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Komen drops plans to cut Planned Parenthood grants

Decision on grants led to outpouring of support for Planned Parenthood.

LM Otero/AP Photo The Susan Komen For The Cure international headquarters are shown in the Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.

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By Kelli Wynn, Staff Writer 12:22 AM Saturday, February 4, 2012

An explosion of online protests, fiery complaints and damaging criticism that its actions were jeopardizing women’s health caused the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization on Friday to rescind its decision to eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood.

But the move by the nonprofit breast cancer organization sparked a new barrage of attacks and could elevate abortion and women’s rights into pivital issues in the upcoming presidential election.

“The petitions that this sparked shows that America cares about women’s health and women’s control of their bodies,” said Judith Ezekiel, visiting Women Studies professor at Wright State University.

Paul Coudron, executive director for Dayton Right to Life, said he was extremely disappointed with Komen’s decision to allow funding for Planned Parenthood, which he called an abortion organization. “This leaves little doubt that Susan G. Komen foundations support abortion,” Coudron said. When asked why he thought the breast charity decided to renege on its funding decision, Coudron said, “I can only speculate that it’s based upon money and the response that their decision had. ... Especially over the Internet.”

Komen had adopted criteria excluding Planned Parenthood from future grants for breast-cancer screenings because it was under government investigation, citing a probe launched by a Florida congressman at the urging of anti-abortion groups.

Komen said on Friday it would change the criteria “to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political.”

“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” a Komen statement said.

Diane Butler-Hughes of Bellbrook called Komen’s decision unfortunate. “I think that they gave in to public pressure,” said Butler-Hughes, who has stage-four cancer. She said she used to participate in local Komen walks, but quit after she found out that the charity supported Planned Parenthood. “For me it was disappointing that they gave into the pressure because of a board decision that they had made. I don’t think it was about abortion for them, but for me, I don’t support organizations that are not pro-life.”

Although the national organization will provide funding to Planned Parenthood, that’s not the case for Planned Parenthood in Ohio. In 2006, Planned Parenthood applied for monies from Komen’s Cincinnati branch to fund breast health educational programs, but did not receive the funding, according to Kelli Halter, vice president of Clinical Services for Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. The local organization has not sought funding from Komen since that time.

“It just seems so politically driven and that’s not what it’s about. We’re talking about health care,” said Heather Jones of West Carrollton. “We’re talking about providing for the health of women ... who need to be screened for these diseases that affect so many women. To take down the funding for that, it’s just senseless.”

Planned Parenthood reported an outpouring of support — donations large and small, triggered by the Komen decision, surpassing $3 million since the story broke. It has pledged to use the funds to expand its breast health services. “We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria,” Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, said. “What these past few days have demonstrated is the deep resolve all Americans share in the fight against cancer.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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