The Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta has instructed its staff, schools and affiliated groups to stop funding the Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity because some Komen affiliates send funds to the Planned Parenthood abortion business.
In a memo, the archdiocese acknowledged the beneficial work of Komen to raise awareness about breast cancer, but it criticized grants given by some affiliates to Planned Parenthood because of that organization’s role as the nation’s biggest abortion company. The memo called any support for Planned Parenthood “an occasion for scandal.”
“Until recently, donations to the Greater Atlanta affiliate of the Komen fund did not constitute a direct cooperation with evil, because none of the money they raised went to Planned Parenthood,” the memo stated.
Facebook postings by Komen’s affiliate in Atlanta and news reports led the archdiocese to believe it was “working behind the scenes to encourage the national Komen office to resume funding.”
The directive comes during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and critics have already labeled it “mean-spirited.”
Earlier this year, Komen decided to end funding to Planned Parenthood and then reversed its decision after public backlash from its supporters and the media.
The local Komen affiliate told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution it doesn’t give money to Planned Parenthood.
“Komen Atlanta remains committed to ensuring that all women, especially the underserved, in our community have access to lifesaving breast cancer screening and support services,” the charity said in a statement. It did not directly mention the archdiocese’s policy. “Any decrease in support directly impacts our ability to serve these women.”
The new book Planned Bullyhood chronicles the insider perspective of Karen Handel, the former Komen for the Cure vice president who quit after the breast cancer charity reversed its decision and funded Planned Parenthood after deciding to end grants to the abortion giant. The book makes it clear Planned Parenthood used Komen funds to pay expenses and another section of it shows how the nation’s top Democrat pressured the group to keep the funding in place.
Following her departure from the Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity in the wake of the massive attacks waged on it by Planned Parenthood following news that it would cut its funding, Handel slammed the abortion business.
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Komen initially decided in December to revise its grant-making process to funds grants to agencies that provide direct health services for women — which would eliminate Planned Parenthood since it does not do mammograms. After Planned Parenthood, Democratic members of Congress and the media pounced on Komen for its decision, Komen clarified that Planned Parenthood would still be allowed to submit grant requests but they may or may not be funded.
“I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it,” Handel said in her letter. “I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve.”
Handel followed up that letter with various interviews, including an appearance on Fox News, where she told the news station that Planned Parenthood viciously attacked the breast cancer group.
