-selling author, and she's 

been posting about her journey, writing about how she believes God has important lessons for her 

during this difficult season.

Doctors had performed surgery a month ago to remove the cancer, but they recently discovered that 

cancer cells had spread. So she'll need much more a aggressive treatment plan now.

Related


'Pray for God to Heal Me': Anne Graham Lotz Reveals She Has Breast Cancer


Anne Graham Lotz Giving Praise for Very Successful Breast Cancer Surgery: 'God Has Poured out 

His Blessing'


Anne Graham Lotz on Life After Billy Graham, and the Message He Wrote to Her 40 Years Ago 

that She Just Found


Anne Graham Lotz Prays Her Father's Passing Will Spark 'Revival' in the Church

"The surgeon then revealed, with compassion in her eyes, that she had the pathology report. As she 

went over the numbers, it became evident that the results were not what I had prayed they would be. 

A trace of cancer was found in the lymph nodes which alters the follow-up treatment significantly," 

Lotz writes.

Her chemotherapy treatments will begin October 18th and will run for 18 weeks. Then she'll undergo 

additional treatments over the next twelve months.

"The adventurous journey through the valley of the shadow will be longer than anticipated. BUT I am 

still confident the Shepherd will walk with me each step of the way until He sees me safely through!" 

she writes.

Lotz is in high demand as a preacher and public speaker, but now she'll need to cancel commitments 

in the coming months.

"As I looked ahead at the calendar, I could almost audibly hear the 'click' of the Divine pruning shears. 

I'm confident that the Gardener knows exactly what He's doing. I'm more expectant than ever of 

bearing much eternal fruit. For His glory."

Lotz will continue to minister to her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Her latest 

post on Facebook is about trusting God "the Potter" during the sufferings of life.

What Dr. Dobson and Ashley Kavanaugh Are Praying for the Kavanaugh Family & America - CBN News Benjamin Gill

What Dr. Dobson and Ashley Kavanaugh Are Praying for the Kavanaugh Family & America

10-01-2018

CBN News Benjamin Gill

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Family Talk and Focus on the Family, sent a special request for prayer 

to thousands of followers last night as the nation awaits the outcome of an FBI investigation into 

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct during his high school and college days, and those 

last-minute accusations came right as the Senate was scheduled to vote on his confirmation.

The disturbing details of the accusations have led to death threats against Kavanaugh and his family, 

which in turn led to very emotional Senate testimony by the nominee and one of his accusers. 

Kavanaugh maintains his complete innocence, but now the FBI is attempting to determine the veracity 

of the claims against him.

Related

FBI's Kavanaugh Investigation Underway, Graham Calls for Probe of Ford Leak: 'Somebody Betrayed 

Her'


Officials: White House Not ‘Micromanaging’ Kavanaugh Probe


Women of Faith Find Ford Assault Testimony Deeply Disturbing: 'I'm Surprised by How Hard It Is 

to Watch'

With the nation still reeling from an emotional week, Dr. Dobson sent an email entitled, "A Prayer for 

a wounded family."

Here's what he says he and his wife Shirley Dobson are praying for:

"Shirley and I have been praying urgently for weeks about the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, and 

for his wife Ashley and their precious daughters. I'm sure millions of other Christians are doing the 

same. We're asking the Lord during the day and into the night to defeat the schemes of those who 

clearly want to destroy this great nation. I'm not accusing Dr. Ford of anything. She might remember 

the ghosts of her past, though the facts appear to contradict her description of them. But something 

else is going on here. At its core, this isn't just another political conflict. Swirling around us is a life 

and death struggle for the soul of America. It is a profound spiritual battle that touches something 

deep within me. We are left with an agonized prayer: "God, please help us."

James Dobson, Ph. D.
Family Talk & James Dobson Family Institute
Founder and President

Meanwhile, Dr. Dobson reports Ashley Kavanaugh is asking her family and friends to pray Psalm 40 

over her family and also pray it for the nation. Here's that Psalm in its entirety:

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and 

established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, 

and shall trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn 

aside to lies.

5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are 

to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they 

are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin 

offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, 

thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: 

I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth 

continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that 

I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be 

driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, 

The Lord be magnified.

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make 

no tarrying, O my God.

Psalm 40 (King James Version)

Why Evangelicals Want Trump to Pick Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court - CBN News Benjamin Gill, Ben Kennedy

Why Evangelicals Want Trump to Pick Amy Coney Barrett for 

the Supreme Court

06-29-2018

CBN News Benjamin Gill,

Ben Kennedy

The retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has conservative Christians excited about 

a huge opportunity to shift American laws on issues like religious freedom and abortion. President 

Donald Trump has noted he has a list of 25 names as possible Supreme Court candidates, but there's 

one name that pro-lifers seem to really love.

CBN's Chief Political Correspondent David Brody says evangelical circles are buzzing about 

Amy Coney Barrett.

"Many of my sources, evangelical in nature, love her. They believe that she is the one that if they 

had their dream pick that she would be the one," Brody said on the 700 ClubFriday. "Barrett has 

been very outspoken of her Catholic views and God."

Related


'The Dogma Lives Loudly': Notre Dame President Blasts Feinstein for Attacking Nominee's Faith


A Troubling Message to Those Who Want to Serve: 'Christians Need Not Apply'

Barrett is a mother of seven children and a devout Catholic. At just 46-years-old, Barrett holds 

promise for a potential decades-long term on the bench. She once clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, 

taught law at Notre Dame, and has reported conservative views about protecting religious freedom.

"If President Trump appoints a woman who embraces the properly defined role for judges, it will 

demonstrate that this approach to judging is compelled by principle and not confined by race or 

gender," said Tom Riddle, Deputy Director of the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial 

Studies and Senior Legal Fellow.

A Barrett nomination could face a very tough fight in the Senate. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) 

opposed Barrett vehemently during her Senate confirmation battle for US Court of Appeals for 

the Seventh Circuit. Feinstein even implemented a religious test, blasting Barrett for her deep 

Catholic faith, calling it "dogma."

"When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you 

and that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for years," 

Feinstein said.

Feinstein specifically referenced a 2006 graduation speech where Barrett made several references 

to God.

Barrett had told graduates, "No matter how exciting any career is, what is it really worth if you don't 

make it part of a bigger life project to know, love and serve the God who made you?"

Sen. Dick Durbin also probed into Barrett's religious beliefs during that 2017 hearing, asking, "Do 

you consider yourself an orthodox Catholic?"

Barrett did finally win approval for that Seventh Circuit post, and earned the votes of a few critical 

Democrat senators from moderate states. That could be key in her chances for Senate approval if 

she is in fact Trump's pick to replace Kennedy.

Senators Manchin (D-WV) and Donnelly (D-IN) voted to approve Barrett for the Seventh Circuit, so 

Brody reports some believe they might vote for her again.

"Look they already voted for her to be a federal appeals court judge, I understand the Supreme Court 

may be different so to speak but they are already on record voting for her," Brody said.

It turns out there are actually three Democrats facing difficult reelection races who could find it 

difficult to oppose Trump's Supreme Court pick. Manchin, Donnelly, and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of 

North Dakota. All three of them met with Trump Thursday to discuss his upcoming Supreme Court 

nominee.

"I just think you have to go through a process," Manchin said. "I want qualifications. Somebody 

that's well qualified, understands the Constitution and the rule of law."

Watch interview here: Supreme Court selection