I am not writing an editorial in favor of abortion.
But I am writing one against a decision a charitable organization, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure (including North Jersey) made today, since they decided to stop all funding of Planned Parenthood.
Dare I do this? Dare I throw stones at such a well respected organization that has encouraged sick women and their families for years?
Yes.
First you have to understand: Planned Parenthood is not just a national chain of abortion clinics just waiting to perform abortions. It is a non-profit that supplies birth control, education and also abortions to women of legal age. But the education and screenings are what is funded by groups such as Susan G. Komen.
4 million breast screenings were done at Planned Parenthood over the past few years.
Do I think abortions are wonderful? Of course I don't. Do I want them to be legal? Yes, I do, because if they are not legal, many many young girls and women will die from botched abortions.
Many people have a problem with abortion, and I totally get it.
But, at least now, in the United States birth control and abortion are legal. Still this is NOT an abortion issue: it is about an organization not receiving funds from another non-profit during a time of great pressure from conservative Republicans in office who do not want abortion or other women's rights including free birth control to be legal.
So how did Susan G. Komen for the Cure - the poster child for fighting against breast cancer, get involved in a public battle? Why would a charity built on the chests of women seem to stab them in the back?
They announced they would no longer give money to Planned Parenthood.
Why? On the surface, the organization is saying they can't do it because Planned parenthood is "under investigation".Did Planned Parenthood do something illegal? What oh what can this “investigation” by the feds be?
I researched it, readers, and here it is: Planned Parenthood is under investigation by Congress since Republican Senator Cliff Stearns started a probe to see if any public money received by Planned Parenthood was being used for the funding of abortions. And Stearns is a big anti-abortion politician. If a woman is raped - under this anti-abortion movement in Washington D.C. right now - she cannot have an abortion.
So Planned Parenthood is being hurt because they are accused of wrong doing - the very opposite of our American justice system, that states quite clearly we are all "innocent until proven guilty".
And, just to be crystal clear the federal government is still giving Planned Parenthood funding - via grants. (See CDBG grants story today: across the country the feds are donating money to Planned Parenthood, for their work in education and screening for breast cancer.)
I received a very, very disturbing letter from the director of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey Executive Director Lisa Gallipoli.
As part of a media blitz, I expect all editors of newspapers received this today.
Gallipoli wrote that her organization has always supported Planned Parenthood - until now. “Our requirements also preclude grants to any organization that is under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. Planned Parenthood is currently under federal investigation, and therefore is not eligible to apply for future funding from Susan G. Komen for the Cure until such time as the investigation is resolved.”
Guess she didn't hear about the feds funding Planned Parenthood!
Representative Jackie Spear (Democrat) was upset and blasted the Susan G. Komen organization today.
"A fine nonprofit that I have been associated with for years, I have run in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure, I have walked in the race for the cure, I have been the emcee at a number of events locally that they have held, so I have been a big booster of the Susan G. Komen organization, but not anymore,” she said on the House floor.
To me, this stopped funding by the Susan G. Komen for the cure organization is a political move with a political agenda.
Spear agrees, saying "“Well, I guess it means that Susan G. Komen has decided to become a 501-c-4 because no longer did they want to be providing nonprofits, they want to become a political advocacy group.”
Naturally, the "investigation" of Planned Parenthood is being lead by anti-abotionist Republicans in Congress.
Women and young girls everywhere must stand up and say no to political stands taken by a non-profit organization that is supposed to support women - instead of helping them via education and encouragement for mammograms.
This step by Susan G. Komen is wrong.
A race to the cure - or a race to the fifties? Which will it be?
Senator Frank Lautenberg said, "“It’s a sad day when a major women’s health organization puts partisan political ideology ahead of its promise to fight breast cancer. Women’s health services are under attack by House Republicans, and women need strong advocates and reliable services more than ever. Komen has cut and run from the millions of women who rely on Planned Parenthood for health services."
Voice your complaint at 1 877 465 6636 - at Susan G. Komen for the cure.
