The following statement can be attributed to Pam Fichter, President Missouri Right to Life:
Recent statements by Susan G. Komen for the Cure confuse the relationship Koman has with Planned Parenthood. Initial reports seemed to indicate that the Komen would no longer be funding Planned Parenthood. Based on those reports many pro-lifers celebrated what appeared to be a major victory. That victory is no longer clear or even certain.
The January 31st statement from Komen stated that, “the cutoff results from the charity’s newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities.” The U. S. House of Representatives is investigating Planned Parenthood to determine whether the abortion organization handles criminal conduct properly, or has mishandled federal funding to pay for abortions. Shortly after the news broke, Planned Parenthood began a shrill online campaign to bring Komen to its knees by bullying the organization into submission.
In today’s press release, Komen has confused the issue by promising that only “criminal” investigations will disqualify potential grantees, not political ones and that Planned Parenthood will remain “eligible” for future grants. In that statement Komen also said they,”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.”
At this point it is difficult to discern whether today’s statement does in fact signal a “reversal” from Komen or how it will affect the foundation’s new commitment to directly fund organizations that provide mammograms. This would exclude Planned Parenthood, which does not perform the procedure.
Planned Parenthood is not in the business of fighting breast cancer; they’re in the business of performing abortions to the tune of more than 300,000 a year, which accounts for at least one-third of Planned Parenthood’s nongovernmental clinic income. In fact, Planned Parenthood has announced that all of their affiliates will be required to perform abortions. Also, evidence suggests that elective abortions significantly increase a woman’s chances of getting breast cancer. Something Komen has never acknowledged.
Missouri Right to Life strongly urges Susan G. Komen for the Cure and all cancer research organizations to approve no future funding to Planned Parenthood, the Nation’s largest single provider of abortions.