Pink ribbon campaign

They’re everywhere, you can’t help but notice. The pink ribbons are so ubiquitous, the campaign to cure breast cancer now so successfully marketed that even pink bats in Major League Baseball and pink ball caps or other uniform markings in the National Football League are enough to cue the viewer that they’re promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That’s outstanding.

But most Americans aren’t aware of the connection that still exists between the Susan B. Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood. I’ve chased that rumor down in the past, and it was difficult to find conclusive details. All parties publicly denied that Komen gives funding to PP, which really would seem like an odd relationship. And one that contributors would want to know about. But it’s surfaced again, and Pro-Life Wisconsin is out with some facts we should know.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Pro-life citizens who are interested in fighting this deadly disease should be aware that Susan G. Komen for the Cure has a policy of explicitly allowing its state affiliates to give monetary grants to abortion-providing facilities…

“Not all state affiliates give grants to Planned Parenthood using the 75 percent of the funds that they raise in a state. However, each state affiliate must forward at least 25 percent of funds raised in their state to the Komen National office. These funds are under the discretion of a board that refuses to disassociate itself from Planned Parenthood…”

In March 2009, the Komen Foundation issued a letter about their relationship with Planned Parenthood, explaining their position and addressing concerns. They sound reasonable and comprehensive in representing their mission and their coverage. They claim that in some of the poorer areas, women can only obtain screening services through Planned Parenthood clinics, and state that they’ve been “assured that Planned Parenthood uses these funds only for breast health education, screening and treatment programs.” Supporters are asked to accept that assurance by Planned Parenthood.

But the letter raises a red flag for me when it addresses criticism that Komen for the Cure’s grants to Planned Parenthood are inappropriate because of the abortion-breast cancer link, the claim that women who have had abortions have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Komen refutes the claim as unsupported and contends there’s “no conclusive link between breast cancer and induced abortion…”

Not true. They have selectively ignored this evidence for years. In spite of the great work some organizations are doing on behalf of women’s health and well-being, the politics of the abortion movement still invade it on a fundamental level, and they don’t belong there.

Support breast cancer prevention of the soundest foundation for the whole health and dignity of women.