Support of Susan G. Komen Foundation can be a scandal because of abortion ties

"... the Foundation allows its affiliates to offer financial support to abortion providing facilities, publicly denies studies showing abortion as a contributing cause of breast cancer, and endorses embryonic stem cell research. Therefore, parishes should not participate in activities that benefit Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure."

Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Statement

Below is a statement from the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, along with a “Frequently Asked Questions” statement.

Please feel free to share with those who are interested in or concerned about the Race for the Cure activities.

Archdiocese of Baltimore| Position Statement on Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Issued January 7, 2011.

The Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore acknowledges the beneficial work of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the area of breast cancer detection, prevention, research and treatment. Due to its policy allowing affiliates to offer financial support to abortion providing facilities, its public denial of studies showing abortion as a contributing cause of breast cancer, and its endorsement of embryonic stem cell research, the Respect Life Office neither supports nor encourages participation in activities that benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This position is based on the following facts:

1) Public records indicate that Susan G. Komen for the Cure (“Komen”) affiliates (as of 2010 Maryland is not among them) provided grants to local Planned Parenthood chapters for breast health care services.1 Money donated to Planned Parenthood for a specific service, i.e. breast health care, directly frees up funds to support other areas of the organization’s operation, i.e. contraception and sterilization services, “safe” sex education and abortion. In addition, Komen’s website states: “A minimum of 25 percent of the net proceeds from any Komen Affiliate event directly supports Komen’s (national) Research Grants and Awards Program. Any not-for-profit organization may apply for a grant from Komen.” In 2007 Komen-Maryland sent 50% of the funds raised here ($2.6 million) to the national office.
Though Komen’s grants were for breast health care services, Planned Parenthood (the largest single abortion provider in the country) stated in its 2007-2008 annual report that 31,729 fewer breast exams and 15,560 more abortions were provided in 2007 than in 2006.2

2) The Komen website dismisses the link between procured abortion and increased risk of breast cancer.3 However, multiple studies indicate otherwise. Recent studies include those of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center4, Joel Brind, Ph.D., a professor of Endocrinology and founder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute5, and the work of Dr. Janet Daling, a leading cancer epidemiologist. Daling, a pro-choice advocate, said, “I would have loved to have found no association between breast cancer and abortion, but our research is rock solid, and our data is accurate. It’s not a matter of believing, it’s a matter of what is.”6 As part of a comprehensive search for a cure, we encourage Komen to either fund further studies on the link between breast cancer and abortion, or avoid prematurely denying any possibility of a connection.

3) Komen endorses embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of embryonic human life, stating that, “embryonic stem cells are currently considered to have the most potential for use in the regeneration of diseased or injured tissues” for cancer stem cell research.7 The destruction of human life at any stage of development is never morally acceptable. As of this writing, embryonic stem cell research, unlike adult stem cell research which has a proven record of cures and treatments, has yet to be effective in treating a single disease.

The Respect Life Office encourages you to contact Susan G. Komen for the Cure (5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250 ▪ Dallas, TX 75244) and urge the organization to end to all associations between Komen (and its affiliates) and Planned Parenthood, to support further studies of the link between breast cancer and abortion, and to end the endorsement of research that leads to the destruction of any human life.

The patients and families who are victims of this terrible illness remain in our prayers, and we encourage all to continue supporting all those who are suffering or in spiritual, physical or financial need. As of this publication date, we believe the following organizations support morally licit breast cancer research and prevention, however, as with all charitable contributions, we encourage you to obtain the most current information possible before offering your support.

The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute 30 Rehill Avenue, Suite 3400 Somerville, NJ 08876 USA 1-86-NO CANCER (1-866-622-6237) www.bcpinstitute.org

Coalition on Abortion / Breast Cancer P.O. Box 957133 Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-3051 1-877-803-0102 www.abortionbreastcancer.com

1 Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Research and Grants. Retrieved June 3, 2010 from http://ww5.komen.org/GrantDescription.aspx?CID=29029, and
http://ww5.komen.org/FindAGrantResults.aspx?location=&keywords=planned.