Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood: Pro-Life People Should be Warned

Life News ^ | 5/24/10 | Hannah Carter

[wagglebee]

LifeNews.com Note: Hannah Carter is the director of education for Georgia Right to Life, a statewide pro-life group. This opinion column originally appeared on the GRTL blog web site.

Like many families, my grandmother and great-grandmother both had breast cancer. The issue of wanting to fight what harms your family or friends is noble. So when I tell people that I do not support Susan G. Komen an organization that exists to “fight breast cancer”, I normally get the look of one: why would you abandon your family or two: oh there goes one of those extremist.

However, my reasons are not that extreme, but rather principled.

I'm sure many of you reading this article have also been confronted with the issue of if I ‘m pro-life then how can I support an organization that supports the nation’s leading abortion provider. Hopefully, the following principles can shed some light on how to respond sympathetically, yet firm with why you cannot wear pink, or join the race, or all the various ways that Susan G. Komen is supported.

Principle # 1 Don't give to organizations that promote the shedding of innocent blood.

If this were a list of commandments, we could start with Thou Shall Not Kill. However, Proverbs 6:17 states that one of the seven things God hates are hands that shed innocent blood.

Unfortunately, Susan G. Komen has given over $3 million dollars between 2003 and 2008 to Planned Parenthood which is the nation’s leading abortion provider.

While Susan G. Komen makes claims that these grants go for breast exams, once the funds go to Planned Parenthood they are fungible. For example, you can throw two twenty dollar bills into a purse one from a friend and one from your own account, but when you go to pay the light bill you use both.

The same is true with Planned Parenthood’s money it receives from Komen. Whenever someone applies for a grant they can say that while this $5,000 is going to breast cancer research, 20 percent of that money is going to pay for administrative costs like keeping the lights on and paying rent. So in essence, the money that people are raising to fight breast cancer is also going to keep the lights on at Planned Parenthood.

According to the 2008 Annual Report from Planned Parenthood, breast cancer services decreased by 4% and abortion procedures increased by 6%. In 2008, Susan G. Komen gave $731,000 to Planned Parenthood.

Principle # 2 Know and Recognize the Risk Factors for the Disease You are Trying to Prevent.

There are certain risks that can increase an individual’s chance of getting breast cancer. While Susan G. Komen says that they believe in knowing your risk factors, they have repeatedly denied the link between breast cancer and one of the greatest avoidable risk factors, abortion.

According to Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, “29 out of 38 worldwide epidemiological studies show an increased risk of breast cancer of approximately 30% among women who have had an abortion.”

When a woman has an abortion she interrupts the natural process of estrogen production and breast development. When a woman first becomes pregnant her body produces a Type 1 carcinogen, cancer causing agent, estrogen in order to nourish and provide for the baby. If the mother has her child, her body stops producing as much estrogen and her breasts mature. However, if that process is interrupted, the estrogen production continues and her breasts stay in an immature state, making them more susceptible to breast cancer.

Groups like Susan G. Komen acknowledge that the level of exposure to estrogen throughout a woman’s lifetime is one of the greatest predictors for breast cancer. Sadly, they do not acknowledge that the increased exposure to estrogen after an abortion could increase risks of breast cancer as well. For an organization whose primary goal is “to have a world without breast cancer”, you would think they would try to let women know of all the risk factors for breast cancer, especially those that are preventable like abortion.

Recently, in an article by Jill Stanek, pro-life author and blogger, asked a very thought-provoking question, “Is it really “morally permissible” to cause breast cancer in one room if screening for it in the next?”

Stanek also noted in her article that recently that the ties between Planned Parenthood and Susan G. Komen are running deeper and deeper. See an excerpt below from Stanek’s article:

Three days ago a diligent pro-lifer in Washington state discovered on Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest’s IRS 990 forms that it has held a 12.5 percent share in Metro Centre, a mall in Peoria, Ill., since 2006. PPGNW is Washington’s largest abortion provider. (It is also currently under investigation for Medicaid fraud.) Metro Centre is owned by Eric Brinker. Eric Brinker is the son of Nancy Goodman Brinker, the founder of SGK.

Eric also sits on SGK’s board. Eric was a stand-up guy and responded to most of my initial questions. He explained in an e-mail, “This share represents a minority, non-operating interest in the business which they inherited from one of the original shareholders, a resident of Peoria. I, Eric Brinker, have controlling interest in Metro Centre.” But when I pursued follow-up questions, Eric wrote he was no longer available. So there is much still unanswered. Why didn't PPGNW cash in its inheritance? Why didn't Eric buy? If the share was willed, it was worth something. The real-estate market was thriving in 2006. It appears both partners are OK with this now four-year-old business partnership.

In essence, Planned Parenthood and Susan G. Komen’s nephew own a mall together.

The bottom line is that Susan G. Komen is not accomplishing its mission every time it gives to Planned Parenthood.

Every time a woman has an abortion and part of the money to fund that center staying open came from Komen, they are putting women at a greater risk for breast cancer.

Every organization no matter how noble the cause they claim to represent seems to be needs to be held accountable.

The question is will you?

To continue your search for the ties between Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood, please visit:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Awards 72 Grants to Planned Parenthood

Komen Giving to Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Down as Donations Drop

Planned Parenthood Deepens Link to Breast Cancer Group

Susan G. Komen’s List of Grants to Planned Parenthood

Studies about the Link between Abortion and Breast Cancer

Report: Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood: A Visible Link

[GovernmentShrinker]

These people also love to claim that the rise in overall breast cancer rates since Roe v. Wade is further evidence that “abortion causes breast cancer”. If so, then a lot of men must have figured out how to get abortions to, since the rate of breast cancer in men has substantially increased over the same period.

[wagglebee]

IMO you and your cohorts have an attraction to gossip and innuendo.

The Komen site is easily accessible. Not saying they will answer but if you don't post the question they never will.

However, IMO you don't really want them to answer, you'd prefer to smear them by implication.

Actually, we HAVE NOT smeared them by implication.

We have posted FACTS that you dismiss and unimportant.

Your ENTIRE focus on this thread has been to defend Planned Parenthood and the Komen Foundation in spite of the facts.

It is an old and time tested technique that has worked for the dishonest Liberals for years.

Exactly, you've bought their lies and repeated them like their quislings always have.

[trisham]

Exactly.

[Eagle Eye]

Komen is raising MILLIONS of dollars to “fight” breast cancer, why are they giving that to a group that promotes activities that CAUSE breast cancer?

Per Komen, they grant about 1% of their funds to some Planned Parenthood clinics for breast cancer screening, education, and treatment. Their grants are made based on proposals that show detailed scopes of work and Komen checks bi annually to ensure that all of their funds are used as intended and not to finance abortion.

Where is the line? It is where ever the Komen haters say it is.

You see, it is ok to say anything you want against Komen without supplying any evidence, let alone documented evidence to contradict their published statements.

A population study based on the California Cancer Registry found that women who were diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer were likely to be under the age of 40, Black or Hispanic, and were living at a low socioeconomic status. Their cancers were more aggressive than estrogen-receptor positive tumors, and were diagnosed at a later stage of the disease. In the five years after treatment, risk of recurrence was high.

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/types/p/tripleneg_bc.htm

Interesting....isn't that a striking similarity to the demographics that Komen claims to serve by grants to certain PP clinics?

Perhaps, just perhaps Komen believes that abortion increases the risk of cancer and tries to get right at the source?

That would make sense to me...as would cirhossis treatment people co locating with a bar...doesn't mean they condone drinking but that they recognize the source and try to target those at risk.

[Eagle Eye]

Your ENTIRE focus on this thread has been to defend Planned Parenthood and the Komen Foundation in spite of the facts.

Wow...first, where have I ever defend planned parenthood?

Second, I think people should be encouraged to read more than just anti-anything propaganda.

It seems that the only thing worse that catching a liar is openly exposing one.

Have you YET read Komen's statements?

How would you like it if someone spread rumors about you and none of the subsequent spreaders of those rumors had the decency and courage to talk to you about it?

That is exactly what you and your harpies are doing; you are spreading rumors and gossiping without even looking for truth.

Very Christian of you.

[rollo tomasi]

“Please provide some documentation for that.”

Was this line supposed to be a joke considering not only the original article info, but other DOCUMENTED contributions to PP as well.

An extreme case of bias clouds your abilities to see the “trees” apparently. Or you are ignorant of what Planned Parenthood practices and which The Komen Foundation endorsed by giving to the organization.

[wagglebee]

Wow...first, where have I ever defend planned parenthood?

Throughout this thread.

Second, I think people should be encouraged to read more than just anti-anything propaganda.

I'm sure you do.

It seems that the only thing worse that catching a liar is openly exposing one.

Thanks, I'll keep exposing Big Murder and their cohorts at Komen.

Have you YET read Komen's statements?

Yes, they give Big Murder money to screen for breast cancer. What you seem to ignore is that anytime a group is given money a portion of it goes to their overhead.

How would you like it if someone spread rumors about you and none of the subsequent spreaders of those rumors had the decency and courage to talk to you about it?

What rumors? I am discussing FACTS, you are the one trying to say that Komen and Big Murder are harmless.

That is exactly what you and your harpies are doing; you are spreading rumors and gossiping without even looking for truth.

I've posted dozens of links that establish a link between breast cancer and abortion.

You've posted a couple links:

In one Komen essentially says, Big Murder promised they wouldn't use any of this money to kill babies.

Another link of yours was from a seven year old study that the LEAD RESEARCHER NOW REFUTES.

[rollo tomasi]

“You mean like when my step children's father claims he is paying for my cigars when he pays child support?”

A statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said.

Hmm, go to court if you feel the child support is being abused and misused by WANTON devious intentions that are announced through the public square by the offending party.

Until then, the Komen Foundation supports abortion through thought as well as deed without hesitation what so ever. Komen herself was an adviser so, let us shift some funds to her cronies at Planned Parenthood. Lovely Foundation that sponsors an organization that murders, no matter how you protest, it is what it (Already documented) is.

[jaydubya2]

Metmom;All

My work sponsers the American Cancer Society Relay for life and is looking for walkers and sponsers. Do you know if the ACS is donating to PP?

[metmom]

Hey Wags...I’m really surprised at your statement about women over 40 not going to PP...they offer a huge range of services including flu vaccinations, cholesterol screenings, thyroid checks and all kinds of other stuff...PP is not just an abortion mill, it’s a one-stop for a bunch of services unrelated to abortion or “Reproductive services”...magritte

What a joke. Any doctor's office can provide those services as well WITHOUT slaughtering the unborn.

[metmom]

I have no clue. I never looked into it.

[wagglebee]

And I’m still waiting for the name of a single American community where the ONLY place that women can go for a mammogram is Planned Parenthood.

I have never disputed that it makes sense for Komen and other groups to provide breast cancer screening for poor women, what I do dispute is the notion that Planned Parenthood is the place to do it.

NOBODY seems to disagree with my assertion that the overwhelming majority of women who use Planned Parenthood are under the age of thirty. And the ONLY recommended breast cancer screening for these women are manual exams and they DON’T COST ANYTHING.

[trisham]

“The new LDI boycott list also include a first-time section for nonprofit groups that have established relationships with Planned Parenthood and sometimes make direct financial contributions to it.

The list includes The American Cancer Society, Camp Fire, The Dr. Phil Foundation, Girls Inc., Kiwanis Clubs, Girl Scouts, Rotary Clubs, the March of Dimes, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the YWCA.”

http://www.lifenews.com/nat2378.html

[jaydubya2]

Thank you both!

[metmom]

Details, details.....

Can’t let details get in the way of an agenda.....

[metmom]

I’m still waiting for someone to tell me why Komen doesn’t just donate funds to breast screening centers, which tend to have the latest in high tech equipment and trained personnel.

There’s no reason poor women can’t go to one of them. Any poor woman who can get to the local slaughterhouse, is certainly capable of getting to a hospital or breast screening center; you know, places that specialize in detecting breast cancer instead of causing it.

[rollo tomasi]

Sorry, my mistake, “Komen herself was an adviser so...” Komen’s sister was an adviser so...

[wagglebee]

Do you REALLY want the answer to that one?

[wagglebee]

As best I can tell, Komen wants to make people think that breast cancer exists because Americans don’t care enough, but they don’t want to actually tell women things they can avoid based on risk.

[metmom]

As best I can tell, Komen wants to make people think that breast cancer exists because Americans don’t care enough, but they don’t want to actually tell women things they can avoid based on risk.

Typical money grubbing mantra.

If only you CARED more, this wouldn't be a problem. (and you'd be donating more money to our pet cause)