Like so many Houstonians, my family has always supported breast cancer research and fundraising. I have also written on breast cancer and interviewed survivors. Yet is wasn't until recently that I heard about the link between Susan G. Komen and abortion provider Planned Parenthood.
For many pro-life Conservatives, the news of the link is disturbing. But it also raised questions with everyone I spoke with, regardless of political affiliation. Wondering why breast cancer funds are being diverted to Planned Parenthood, it made sense to look further into the matter starting with the Susan G. Komen website. Sure enough, a statement awaited addressing the sensitive subject. It clarifies the Komen organization's relationship with Planned Parenthood. Here it is, in its entirety.
March 2009
An open letter about Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Planned Parenthood
This year, as in the past, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is being criticized by some for funding a handful of women’s health programs run by, or with ties to, Planned Parenthood. I’m writing this letter to explain our position and to correct any misinformation you may have heard about this issue.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure exists for only one reason: to save lives and to end breast cancer forever. In the past 27 years, we’ve invested more than $1.3 billion to accomplish those goals through research and for programs that educate, screen and treat people in communities all around the world.
Early screening through mammograms and education are critical to end the suffering from this disease: 98 percent of women treated for early stage breast cancer, before it spreads, are alive five years later. The widespread use of mammography and heightened public awareness of breast cancer both contribute to these favorable statistics.
And while Komen Affiliates provide funds to pay for screening, education and treatment programs in dozens of communities, in some areas, the only place that poor, uninsured or under-insured women can receive these services are through programs run by Planned Parenthood.
These facilities serve rural women, poor women, Native American women, women of color, and the un- and under-insured. As part of our financial arrangements, we monitor our grantees twice a year to be sure they are spending the money in line with our agreements, and we are assured that Planned Parenthood uses these funds only for breast health education, screening and treatment programs.
As long as there is a need for health care for these women, we will continue to fund the facilities that meet that need.
Ethicists in the Catholic Church have also examined this issue. One year ago, two Catholic ethicists – Ron Hamel, Ph.D. and Michael Panicola, Ph.D. – examined the moral implications of our funding decision. They concluded that it was morally permissible for the church to be involved with Komen in light of its funding agreements with Planned Parenthood.
“The fact that some Komen affiliates, at times, provide funding to Planned Parenthood specifically and solely for breast health services cannot on the face of it be construed as wrongdoing,” the ethicists wrote. “The good that Komen does and the harm that would come to so many women if Komen ceased to exist or ceased to be funded would seem to be a sufficiently proportionate reason” for Catholics to support our funding decisions (emphasis added).
Another piece of misinformation being spread by many who criticize Komen for the Cure for its Planned Parenthood grants is that abortion causes breast cancer. Well conducted research consistently fails to support this claim. We agree with the bulk of scientific evidence – from the National Cancer Institute, Harvard, a rigorous study in Denmark and from Oxford University – that there is no conclusive link between breast cancer and induced abortion or miscarriage.
It is important for women to receive accurate information about risk factors for breast cancer. There are steps a woman can take to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer (for example, maintaining a healthy weight) as well as important steps every woman should take to make sure that, if she does develop breast cancer, it is detected and treated as soon as possible. A complete list of risk factors and screening recommendations can be found on our website www.komen.org.
More detailed information is on our web site at www.komen.org. We invite you to review the documents there, and we thank you again for taking time to investigate our position on this issue.
Eric Winer, M.D.
Chief Scientific Advisor
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
What do you think? Is it acceptable for the Koman organization to fund breast cancer and health screenings through Planned Parenthood? Could they have partnered with another less controversial health provider? Or do you believe that the protest and outcry against Koman is undeserved? Weigh in with your opinion!
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Comments
Are you as willing to give serious consideration to Komen's claim, that there is no link between abortion and breast cancer, as you were to publish Komen's statement defending its policy vs PP? See the link at abortionbreastcancer.com.
There are so many studies supporting ABC link....I even have book in front of me devoted to that fact and also how the Birth Control Pill is linked to Breast Cancer.....
I don't care that Susan G. Komen Foundation claims they only pay for certain things that PP does, PP kills our children and I will never associate with someone who gives them even a penny! Susan G. Komen Foundation, I do not and never will support your 'foundation.'
The sick part about this is that women who are survivors of breast cancer give their hard earned money and blood, sweat and tears into Susan G. Komen hoping they can give help and hope to other women; or people who have lost loved women in their lives due to this terrible disease may give money in rembering their loved one who passed away from breast cancer to help other women have a better chance at getting better. THAT MONEY
The sick part about this is that women who are survivors of breast cancer give their hard earned money and blood, sweat and tears into Susan G. Komen hoping they can give help and hope to other women; or people who have lost loved women in their lives due to this terrible disease may give money in rembering their loved one who passed away from breast cancer to help other women have a better chance at getting better. THAT MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER WHO NEED HELP AND RESEARCH TO HELP THEM, THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE THEIR MONEY DID NOT AUTHORIZE IT TO GO TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD WHO IS THE LARGEST COMPANY THAT MURDERS OUR HELPLESS CHILDREN. What a terrible disgrace Susan G. Komen Foundation, you don't deserve any donations if that's what you do with them.
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Hi Jim - I am not at all convinced of Komen's claim and suspect there IS a link between abortion and Breast Cancer, as previous studies have shown. I do not agree with or endorse Komen's stand on their partnership with Planned Parenthood. Thanks for the link - it is worthy of a follow up article.
Are there other providers of breast screening that do not do abortions that we could encourage Susan G. Komen to endorse rather than Planned Parenthood? Perhaps in the communities where there is great poverty they could support the local hospital to do pro bono breast screenings funded by the grants offered. Instead of pulling our money let's pull together for a positive change.
Also, why would Susan G. Komen Foundation care if there's a link or not between breast cancer and abortion if they are 'clearly not paying for abortions?' I won't support Susan G. Komen Foundation ever again!
Another view worthy of comment is the view that the refusal of many women to breast feed may be causative of breast cancer, due to the hormones released for that purpose at the proper stage of pregnancy, then not followed through on. I would be surprised if the Komen group would even know about this or care. I mentioned this to a booth they ran at a fair recently - my wife found this out researching it on the web - she breastfed our 5 children, and they seemed like they could care less. Our observatrion is that these major groups are all about:
Funding, and maintianing the PC Status quo. The 'searching for a crue' is mainly to win your support & $$$
I fully support PREVENTION measures!
That means, no abortions, no birth control, having children, breast feeding your children, diet with no obesity, and of course awareness!
Susan G. Komen should find other ways to help prevent breast cancer than to expose women to Planned Parent Hood. Any connection to Planned Parrent Hood is wrong. I stopped sending money when I learned of this connection.
Exactly right. Me too. This is exactly like the government saying the $300M (or whatever it is these days) "isn't for abortion". What a crock. That's like saying the water that I put in the pool is only for the deep end....
Thank you, David... my sentiments exactly.
See April 2009 study, titled “Risk factors for triple-negative breast cancer in women under the age of 45 years,” published in the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) medical journal “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.”
Although the funds from the Susan G Komen foundation may not go directly to fund abortions via Planned Parenthood, by providing that organization with any funding, Planned Parenthood can then be free to funnel more funds from other sources into abortion related activities.
I completely agree with this Mary...and I love the one above about the swimming pool analogy...how can anyone with good conscience give money to a company that murders our pre born babies...I haven't bought anything supporting Susan G. Komen since I read about this...I hope they feel the bump we are creating...and stop making excuses...but the excuses show me they are not in it for women's health at all.
PLannedParenthood is a vile company and I will have nothing to do with ANYONE that associates with them. I also spread the word as much as I can for others to do the same. I lost a lot of respect the Komen charity when I found out about this.
As with all issues, you must dig deeper than merely taking the word of those who benefit by us not doing so. The two "ethicists" quoted in Komen's article are from the Neiswanger Institute. Part of their mission statement includes the phrase "social justice" which I would proffer indicates a left-of-center, feel-good worldview, rather than one based upon solidly-Biblical principles - at least it does in Protestant circles.
Please check out an article by Judie Brown on the CNSnews.com website. In it, she clearly explains the intracies of what I and most of the other commenters here suspect - PP is in it for the money and Komen shouldn't find wiggle ways to get around their primary purpose. PP was started by eugenecist Margaret Sanger who referred to "negroes" as "human weeds". They still target inner cities which are largely black. Abortion is the largest cause of death among blacks. All people of good consciencence should object.
Margaret Sanger was in fact a terrible person, but I find it hypocritical that you advocate biblical principles (in a time where back people were slandered incredibly worse than Margaret Sanger's time).
I will never again give funds to the Susan Komen organization. There are many better organizations that they could have partnered with. How can an organization that promotes well-being and saving lives through curing breast cancer partner with a pro-abortion organization like Planned Parenthood. They are not even pro-choice. I have a couple of friends that were consulting with Planned Parenthood and they tried to force them to obtain abortions. When they made the choice to keep their children, Planned Parenthood would not even consult with them anymore.
I have to say I am very disappointed in Susan G Komen, and will discontinue my contributions to them as well. No matter what their intent for the funds may be...they are still going through a program that provides abortions to teenagers without parental notification, and has been known to hide information on child rape, incest, etc. so that they can do an abortion without the parental consent. This is not a program that I would want my donation to be anywhere near! There are plenty of legitimate programs out there available to provide mammograms to low income and uninsured women without going through planned parenthood.
I have to say I am very disappointed in Susan G Komen, and will discontinue my contributions to them as well. No matter what their intent for the funds may be...they are still going through a program that provides abortions to teenagers without parental notification, and has been known to hide information on child rape, incest, etc. so that they can do an abortion without the parental consent. This is not a program that I would want my donation to be anywhere near! There are plenty of legitimate programs out there available to provide mammograms to low income and uninsured women without going through planned parenthood.
"has been known to hide information on child rape, incest, etc."
This is a rumor started by pro-lifers and based off of a video that involved actors. This type of treatment has been proving to be false.
Jim, even if there is absolutely NO link between abortion and breast cancer, it is still wrong to give money to PP, even if they promise, cross-my-heart-hope-to-die, on the Holy Bible that the money will not go to abortion. Why? Because PP will have access to a lot of vulnerable women and free "advertisement" to influence how they think of abortion and who those women will refer friends to if they are "in trouble." It is better to give money where there is no question as to where it might go or who might benefit from it. Would you give your money to Playboy so they can help find a cure for people addicted to porn? That would be ridiculous!
Research the founder of Komen; Ms.Brinker and her son Eric Brinker and then STOP DONATING!
"Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest" has a 12.5 percent share in Metro Centre, a Peoria, Ill. mall. (LONG WAY FROM THE NORTHWEST?) Anyway, Eric Brinker, son of this "cancer" charity, not only sits on the board of THAT MALL but also has CONTROLLING INTEREST in its operations. In any sense of the word, that is called a TEAM! That same PP operation is also under investigation for medicaid FRAUD? Is there any "comprehensive education" needed here to see what's going on?
The Komen website admits, having a child reduces breast cancer risk 42 PERCENT!
They also confess, BIRTH CONTROL PILLS INCREASE the RISK of breast cancer up to 30 PERCENT! PP is the biggest SUPPLIER to the public (always the poor and minority) of BC pills.
NOW KOMAN has TEAMED up with the cancer creating Fast Food chain, KFC, literally, cancer cells in a bucket; now available in Pink. Just who's or WHAT side are they on?
Giving Planned Parenthood money - even if they promise to spend it only on breast cancer-related stuff- just frees up OTHER money for abortions.
The Komen Fund people probably have swamp land in Florida they could sell us too.Why can't an organization of their magnitude spend some of their money paying local hospitals to use their mammogram machines? No self-respecting organization would set foot in a baby-mutilating facility such as Planned Parenthood.Their excuse reeks!
There are other places to donate to than abortion clinics to have mammograms for the poor??? I am very disheartened; sickened, in fact and am going to get rid of anything that I currently own with the pink ribbon and Susan G. Komen symbol due to this reason alone.
Not to mention, Angie, PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOESN'T PROVIDE MAMMOGRAMS! Amazing how they try to get away with EVIL and Susan G. Komen's name is associated with this EVIL! Give women more credit than we deserve, WE AREN'T STUPID.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOESN'T PROVIDE MAMMOGRAMS!
That is just a false statement
I have always thought it was odd that Komen has such a big following from Hollywood, sports, and everything in between. It just seems odd that so many people that usually line up with the "left" of this country support this cause. Relay for life focuses it's attention to ALL cancer but does not get nearly the love the Komen gets. Just my thought...
Giving money to the largest abortion organization in the United States is wrong. Many studies do show that abortion is a contributing fact to breast cancer. Many studies show that oral contraception also contributes to breast cancer (in this case heavily). Komen's letter sets up a straw man. He says that it is better to give to PP than for Komen to cease to exist. No one is arguing that Komen should not fund breast cancer research. The prblem comes when you use charitable monies to fund a despicable organization such as Planned Parenthood. If you give money to Planned Parenthood you are supporting abortion, no matter how you "package" it. Pro-lifers need to speak out against this travesty.
Shame on you all .
Really? That's it? "Shame on you all"? Seems like they got the drop on PP and SGK and there's nothing left to say.
No one is suggesting giving money to Planned Parenthood. The issue is whether to give to Komen. PP wouldn't benefit because the money Komen provides is for the woman's screening, not for PP, and is spent by PP for the breast health medical services only. Komen does not want money siphoned off from their effort and spent on other things - it is hard enough to raise enough to fight breast cancer. As for the Catholic ethicists, their social justice movements are not like liberal Protestant movements - they are only about economic disparity but are very seriously in line with Catholic doctrine, including right to life.
No Gwen, they are NOT in line with Catholic teaching. They are part of a liberal/progressive movement inside the church whose goal is to liberalize/change Catholic teaching. (which will eventually destroy the church whether that is their goal or not--some believe it is) This is part of the strategy. Finding ways to normalize evil (Planned Parenthood) is all part of the plan.
There are much better ways to fund breast cancer research then giving to Komen...please do your homework.
"please do your homework"
. . . . said the science fiction teacher
I had no idea until I heard discussion of this on the radio in Detroit today. I will no longer be giving to Susan B. Komen. Their organization is sleazy and dishonest and I'm sure it bleeds into the use of their donations.
No I'm not in favor of funds going to PP. Once money is in a 'pot', it's simply part of a bigger pot. I also don't agree with YOUR statement there's no connection between abortion and breast cancer. There are some facts that support it and facts are facts. Cut your ties with PP. Your future support may depend on it.
I will no longer support, give money to or participate in Susan G. Komen events. I had no idea they were giving money to planned parenthood. Since when is Plannned Parenthood in the breast cancer business. Sounds like a farce and that the abortion for profit industry shares some activists who raise money for Komen and they are feeding each other. That's it - not one more dime from me.
They will n longer get a dime from me. Alhough they say that the donations to Planned Parenthood are specific - much like the federal government almost everything goes into a general fund that is used to pay salaries, overhead etc., This money therefore, helps to keep PP going so that they can kill another 350,000 unborn babies in the U.S. every year - lord only knows how high this number is worldwide.
We live in an era of death. Perhaps if life was the first answer we would become a gentler nation. The death penalty would be done away with and perhaps even wars would not be a first impulse.
They will n longer get a dime from me. Alhough they say that the donations to Planned Parenthood are specific - much like the federal government almost everything goes into a general fund that is used to pay salaries, overhead etc., This money therefore, helps to keep PP going so that they can kill another 350,000 unborn babies in the U.S. every year - lord only knows how high this number is worldwide.
We live in an era of death. Perhaps if life was the first answer we would become a gentler nation. The death penalty would be done away with and perhaps even wars would not be a first impulse.
what komen says it perfectly valid.
All you backwards christians are using some messed up reverse logic.
Your argument is completely irrational.
It's like saying that anybody who drives a car supports terrorism.
The fact that the Komen foundation supports a place where women can get cheap breast examinations has nothing to do with the fact that the place also provides abortion.
Hospitals provide abortions. does that mean we shouldn't support hospitals?
The Komen foundation is trying to save women from breast cancer, by any means possible. why is there a problem with that? By your logic, you are in favor of women having breast cancer. think about it.
Oh are you serious. A car=terrorism? And why assume because someone is against murder that it must be because they're Christian. Are non-christians allowed to think murder is wrong? Oh and NO, I will not even support a HOSPITAL that murders babies. So by your logic: only Christians think murder is wrong. And terrorism is connected to cars? HMM are you 12 or just ignorant? It makes complete sense to think that donating money to an organization that in turn gives my donation to an abortion clinic means that my money is going to that abortion clinic. If that clinic has less money spend on breast exams from my given donation then they have more money to spend on abortions. Did I spell it out good enough for you or are you just stuck on the fact that I support terrorism?? Because I drive?
You were very rude to him/ her. Whoever it was was making a very vaild point with the analogy involving purchasing gasoline in the U.S. and funding terrorist nations. Also, they have a very vaild point. If you donate to teh Komen foundation, you are in fact, helping breast cancer research. Is this a true statement?
Are you kidding me? Women don't need to go to PP for breast exams we examine our own breast & then we get yearly exams and mg's from our Dr.s for those of us that are over 40. There is no reason for anyone to go to PP for exams since they DO NOT provide mg's if the need arrises. So what is the money REALLY going for? For those that cannot afford to go to the Dr. there are other organizations that will provide those in need with mg's. I would much rather donate my money to organizations that really do help!
You are right that some hospitals provide abortions but I know that, being pro-life, I wouldn't donate to those hospitals either. If someone feels strongly enough about a cause they shouldn't be wishy-washy about it.
I am very in favor of donating money to the many other cancer research funds out there that do NOT have ties to controversial organizations.
Never knew there were so many MD's giving their opinions on a cancer abortion link, My statistical observation is that all persons who are dealing with cancer have eaten bananas. The other thing is the not only does there seem to be a lot of MD's posting but they seem to be self righteous.
As for the Susan G. Komen foundation I prefer to read their IRS990. Seems to me they are primarily a lobby group to get more tax money to support breast cancer research.
There will always be a good reason to give, and a reason not to give.........just depending on what "you" want to believe. SGK is for a good cause that helps the "Cure" for many of you that may be affected by this some day............regardless of color!! If they choose to find a way for "all " to benefit from this cause then be sure you know where the funding came from before you accept treatment if this terrible issue lands on your plate one day!!
It's for the good.................unless you prove without a doubt it was meant for other selfish motives...................remember there are facts...............Pro & Con.............why believe one over the other unless its "you" with the findings.
Fortunately, there are other organizations that support breast cancer research other than SGK, which people can support. It is valid to point out that the money SGK provides to PP frees more funds for Planned Parenthood to focus on the "abortion business" - it's amazing to look at the profit the "not-for-profit" Planned Parenthood turns each year off of what it makes from abortions. Susan G. Komen could use the funds that are provided to Planned Parenthood to support research and/or use other venues to educate and serve underprivileged women.
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