The Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Planned Parenthood Connection
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, now Susan G. Komen for the Cure, was launched by Nancy Goodman Brinker in response to a promise she made her dying sister, Susan Goodman Komen, to do everything she could to eradicate breast cancer. Her sister died in 1980 at the age of 36.
Every October (breast cancer awareness month) becomes the push for donations to Susan G. Komen. Last October I wanted to buy some China on sale at a local department store and unless I gave $1.00 to Komen for every discount coupon (I needed five), I couldn’t get the sale price. It reminded me of the corporate offices I’d worked for that had pushed for 100% participation in United Way donations. The upper management would actually harass you to give and wanted deductions from your paychecks! I would give one penny, that way they could say they got 100% donations, but it still irritated me. We all have a right to choose to refuse!
The reason I won’t give to Susan G. Komen is simple. For years pro-lifers like me have opposed contributing to SGK because it not only denies that induced abortions may cause breast cancer, it also bestows financial grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates allegedly for breast cancer screening. Planned Parenthood claims their community grants are restricted and closely monitored to provide vital breast health education, screening and treatment services for underserved women. But for every dollar Komen donates to Planned Parenthood, another dollar from another source is freed up to promote and perform abortion. Since the Susan G. Komen Foundation began giving grants to Planned Parenthood, purportedly for breast health services, the number of women receiving breast health services from Planned Parenthood has decreased. According to Planned Parenthood’s 2003-2004 Annual Report, abortions increased by 14,000 in 2002-2003, which breast exams decreased by more than 141,000. We have now reached the ungodly number of over 53 million aborted babies. How can we expect God to bless our nation when we kill the innocents in the womb and the elderly in their sick beds?
Between 2004 and 2009, SGK affiliates gave $3.3 million to Planned Parenthood. In Fiscal Year 2009 alone, Planned Parenthood got $731,303 from SGK. It really doesn’t matter the amount inasmuch as anyone that believes in choosing life as God’s Word states, (Deut.30:19) and are trying to save people with a disease like breast cancer, don’t want any part of their monies going to an organization that funds abortion providers.
SGK seems to speak out of both sides of their mouths. Their website states that childbearing protects women from breast cancer, and the more children a mother bears and the younger she begins bearing them the better. They also acknowledge breast feeding protects against breast cancer. Abortion however, blocks all those preventative measures. It has even been found that breast cancer survivors lower their risk of dying by 42% simply by getting pregnant, but again, abortion blocks that protection. SGK acknowledges never having children increases a women’s risk of getting breast cancer, and delaying childbearing, particularly after 35, also increases the risk. Abortion increases the risk of both those risks.
Eric Winer, the chief scientific advisor for Susan G. Komen for the Cure believes the Planned Parenthood criticisms are unfounded. He states a relationship with two Catholic ethicists, Ron Hamel and Michael Panicola, both Ph.D.’s. Winer claims these men examined the moral implications of SGK’s funding and concluded it was permissible for the church to be involved with Komen in light of its funding of Planned Parenthood. But get this, the Hamel/Panicola opinion, published on the now infamous, pro-Obamacare Catholic Health Association’s website, (link) is really a piece of work. It reads like the letters you receive from your congress critters that answer none of your questions and talk totally around the issue and then thank you for your interest.
SGK will argue there is no concrete evidence that abortion contributes to breast cancer and now statistics even show that early use of hormone contraception also contributes to breast cancer just as hormone replacement therapy has been found to do. Eric Winer has also dismissed the proven link between abortion and breast cancer even though there are many studies and clinical professionals who agree, including Angela Lanfranchi, M.D., who writes in a Breast Cancer Prevention Institute brochure, (link) “The later in pregnancy an abortion is done, the higher the risk of breast cancer as the more Type 1 and 2 lobules will have formed. Induced abortion leaves a woman with more places for breast cancer to start.
Karen Malec, spokesperson for the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer says Komen does not tell women the truth that abortion increases breast cancer risk in three ways:
- By delaying a first full term pregnancy (a risk recognized by all experts) the woman loses her chance to mature 85% of her cancer-susceptible breast lobules into full cancer resistant lobules at a younger age. Full maturity takes place throughout the last months of pregnancy.
- Almost all of the childless women’s breast lobules are cancer–susceptible Type 1 and 2 lobules. Up to 95% of all breast cancers arise in these lobules. The breasts grow during pregnancy because of an increase of estrogen which is a cancer causing agent, thereby causing the lobules to multiply. The woman who aborts before lobule maturation is completed is left with more places in her breasts for cancers to start.
- The Institute of Medicine lists abortion as a risk factor for premature birth…and premature birth before 32 weeks gestation increases the mother’s breast cancer risk. Through the abortion-premature birth link, the woman is left with more places in her breasts for cancers to start.
Even Komen states on its own website that a large analysis that combined results of many studies found that while women were taking birth-control pills (and shortly thereafter), they had a 10 to 30 percent higher risk of breast cancer than women who had never taken birth control pills.
As for the emergency contraceptive pill, which contains 10-15 times the amount of artificial hormones as a single birth-control pill, its labeling states it is contraindicated if one has a current or past history of breast cancer. In fact it appears hormonal contraceptives are more seriously implicated in breast cancer than previously known.
A 2009 study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention showed that the risk for women under 40 of contracting a newly identified and virulent form of the disease called triple-negative breast cancer rose by 320% if using hormonal contraceptives for a year or more.”
This same study co-authored in part by two of the very National Cancer Institute researchers who in 2003 denied a link between abortion and breast cancer, also acknowledged a 40% increased risk of contracting breast cancer under the age of 40 if a woman had had an abortion. (link)
Karen Malek says, “Komen perpetuates the breast cancer epidemic by giving funds to Planned Parenthood. As a seller of hormonal contraceptives and abortions, Planned Parenthood is the primary cause of the breast cancer epidemic.”
Although the funds are supposedly intended for breast cancer screenings, Komen has no way of ensuring that the funds are used exclusively for that purpose instead of its cancer-causing activities.
Several of the Catholic dioceses have withdrawn their support for Komen for these reasons as well as Komen’s endorsement of experiments on embryonic humans.
Other SGK Connections to Planned Parenthood
A pro-lifer in Washington State discovered on Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest’s (PPGNW) IRS 990 forms that it has held a 12.5% share in Metro Centre, a mall in Peoria, Illinois since 2006. PPGNW is Washington’s largest abortion provider and is currently under investigation for Medicaid fraud. Metro Centre is owned by Eric Brinker who is the son of Nancy Goodman Brinker, the founder of SGK. Eric also sits on SGK’s board. Brinker claimed the 12.5% Planned Parenthood inherited from one of the original stockholders, but they’ve never sold their shares.
Brinker also states that only “20 of Komen’s 122 U.S. affiliates fund breast health services through local Planned Parenthood clinics.” But what is interesting is two of those 20, Komen Puget Sound and Komen Boise, fund Brinker’s business partner, PPGNW.
Komen Board Members and Staff
Nancy Brinker, founder of SGK Foundation, has served on the advisory board of Planned Parenthood of Dallas. In 2003, Planned Parenthood received a record $475,000 from Susan G. Komen affiliates all across the nation and Planned Parenthood of Dallas built a new facility costing $5 million dollars. Nancy Brinker received the Gertrude Shelburne Humanitarian Award from Planned Parenthood of North Texas in 1996. Gertrude Shelburne established Planned Parenthood in Dallas in 1982, and was a friend of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood.
Eve Sanchez-Silver, former SGK Foundation National Hispanic/Latina Advisory Council member, resigned after discovering the connection between the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood.
Lisa Custard, current member of the Susan G. Komen Foundation National Board of Directors, is pictured and listed in the Planned Parenthood of North Texas newsletter as a donor.
Monica Leonard of the Sacramento Valley Susan G. Komen Affiliate had a prior job at Planned Parenthood Golden Gate and Komen lists this on their Sacramento Affiliate website.
Philadelphia Komen Affiliate Board Member John Briggs has also served on the advisory board for Planned Parenthood.
The form 990 for Susan G. Komen for the cure is at this website: (link) How many miles do those thousands of volunteers need to “walk for the cure” just to meet the payroll of the Executive Board? If you add up the 2009 annual compensation (salary & benefits) listed on page 59 for 17 employees, the grand total is $3,859,117.00. You do the math.
In Support of Each Other
Planned Parenthood of North Texas gave an award to the co-chair of the Ft. Worth Race for the Cure.
Planned Parenthood of North Texas thanked the Susan G. Komen Foundation Collin and Tarrant County Affiliates in their newsletter for granting Planned Parenthood of North Texas $46,430 in 2004.
Planned Parenthood of Southeast Michigan formed a team for the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for Cure.
Susan G. Komen Colorado Springs Affiliate hosted a health fair where they included “health partners” Planned Parenthood.
Susan G. Komen lists the local Planned Parenthood Health Centers as a resource on most of their affiliate websites and vice versa.
Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood are both involved in the Texas Medical Center Women’s Health Network.
Planned Parenthood of Southeast Michigan participated in the Susan G. Komen Lee National Denim Day in 2001.
Planned Parenthood of Lubbock is listed as a sponsor of the Lubbock Race for the Cure in 1998 and 1999.
Which race?
Eugenics or Cure?
Planned Parenthood over the years has stated in their literature such things as the elimination of child care, medical attention, scholarships, housing, loans, and subsidies to poor families. It has openly stated maternity benefits should be drastically reduced or even eliminated, substantial across-the-board marriage and child taxes being imposed, and large families not being given preferential charitable relief. Saying Planned Parenthood is an advocate for the poor is an outright lie. For Susan G. Komen to lead people to believe poor women are getting breast exams at Planned Parenthood and not being propagandized by their programs is ludicrous. Planned Parenthood is instead a great oppressor and exploiter of the poor. Its image-conscious rhetoric of compassion is Orwellian doublespeak. It is not involved primarily in “family planning,” but is instead involved in “family banning.”
Finally and most importantly, Planned Parenthood is by no means privately funded. The truth is, a vast proportion of Planned Parenthood’s funding at every level, from the local level to the international level, comes right out of the American taxpayer’s pockets. It has become for all intents and purposes an unofficial, and thus unrestrained and unrestricted branch of the federal government and part of the population control plan. (See this link)
There was a recent expose of a Planned Parenthood affiliate aiding a pimp’s underage sex ring. The organization that put this on YouTube is a group of young pro-lifers called LiveAction. Their website is (link) and the video is at (link).
Live Action has audio from phone calls to Planned Parenthood in various states that agree to take donations that specifically target donating to fund aborting black babies. The caller says there are too many blacks and he wants to reduce the minority population. Planned Parenthood agrees that he just needs to specify that on his donation and they will honor his request.
Dr. Alveda King, pro-life advocate and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, has kind words for Live Action group and takes issue with Susan G. Komen’s statements that there’s no conclusive proof abortion causes breast cancer. She states, “Giving Planned Parenthood money is part of an insidious cycle. Breast cancer is linked to abortions, Planned Parenthood gives abortions and then they turn around and give you mammograms, ‘We are going to give you breast cancer then we are going to turn around and let you know that you have it, and then we are going to get with this great organization and raise money to treat it,’” she said.
I hope this article reaches enough pro-lifers that they’ll understand funding Susan G. Komen is working against God’s command to “Choose life!” And yes, there are other groups collecting funds for breast cancer research that have no connections to pro-abort groups.
Finally, let me end from some words sent to me by a dear friend who lives because her mother’s abortion failed. She is one of the finest Christian women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. She wrote the following words to me:
“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” Ps. 37:1-2
“We need to appropriate such promises to ourselves in times such as these when the continuing headlines night and day are of one calamity or threat after another. Unless we had the unchangeable Word of God to cling to we would have long ago given into the pressures all around us, but history proves that what He has said He will do. We could greatly expedite His promises by daily praying for faith to trust Him more, realizing that the day is coming when He will reign supreme and all those who have walked in His steps. Not only will we be strengthened for the rest of the journey, but we will give increased courage to those whose eyes are upon us as those who profess to be followers of the one true God and Christ. Remain faithful. It is the only way to live and not simply exist.”
References:
LifeNews.com
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
Bioethics Defense Fund
Komen.org
The Daily Caller
Grand Illusions: The Legacy of Planned Parenthood by George Grant
Kelleigh Nelson has been a sentinel researching the Christian right and operations designed to co-opt it, since 1975. Formerly an executive producer for three different national radio talk show hosts, she was adept at finding and scheduling a variety of wonderful guests for her radio hosts. She and her husband live in Knoxville, TN, and she has owned her own wholesale commercial bakery since 1990. Prior to moving to Tennessee, Kelleigh was marketing communications and advertising manager for a fortune 100 company in Ohio. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she was a Goldwater girl with high school classmate, Hillary Rodham, in Park Ridge, Illinois. Kelleigh is well acquainted with Chicago politics and was working in downtown Chicago during the 1968 Democratic convention riots. E-Mail: proverbs133@bellsouth.net
Planned Parenthood does not give mammograms.
Sandy, this article does say that Planned PP does do mammograms.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/womens-health/mammogram-21195.htm
Kelleigh, this makes me physically ill. Thanks for the information. I’m going to quote and link in my post today on PP.