Pro-lifers were shocked today as the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure of Breast Cancer, perhaps the world’s leading cancer-advocacy group for women, announced that it is backtracking on an earlier decision to halt funding to abortion provider Planned Parenthood.
They are going to honor current grants to Planned Parenthood and suspend future funding pending the outcome of a congressional investigation of the abortion and contraceptive provider.
The National Right to Life Committee charged in a statement that Komen is “succumbing to pressure from the mainstream media and Planned Parenthood” and noted that Planned Parenthood performs approximately 27% of the abortions done yearly in the United States.
The amount of money involved for the nation’s most prominent advocate and provider of abortions is not insignificant: Komen’s grants to Planned Parenthood in 2011 totaled $680,000 and came in at about $580,000 the previous year, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Komen’s reversal comes on the heels of three days of intense and often virulent lobbying on the part of Planned Parenthood supporters.
Komen received angry emails and postings on its Facebook page. A much-ballyhooed nationwide petition by Planned Parenthood’s largest corporate donor and a letter to Komen signed by no fewer than 26 pro-abortion members of the U.S. Senate added to the fray.
In making the announcement in a statement, Komen struck a contrite tone: “We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives.”
“We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.”
“What happened this week was nothing short of a mafia shakedown by Planned Parenthood of the Komen Foundation,” said Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, a New York and Washington, D.C.-based research association that works exclusively on international social policy. “Planned Parenthood’s message was: ‘Give us money or we will shut down your organization.’”
While the Komen announcement won the praise of Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, who called the episode a “learning opportunity,” some observers have suggested that Komen’s latest statement is something less than a complete reversal.
“If you read the statement carefully,” said Ruse, “they didn’t use the word ‘reverse.’ What they are trying to do is freeze the situation so their organization won’t be destroyed.” Ruse said that the statement makes it clear that previous promises to Planned Parenthood (never in doubt) will be honored and that Planned Parenthood is eligible to apply for future grants.
Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life, concurred that the latest Komen statement stops far short of promising future funding to Planned Parenthood. An email to the Komen Foundation requesting a comment on this had not received a reply by deadline.
“As a breast-cancer survivor,” Yoest said, “I am troubled that the Komen Foundation has come under such heavy fire for their recent decision to tighten and focus their funding guidelines.” Yoest also characterized the campaign against Komen as “a shakedown.”
“The good side of what happened this week,” Yoest said, “is that it heightened America’s awareness that Planned Parenthood does not provide breast-health screening, but refers people to front-line providers for those services. These are the people we should be supporting, not Planned Parenthood.”
Friday’s seeming reversal followed Komen’s statement on Tuesday that it recently adopted a new rule that it would deny funding to any organization under investigation. Planned Parenthood is being investigated in Congress at the request of House GOP members.
“We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political,” the new statement said. “That is what is right and fair.”
Paul Rondeau, executive director of the American Life League, marveled at the swiftness of the campaign against Komen’s defunding of Planned Parenthood. “This goes to show how a powerful political machine and pro-abortion operation can out-maneuver and overpower the [Catholic Church] in a matter of days,” Rondeau said.
Indeed, the virulence of the campaign was at times so pronounced that James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal compared it to a protection racket:
“Planned Parenthood’s bitter campaign against Komen — aided by left-liberal activists and media — is analogous to a protection racket: Nice charity you’ve got there. It’d be a shame if anything happened to it. The message to other Planned Parenthood donors is that if they don’t play nice and keep coughing up the cash, they’ll get the Komen treatment.”
“As a pro-life breast-cancer survivor,” said Elizabeth Kantor, an editor and writer in Washington, D.C., “I was really excited to learn that the Susan G. Komen Foundation would no longer support Planned Parenthood. Today, I was very disappointed to hear that the Komen Foundation seems to have bowed to pressure and reversed their decision.”
“It’s frightening and depressing that the abortion lobby has so much power,” Kantor continued. “Susan G. Komen is supposed to be about fighting breast cancer. Why should they be browbeaten into supporting an organization that does hundreds of thousands of abortions a year? Now I get to look forward to more of those awkward conversations where I have to explain to my neighbors, friends and family that, no, I can’t really be on board with their well-intentioned fundraisers [on behalf of Komen].”
Lila Rose of Live Action, who conducted undercover operations that indicated that, contrary to its pitch for funding , Planned Parenthood does indeed refer people elsewhere for mammograms, was also distressed by Komen’s apparent decision to stick with Planned Parenthood.
“I am deeply disappointed by the news that the Susan G. Komen Foundation appears to have reversed their decision on cutting funding to Planned Parenthood,” Rose said in an email.
“For years, the pro-life movement have encouraged Komen to sever all ties from Planned Parenthood, as they are the largest abortion provider in the U.S., under both federal and state investigation, and have been documented covering up child sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” Rose continued. “The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the most influential breast-cancer foundation in America and should distance themselves from an organization that cares more about abortion than women’s health and well-being.”
Rose added, “I encourage all pro-lifers to continue to stand firm against Planned Parenthood and their ruthless pro-abortion allies who have viciously attacked Komen — and anyone who may disagree with them — in recent days. We urge the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stand by their position to defund Planned Parenthood, and together we can work to promote the true health and well-being of every single woman in America, both born and unborn.”
Register correspondent Charlotte Hays writes from Washington.
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It’s all a money scam!
I so sad, not surprised but still saddened, to see my “catholic” senator Murray at the Planned Parenthood press conference. We are sure unlucky to have catholics Murray and Cantwell as senators and Gregoire as governor here in Washington State
I am so confused as to why ANY money is given to planned parenthood. What does planned parenthood have to do with breast cancer?
I find it ironic how much pull Planned Parenthood has. Cecile Richards was in Cedar Rapids, IA a few years ago, and had FBI protection. The culture of death lives on.
Deep in Hearts they KNOW as we do, that IT IS SO WRONG. LIFE IS PRECIOUS, and the little beating Hearts, ARE SO VERY PRECIOUS. My Prayer: Heavenly FATHER, change Hard-Cold-Hearts so they will BURN WITH LOVE FOR YOU and FOR YOUR CREATION. Amen.
I refuse to be as cynical as some of SGK’s detractors (one accused Ms. Brinker of using her late sister’s name to get rich!), but I notice with much chagrin that both organizations have made out on this turn of events. I’m not going to be a jerk and do a credit card reversal, but it would show integrity if they voluntarily tracked down people who both gave and wrote in supporting messages and returned their money.
Lord, Have Mercy
Christ, Have Mercy
We have to keep fighting and praying and doing all we can to stand against this evil. I will never support Komen, the three-day walk, buy Yoplait, and other products by Pepsi, etc. (also supports Komen/PP). I heard a comment yesterday on the radio that this is just as bad as the Holocaust in numbers of people killed and even though at the time, it was legal to do what Hitler did, it was murder none-the-less. That’s what PP is doing only these victims had no chance at life whatsoever. Just because it’s legal to abort babies, it is murder.
has a study ever been done on the women religious in the Catholic Church as to the amount of breast cancer rate on these women as to the rate of the women who take birth control in the world????????.........would prove that birth control causes breast cancer
we all answer to the LORD GOD JESUS CHRIST.
Pure and simple…DO NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT THE KOMEN FUND IS INVOLVED WITH. There are many organizations and businesses that do not give to the Komen Fund. Vera Bradley gives to breast cancer research directly.
I had a phone solicitor call me the other day and wanted me to contribute to breast cancer screening. I promptly told her that I do not give to organizations when I don’t know where my money is ultimately going. She hung up on me.
Planned Parenthood is concerned about the lives of women, but not the innocent unborn children. What a farce! I’m saddened that Komen didn’t stand by its original decision.
The reversal of the Komen decision has left me no other choice than to never fund or march in any Komen Breast Cancer events again. As a Catholic I can not put my effort or money into anything that is in return funding the killing of innocent children in their mother’s wombs. I am sorry but we have to take a stand where over 5.5 MILLION and counting children have lost their lives to this atrocity!
Not only individual state senators are Catholic but our Fed gov officials are selling out their faith as well. Seblius, palosi, biden. Ever wonder why so many Catholics surround this press? And women??
Also political pressure:
“The radical right has been relentless in their efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which provides essential health care services to low-income women in need, including life-saving breast cancer screenings.
When these extremists don’t succeed in getting laws changed in Congress, they resort to pressuring nonprofits such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure to stop funding Planned Parenthood. It’s all part of their single-minded mission to end free and low-cost health care and reproductive services for women.
I’ve called on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to reconsider, but in the meantime I hope you’ll join me in standing in support of Planned Parenthood.”
Kirsten Gillibrand
Pro-lifers should NOT have been “surprised” about Komen’s “backtracking” if they had read verily carefully the full statement that they put out; as it showed that they were still in bed with Hitlers/Sangers so-called “planned parenthood”. Until Komen’s people wake up & connect the dots with abortion &/or the pill and breast cancer; they will always be misguided and will not help to find the cure. I don’t know of men having abortions, but, the facts are showing that breast cancer in men is rising, why? Well, men drink beer which is made with water, which is contaminated by the residue of the pill that gets into our water supply when women expel the poison from their bodies; sometimes while they might even be swimming. Enjoy your eight glasses of water every day & it won’t matter where the water comes from, unless you are still lucky enough to have an artesian well. +JMJ+
Komnen shares in the sin of destroying the lives of Women. They can murder but never forget. 56 million mother’s lives have been destroyed by paralyzing psychological disorders (from killing their babies), and as a direct result of abortion, contracting breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, and other diseases. Hysterectomy and suicide. The fathers are suffering too. But Komen knows that their money is directed toward the slaughter of cute little, innocent, helpless, tiny human beings. Americans just like you and me, who have a Constitutional Right to Life, Liberty, and Pursuit! 56 million altogether, who would vote against the murdering Senators and Congressmen if they could. AMERICA, LET THE UNBORN USE YOUR VOTE! VOTE FOR LIFE!!!
PP probably had to take all steps necessary to rein in the situation, otherwise the Komen example would have opened the floodgates for mass defunding. Ave Maria, pray for us!
Take heart, pro-lifers! We may have lost a battle, (maybe?), but will win the war on abortion ultimately. Youth today - our future - know the truth about abortion, the evil they evaded as persons allowed to be born, even if the vitriolic, aging Unitarian-inclined grayheaded feminists have put up a hissy fit about SGK.
Planned Parenthood is a vile, stigmatized property, that smells like rotten meat left in the fridge - it will be expunged eventually, and all the liberals know it!
By the way, the Associated Press put out a typically slanted piece I saw in my local paper this morning, with misleading photos showing three happy high schoolers as ‘pro-abortion’ and a sole old lady holding an anti-abortion sign. Just more biased bigotry from the MSM, but we all see it for what it is - hogwash!
The Komen shakedown by Planned Parenthood and its thug allies illustrates why it will be virtually impossible to stop federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for PP, but the Dems will fight defunding efforts tooth and nail. They know if they don’t they will feel PP’s wrath.
Why is it that anyone who gets Federal funding must bow down to the current administration’s belief system or be degraded, and called names, and beaten down? This shows how low this current administration will go to strong arm people and force their belief system on the rest of us who were reared with morals.
I think it is time we true Conservatives got rid of these people, who profess to be such “saints” but who actually work for the devil. It is hard to believe that those people consider themselves Catholic! They certainly don’t believe in the doctrine.
Patty Murray isn’t the only “catholic” in Washington shilling for PP and abortion. They are legion. They prosper and get reelected with Catholic votes, too.
Come on, bishops. Fight. Issue a formal statement of excommunication and name names.
FIGHT. They are fighting the Church, and laughing at you.
This is ridiculous that our State Representatives got involved with this. This is not what we pay them to do. If an organization wants to support or not, is their business, not for our “representatives” to strong arm them.
I sincerely hope the Komen Organization looks again at who they are contributing money to and to what extent and how that organization “helps” women.
I am glad that this situation happened many of us did not know that this foundation was sponsor Plant Parenthood. Now anybody that will donate to them knows that that are indirectly donating to Plan Parenthood.
Dear Ms Hays, I am quite disappointed that you did not present all the facts in your article. Planned Parenthood does, indeed, provide, Abortion services – as your lead paragraph states. But, Planned Parenthood, also, provides, directly or indirectly, Contraceptive services, STD treatment, Pregnancy testing, counseling, and related services, and, Cancer related services. Abortion constitutes only 3% of the services provided by Planned Parenthood. It does us pro-Life Catholics no good if, in our writing, we concealing the facts. Concealing facts makes for good Politics, but, very bad Reporting. Well below the customary standards of this esteemed publication. Regards…..Egbert F Bhatty
It saddens me that Komen caved in to these people. Pray, my brothers and sisters, pray hard!
Komen should realize they would not be in jeopardy because all the people who support pro-life will now support them…stand up for GOD and GOD will take care of you!!
Why were pro-lifers shocked? If they had read the first statement, it showed that they were NOT getting out of bed with “pp”, just “moving” over. My only surprise is about Obama seemingly not making his usual hate speech about this, but, with Joe (foot-in-the-mouth) Biden, showing us just how “catholic” that he is (NOT), I guess, he didn’t need too. We need to stop OBAMANISM NOW. +JMJ+
Egbert - PP claims that abortion is only 3% of their ‘services’, in part because for each aborting woman, ‘services’ like the pregnancy test, ‘counseling’, other preparations are counted separate from the actual surgical or medical abortion, so… with more and more abortions, the percentage of actual ‘abortion services’ they provide always seems to go down, (as the denominator of this ratio increases more than the numerator). Very clever…
Another reason PP clings so vehemently to its abortion franchise is the huge $$ it pays its directors. The PP head of Northern New England - a guy -, (and this has to be a relatively small operation), makes about $200K. They will fight like the dickens for these profitable sinecures. Cut out all grant funding for PP, now!
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