Position Statement on Susan G. Komen for the Cure

St. Louis Archdiocese Position Statement on Susan G. Komen for the Cure Issued 7 June 2006; revised 11 March 2008. The Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis acknowledges the beneficial work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in the area of breast cancer detection, prevention, research and treatment. Due to its policy allowing affiliates to offer financial support to abortion providing facilities and its endorsement of embryonic stem cell research, the Respect Life Apostolate neither supports nor encourages participation in activities that benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 1) This position is based on the following facts: Public records indicate that Susan G. Komen for the Cure (“Komen”) affiliates in at least 13 states (Missouri is not among them) provided grants to local Planned Parenthood chapters for breast health care services in 2005.1 Despite Komen donations for breast health care services, Planned Parenthood (the largest single abortion provider in the country) stated in its 2005-2006 annual report that 9,900 more abortions were performed and 81,500 fewer breast exams were provided in 2005 than in 2004.2 Donors cannot control how an organization designates its funds. Therefore, money donated for a specific service, i.e. breast health care, directly frees up funds to support other areas of an organization’s agenda, i.e. contraception services, “safe” sex education and abortion services. 2) The Komen website dismisses the link between procured abortion and increased risk of breast cancer.3  However, the research of Joel Brind, Ph.D., a professor of Endocrinology and founder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, and the work of Dr. Janet Daling4, a leading cancer epidemiologist and pro-choice advocate, invalidate a dismissal of the link. Daling said, “I would have loved to have found no association between breast cancer and abortion, but our research is rock solid, and our data is accurate. It’s not a matter of believing, it’s a matter of what is.”5 As part of a comprehensive search for the cure, Komen should be funding further studies on the link between breast cancer and abortion. 3) Komen endorses embryonic stem cell research that requires the destruction of embryonic human life, stating that, “embryonic stem cells are currently considered to have the most potential for use in the regeneration of diseased or injured tissues” for cancer stem cell research.6 The destruction of human life at any stage of development is never morally acceptable. Embryonic stem cell research is also unnecessary since adult stem cell research has a proven record of cures and treatments. Based on these documented facts, the Respect Life Apostolate (RLA) does not endorse Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The RLA encourages you to contact Susan G. Komen for the Cure (5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250 ▪ Dallas, TX 75244) and call for an end to all associations between Komen affiliates and Planned Parenthood, for funding of further studies on the link between breast cancer and abortion, and for an end to the endorsement of research that leads to the destruction of any human life. Our hope is that the Komen Foundation will focus all funds on research to find causes and cures for breast cancer and refuse to give financial or other support to any abortion provider or organization that promotes the destruction of human life. The Respect Life Apostolate encourages you to direct you donations to the following local hospitals that provide breast cancer services and patient support groups: St. John’s Mercy Medical Center Mail to: SJMMC Donations 12800 Corporate Hill Drive St. Louis, MO 63131 Check: David C. Pratt Cancer Center Memo: Breast Cancer Development St. Mary’s Health Center Mail to: St. Mary’s Health Center Foundation 6420 Clayton Road St. Louis, MO 63117 Check: St. Mary’s Health Center Foundation Memo: Empower and Engage Breast Cancer Program (patient support) DePaul Health Center Mail to: DePaul Foundation 12303 DePaul Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044 Check: DePaul Health Center Memo: Breast Cancer Programs SSM St. Joseph Health Center Mail to: St. Joseph Health Center Foundation Office 300 First Capitol Drive St. Charles, MO 63301 Check: St. Joseph Health Center Foundation Memo: Breast Cancer Programs St. Anthony’s Medical Center Mail to: St. Anthony’s Medical Center – Cancer Center 10010 Kennerly Road St. Louis, MO 63128 Check: St. Anthony’s Cancer Center Memo: designate for breast cancer research or patient support services 1The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 2005 STEP Report of Grants (2.61 Mb PDF file). Retrieved March 11, 2008, from <http://cms.komen.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/komen_document/011340.pdf>. 2Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (2007). 2005-2006 Annual Report (2.82 Mb PDF file). Retrieved March 11, 2008. 3See "Factors That Do Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer." Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 27 March 2007. <http://cms.komen.org/Komen/AboutBreastCancer/AbcFactorsNotRelatedtoRisk>. 4 See Daling JR, Malone KE, Voigt LF, White E, Weiss NS, Risk of breast cancer among young women: relationship to induced abortion (39.97 Kb PDF file), Journal of the National Cancer Institute 86: 21, 1584-92, Nov 2, 1994. 5 "The Cover Up." Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer. 27 March 2007<http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/coverup3.htm>. 6“Cancer Stem Cell Research Shows Promise (855.41 Kb file).” Frontline: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Newsletter. (Fall 2006). Retrieved 29 March 2007 from website. (To return to top of page, click here.)