In a carefully worded statement published Friday, Susan G. Komen board members and CEO Nancy Brinker explained recent changes to their grant criteria, and what impact these changes may have on current grant recipient Planned Parenthood.
The changes, communicated to Planned Parenthood in December, apparently weren't received very well, and a month later -- last week -- Planned Parenthood launched a coordinated backlash of pro-abortion media coverage, Congressional statements, and grassroots responders, along with the decision of several Komen affiliate leaders to quit their positions.
According to Komen spokesperson Leslie Aun, original headlines that Planned Parenthood would no longer receive Komen funding resulted from "newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities." Since Planned Parenthood is currently under Congressional investigation, this change applies directly to them, implying that, while five current Komen grants are not affected by this change, future Planned Parenthood grant applications will not be approved.
Friday's clarification notes that "disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political," and emphasizes Komen's primary focus to provide support for "women and families in the fight against breast cancer." While the statement apparently pacified Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards, it seems to leave unanswered the question of whether future grant applications by Planned Parenthood to the Susan G. Komen Foundation will be approved.
Pro-life organizations such as National Right to Life, Human Life International and C-Fam seem to agree in their recommendation that pro-lifers not support the Susan G. Komen Foundation financially at this time, but rather wait to see how the organization handles future Planned Parenthood grant applications. If you have not already done so please send a pro-life message of encouragement to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. In the meantime, let's all keep them in our prayers that they will show respect for life in their future financial decisions.
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