LifeWay Christian Bookstores Takes Komen Bible Off Shelves

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Dec 14, 2011   |   4:46PM   |   Washington, DC

In a victory for pro-life advocates, Lifeway Christian Bookstores has taken a Bible sold to fund the Komen breast cancer foundation (which funds Planned Parenthood) off of its bookshelves.

The Here’s Hope Breast Cancer Bible described itself this way: “The Here’s Hope Breast Cancer Bible is a reminder that God has not forgotten you, a friend, or loved one who has been impacted by breast cancer. Not only will you find encouragement and inspiration through testimonies from breast cancer survivors but more importantly you’ll encounter God’s life-sustaining words for you.”

While the text of the original canon inside is true, approximately 5% the purchase will go to Komen who, last year manages to give over half a million dollars to the abortion provider Planned Parenthood.

While the Bible is sold other other retailers, Susan Tyrrell of Bound4Life noticed Lifeway was carrying it.

“What’s more disturbing about this Bible is who publishes it. Bible publisher B&H Publishing is known for the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), a relatively new and solid Bible translation. B&H is a division of Lifeway Resources. You probably do a lot of your Christmas shopping at Lifeway, a favorite among American Christian bookstores. It’s baffling to me how such a large company could have missed the memo about Komen, which has been published from sea to shining sea,” she said.

Lifeway how now gotten the memo and put out the following statement that LifeNews received.

We made a mistake.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, B&H Publishing Group released to several mass market retailers a Cancer Awareness Bible as a way to place God’s Word into the hands of those suffering through breast cancer. As part of the project, B&H agreed to donate $1 from the sale of each Bible to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for breast health education, screening and treatment programs.

As this project has developed, we realized it was a mistake.

When our leadership discovered the overwhelming concern that some of Komen’s affiliates were giving funds to Planned Parenthood, we began the arduous process of withdrawing this Bible from the market. Though we have assurances that Komen’s funds are used only for breast cancer screening and awareness, it is not in keeping with LifeWay’s core values to have even an indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood.

B&H’s mission to advance the gospel through distribution of God’s Word is unchanged, so we will continue to seek innovative ways that are in keeping with LifeWay’s core values.

Thom S. Rainer
President and CEO
LifeWay Christian Resources

Lifeway is a resource from the Southern Baptist Convention, generally a strong supporter of the right to life.

ACTION: Take a few minutes to say thanks. Contact Bible publisher B&H here. Contact Lifeway here.