Recently, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has found itself in the middle of a political battle between pro-life activists and pro-choice activists for its relationship with Planned Parenthood.
In December, Komen decided to cut off most of its funding of Planned Parenthood after receiving pressure from pro-life activists.
Komen’s funding of Planned Parenthood goes toward breast cancer screening and education for low-income women. However, pro-life activists are against the organization because it provides abortion services.
After the news went public Jan. 31, angered citizens expressed their feelings via social media sites, forcing Komen to rethink its decision.
“As a women’s health organization, we found it unfortunate that they [Susan G. Komen for the Cure] would succumb to right-wing bullying,” said Jimmy Radosta, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Columbia-Willamette.
On Feb. 10, Komen’s founder, Nancy G. Brinker, announced that Komen had reversed its decision, choosing to maintain its relationship with Planned Parenthood.
However, now that its relationship with Planned Parenthood is restored, many pro-life activists are once again angered at Komen.
What these activists fail to realize is that Komen is not funding abortions; it is funding breast cancer screenings for women who cannot afford them otherwise. Komen is trying to save lives and educate people about sex.
“We serve a very vulnerable population who need access to breast cancer screenings,” Radosta said.
Komen is dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer; therefore, giving money to an organization that provides screening to women who wouldn’t otherwise get screened is an organization worth funding. All women deserve to be screened for breast cancer.
We at the Review believe that Komen shouldn’t have to be stuck in the middle of a political battle for simply trying to promote women’s health.
“We hope they follow through on their [Susan G. Komen for the Cure] word to put women’s health first,” Radosta said.
Planned Parenthood, which some who oppose refer to as “Planned Murder,” provides more than abortions. The organization offers a wide range of services, including STD testing and treatment, HPV and Hepatitis vaccines, health services, patient education, emergency contraception and pregnancy testing.
“Our organization provides life saving cancer screenings, Radosta said. “It’s unfortunate that people put aside a health care provider.”
Komen’s relationship with Planned Parenthood is a positive one, helping to lower the number of women who die from breast cancer. Access to such a crucial service should not be jeopardized by a polarizing political debate that is only tangentially related.
-The Review Editorial Board
The Review Editorial Board
