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

[metmom]

Thanks. You put that better than I did.

[metmom]

What’s disingenuous is to act as if PP is the only place that women are going to go for breast cancer screening and that the Komen Foundation doesn’t have any alternatives for breast cancer screening.

There are tons of other options.

[metmom]

Komen sees a legitimate need for their services but people like you would make that impossible if you could have your way.

The Komen Foundation can donate directly to breast cancer screening centers that are not connected to PP but are rather connected to local hospitals. What with all the publicity out there about breast cancer, women can go for screening all on their own. They don't need to be babied or coddled as if they can't think for themselves, or take action by themselves.

[metmom]

Another thread another breast cancer cheerleader flushed out.

Nope, I'm anti-abortion. Abortion increases the risk of breast cancer.

I notice that you never answered the questions about your connection to the Komen Foundation or your position on abortion.

We can take those as a yes, and a yes.

Anyone who is pro-abortion is pro-breast cancer.

[Eagle Eye]

They don't need to be babied or coddled as if they can't think for themselves, or take action by themselves.

LOL so much for compassion. Let them eat cake, too, while they're at it?

Yeah, if they're so stupid as to get knocked up they don't deserve to have any other screening or medical advice, do they?

Screw'em, right? After all, someone else already did.

[Eagle Eye]

We can take those as a yes, and a yes.

Ass-umtions.

Wow...why discuss the issue when you can make attacks on the messenger?

Y'all got the Clinton Method/Chicago Way down pat!

[verga]

Komen says one thing and you say their statements are false yet you offer no proof of your theories.

I noticed taht you have yet to address my point from post #21 about PP killing children. How do you and komen rationalize giveing money to a group whose main business is KILLING children

BTW I did mention a time or two that PP KILLS children, because I would hate you to miss the main point which is that PP KILLS children?

YOU dod think that killing children is a bad thing right?

[Eagle Eye]

Do you also hate Salvation Army because they feed and shelter some addicts who's addictions help fuel the illegal drug trade and the violence that comes with it?

Does donating to the Salvation Army make one pro drug addiction or pro drug death?

[verga]

Y'all got the Clinton Method/Chicago Way down pat!

That would be you that has the Chicago way down pat, lie, dodge, and ignore. You have been asked three times by me and at least twice by metmom, about PP killing children, and you are tone attacking the messenger.

Do you support abortion, Yes or no?

How do you rationalize supporting Komen that would rather screen for BC than prevent it.

How do you rationalize Komen giving money to a group that makes the majority of its money from KILLING children?

[Eagle Eye]

I don’t owe you or anyone any explanation so stuff it.

I’m pointing out that the claims of this poster are fully rebutted by the published statements of the Komen Foundation.

My position on abortion is really irrelevant to the matter and your aspersions on me and my motives shed more light on your character than they ever could on mine.

No evidence yet to debunk Komen’s claims. And somehow I’m the bad guy here?

I think Godwin’s Law applies, or will soon.

[verga]

We’ll put this one as a win for me and seeing as you refuse to answer a direct question, and we will double the points since youa re the one that brought up Goddwin’s law, you must be the one considering it.
<>P>And seeing as you made the “stuff it” comment I will bet that you also voted for your buddy the equally thin skinned Obozo

[Eagle Eye]

That would be you that has the Chicago way down pat, lie, dodge, and ignore.

LOL...oky doky!

Tossing a tantrum because I don't bend over for you?

Are Komen's published statements lies or not? And if you say they are, what is your evidence?

Just for giggles, how would you deal with a DU'er who insisted the Jim Robinson misused FR donations and would remain insistent on that regardless of all the facts and published statements?

That DU'er has his mind made up and no amount of published statements, facts, or such will change his mind.

There's your mirror.

[Eagle Eye]

LOL...I hope you don’t plan to make money with your deductive reasoning, intuition, judgments, or ability to place wagers.

[metmom]

Wow...why discuss the issue when you can make attacks on the messenger?

You tell us since you're so proficient at it.

[metmom]

EE is also ignoring the fact that the Komen foundation is not interested in PREVENTING breast cancer. Instead, they deliberately donate to an organization that actually CONTRIBUTES to the increase in breast cancer through both prescribing the pill and performing abortions. Talk about being a breast cancer cheerleader. How hypocritical of the Komen Foundation. It makes you wonder just what their vested interest is and what the payback is from PP.

Nor has he addressed the issue that PP is by far NOT the only place that women can go for breast cancer screening. There are local hospitals available and breast cancer screening clinics which ONLY screen for breast cancer, which, BTW, are more numerous than the number of PP clinics in most communities. Komen could donate to them easily enough and make breast cancer screening even more widely available than by using PP.

Oh, and did anyone mention to EE that PP kills babies?

[metmom]

LOL so much for compassion. Let them eat cake, too, while they're at it? Yeah, if they're so stupid as to get knocked up they don't deserve to have any other screening or medical advice, do they?

They manage to get to PP all on their own, don't they? Or does someone from PP come knocking at their door and hold their hand and escort them to the local slaughterhouse PP clinic?

[Coleus]

abclink
angelalanfranchi
komen

Breast Cancer Walkers Uninformed about Abortion Link, Komen Foundation gives to Planned Parenthood

 

The single most avoidable risk factor for breast cancer is... ...elective abortion.

[SuziQ]

I haven't given money to the March of Dimes for over 30 years, since I learned that they push amniocentesis as a means of discovering birth defects. Since many of the women whose babies 'show' birth defects end up aborting them, I always consider amnios for these reasons a 'search and destroy' mission. So I don't give MOD my money.

Same with SGK. If the money is going to Planned Parenthood for 'cancer screening', that just means that frees up other money that would have been for cancer screening for their abortion business, which is the more lucrative part of their operation, anyway. Also,I figure with all the money SGK spends on advertising, not that much is going to actual research anyway.

[SuziQ]

Mammograms aren't started until a woman is 40, and women over 40 ARE NOT typically going to Planned Parenthood.

Good point!

[wagglebee]

The fact that you are crusading to cut funds from breast cancer screening outreach programs make you pro breast cancer.

Your asinine statements abound on this thread, but for the sake of simplicity, I will cover them here.

How, and please be specific, is anyone trying to cut funding for breast cancer screening?

Are you under the impression that Planned Parenthood is the ONLY organization that the Komen Foundation can give money to?

Can you even explain why Planned Parenthood is the BEST organization for Komen to give money to? As I have repeatedly pointed out (a point that you have IGNORED), the main expense of breast cancer screening is for mammograms. Mammograms ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR WOMEN UNDER 40 and simple logic should indicate that the vast majority of woman going to Planned Parenthood are WELL UNDER 40. So, I think it is reasonable to say that the Komen Foundation is harming women by not appropriating funds where they will do the most good. There are plenty of clinics that DO treat women over the age of 40, why not send money there?

Another FACT that you have systematically IGNORED is that the two main facets of Planned Parenthood's business (abortion and birth control pills) both INCREASE the risk of breast cancer. Komen is HARMING WOMEN by failing to address this (in fact they deny it). Is Komen crusading to end breast cancer or are they just raising money to screen for it.

Additionally, and this is probably either out of ignorance or obstinacy, you fail to grasp the reality that ANY MONEY Planned Parenthood receives helps them cover overhead and allows them to keep the cost of abortions down.

Breast cancer kills about 40,000 Americans a year, abortion kills about 25,000 Americans a WEEK. Everyone hopes that one day soon all of the breast cancer deaths can be prevented, all of the abortion deaths can be prevented RIGHT NOW.

Several times on this thread you have stated that abortion clinic bombers probably don't consider people like me pro-life enough. But, yet again, you are wrong. They don't consider me anti-abortion enough. There is a difference between people who are pro-life and people who are simply anti-abortion. The pro-life movement DOES NOT believe in killing innocent people, the fringe of the anti-abortion movement has no problem with killing anyone.