The Foundation attributed the defunding to "changes in priorities and policies" and the need to "most fully advance [Komen Foundation's] mission." In a statement, the Foundation noted:
It is critical to underscore that the women we serve in communities remain our priority. We are working directly with Komen Affiliates to ensure there is no interruption or gaps in services for women who need breast health screening and services.
Grants from the Komen Foundation have directly supported 170k breast screenings at Planned Parenthood "health centers" nationwide during the past 5 years, comprising about 4% of the total exams performed.
Not surprisingly, the Foundation's announcement sent pro-choice advocates to the media's microphones to assert that the defunding was due to "political pressure."
What was somewhat surprising to The Motley Monk was the rationale: Planned Parenthood has come under increasing scrutiny from Congress about how it provides abortion services and whether the organization complies with federal regulations on funding abortions. For example:
- The President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, said: "We are alarmed and saddened that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure. Our greatest desire is for Komen to reconsider this policy and recommit to the partnership on which so many women count."
- U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) said in a statement she was "extremely disappointed that politics is once again coming between women and their health care needs."
- U.S. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) also criticized the defunding and called on the Komen foundation to reconsider its decision. Honda said: "This is just the latest casualty in a misguided and harmful campaign started by House Republicans to demonize the life-saving health services delivered by Planned Parenthood health centers."
All of this clucking and chortling before the media's microphones was apparently successful. The Washington Post reports that 6k+ donors contributed $650k to Planned Parenthood within 24 hours of the announced defunding. A spokesman for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Tait Sye, said the donations were nearly enough to replace last year’s Komen funding.
This defunding is another tactical victory in the long, difficult slog of the war to exorcise the evil of abortion from the United States. Taking a cue from Austin Ruse, The Motley Monk suggests firing off an email to the Komen Foundation (news@komen.org) stating: "Thanks for defunding Planned Parenthood!"
Let the discussion begin...
To read the WAVY 10 News report, click on the following link:
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/va_beach/komen-foundation-pulls-grant-money
To read the Washington Post article, click on the following link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/planned-parenthood-says-komen-decision-causes-donation-spike/2012/02/01/gIQAGLsxiQ_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines
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