Last year, Komen spokesman John Hammarley confirmed 20 of Komen’s 122 affiliates have made donations to Planned Parenthood and, in 2009, those contributions totaled $731,303. He also confirmed Komen affiliates contributed about $3.3 million to the abortion business from 2004-2009...
In its email to people concerned about the Komen-Planned Parenthood connection, a Komen official admits Planned Parenthood doesn’t provide mammograms for women with its grant money. Komen makes it clear the money is merely funneled through the abortion business to legitimate medical centers that actually perform mammograms.
“When a mammogram is indicated, a patient is often referred to a local program, such as the state’s breast and cervical cancer program. In other cases, the Komen Affiliate’s grant to Planned Parenthood may include funds to pay for mammograms outright. When this happens, a local provider performs the mammogram, and is then reimbursed by Planned Parenthood using the Komen grant funds,” Komen admits.
David Schmidt of Live Action responded to the comments in the new letter from Komen.
“It appears that Komen is getting more inquiries about their affiliation with top US abortion provider Planned Parenthood,” he said. “Notice how Komen plays down their donations to Planned Parenthood by saying a “limited number” of Komen grants have gone to Planned Parenthood.”
He wondered why Komen would give grants to Planned Parenthood rather than legitimate medical centers when the abortion business doesn’t actually help women with mammograms.
“Planned Parenthood doesn’t do mammograms themselves. Why then is Komen giving grants to Planned Parenthood to then in turn pay non-Planned Parenthood health centers to provide mammograms? Why not grant funds directly to the centers performing mammograms?” he asked.
Scmidt also said the grants fail to help the large percentage of women who would never go to the abortion business for legitimate health care.
“Why is Komen’s giving to the largest abortion provider in the United States. Millions of pro-life women do not feel comfortable going to an abortion clinic to get non-abortion services,” he concludes. “Why not give the funds to a non-controversial community health center that all women in the community feel comfortable visiting?”
("Komen: Planned Parenthood Doesn’t Do Mammograms With Grants" by Steven Ertelt at LifeNews.com)
Important note: Ertelt urges (as we frequently do too) that you contact Komen for the Cure to express your complaint about its Planned Parenthood grants. The contact link and even a sample letter can be found at the conclusion of the article. Send it today, won't you?
