Komen Bows to Abortion Industry

by LTC Carolyn Abell, US Army Retired

In a recent opinion column published in select media, Amy Gesenhues told why she supports the Susan G Komen foundation's contributions to Planned Parenthood. I felt compelled to write a rebuttal, since I and many people I know are staunchly pro-life.

We've all seen those pink ribbons-- the symbol of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, an organization whose charter declares it is "dedicated to the fight against breast cancer around the world."  Almost every one of us knows at least one person, perhaps a close relative or dear friend, who has suffered from breast cancer. Some survived it; others didn't.

In 1982 Nancy Brinker started the charitable foundation, naming it for her sister, Susan Komen, who died from breast cancer. During its thirty years of existence, the charity has, through various fund-raising events and benevolent contributions, raised enough to put $1.9 billion toward its stated mission.

Until recently I had not even thought about challenging the worthiness of this organization, which has earned a sterling reputation as a charity. I've contributed to it myself. Even if I didn't have relatives and friends who have suffered breast cancer, finding a cure would still be a worthwhile cause, in my opinion.

Most of us probably didn't know that funds from the charity were being channeled to Planned Parenthood (PP), an organization dedicated to the principle that  "reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and preserve the individual's right to privacy." Translated, this means they believe every pregnant female, no matter how young, should be entitled to abort an unplanned or unwanted baby. In fact, Planned Parenthood has vigorously campaigned for  the "rights" of young girls of any age to make a decision about abortion without their parents' knowledge or consent.

They operate on the premise that moral values and religious beliefs based on clear-cut Biblical teachings, are  hopelessly old-fashioned and irrelevant. An unborn baby's life is considered totally expendable.

For Christians who regard the Bible as still relevant and true, we base our pro-life beliefs on passages such as the 49th chapter of Isaiah, in which the writer repeatedly makes reference to God's forming him from the womb for a purpose. Similarly, David declared in Psalm 139 that God had "covered me in my mother's womb...I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  Jeremiah expressed the same truth in Jeremiah 1:5.

Many other scriptures speak to the sacredness, protection, and purpose of the unborn. Nowhere in the Bible is there even a hint that God gave women a choice about giving birth, and certainly no indication that a mother's life is more valuable than an infant's life. The idea that a baby is not considered a human being until birth is ludicrous, in light of irrefutable evidence of life in the womb.

Excuses made in support of Komen's channeling funds to Planned Parenthood include the argument that Planned Parenthood also covers breast exams for women. But, as Gesenhues admits, "some of the services they offer are in conflict with pro-life organizations."

The fact is that both charities -- Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood -- are registered as non-profit organizations and funded largely by donations. Yet Planned Parenthood apparently receives so little support from private donators, that they have appealed for, and received, funding from the federal government.

Yes, your taxes and mine have been used to support an organization that provides abortion. In fact, Planned Parenthood's Summary of Financial Activities within their 2008-2009 Annual Report indicates that they received over $363 million dollars in federal funding in the form of grants and contracts. Although this report did not cite the number of abortions performed, the 2006-2007 proudly proclaimed that more than one million abortions were performed during that period.

Private contributions for the organization were only $209 million, much less the amount received from the government.. This would seem to indicate that the majority of the population does not condone Planned Parenthood's mission, and the only way they can continue it is by lobbying for public funding and bullying other charities like Susan G. Komen for grants.

In light of the recent controversy over Komen's decision to withdraw support from Planned Parenthood, and the subsequent reversal of that decision after the howling and wailing of Planned Parenthood advocates, Georgia's own Karen Handel, who served as a senior official within the Komen foundation, has resigned. It's too bad more people don't have the courage to stand by their moral convictions.

I predict that in the future, many would-be contributors to the Susan G. Komen fund will decide to place their donations elsewhere. I know I won't be contributing any longer.

Copyright 2012 Carolyn Abell