Susan G. Komen reverses course, will keep funding Planned Parenthood

CBS

Updated at 2:30 p.m. ET

Three days after pulling its funding for cancer screenings from Planned Parenthood, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation on Friday apologized for the decision and reversed course.

"Our only goal for our granting process is to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer," Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of the foundation, said in a statement. "Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process. We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities."

The cancer charity initially announced it was pulling funding for the women's health organization because Planned Parenthood is the subject of investigations by Republican members of Congress for allegedly using federal dollars toward providing abortions. The Komen Foundation said its decision was not political, and in her statement today, Brinker maintained that it was not about politics.

"Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation," she said.

Brinker said in her statement that the Komen Foundation is amending the criteria of its new policy to make clear that it will only bar funding for organizations under investigation if that investigation is "criminal and conclusive in nature and not political."

The policy change doesn't guarantee the Komen Foundation will continue to fund Planned Parenthood's cancer prevention efforts. Yesterday, Brinker suggested that in addition to the congressional investigation, Komen cut ties with Planned Parenthood because they provide "pass-through" services, like clinical exams, rather than mammograms.

However, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said Friday of the Komen Foundation, "I really take them at their word that this [controversy] is behind us."

"In many ways the strength of the relationship with the foundation is where it should be -- it's at the community level," Richards said. "I think where these grants really take place is at the local level and Planned Parenthood's affiliates will be applying for programs [at the local level]. It's certainly my hope and belief we'll be partners again."

Even before the Komen Foundation reversed course, some of its local affiliates had expressed their opposition to the decision.

"Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut enjoys a great partnership with Planned Parenthood, and is currently funding Planned Parenthood of Southern New England," the Connecticut affiliate posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. "We understand, and share, in the frustration around this situation."

Richards added Friday, "I feel very positive, relieved, and I'm glad we can all focus on women's health again."

The Komen Foundation's decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood spurred a strong backlash against the charity. Online, groups opposed to the decision drew tens of thousands of supporters, and in Washington, more than two dozen senators called on the Komen Foundation to reverse its decision. Planned Parenthood also saw a surge in donations in response to the news. Richards said Friday that Planned Parenthood raised $3 million since Tuesday for its breast health care fund, which will allow the organization to "expand our breast care work beyond our wildest dreams."

Planned Parenthood said it typically receives between $500,000 and $700,000 worth of Komen grants annually for breast cancer screenings and preventative education. Planned Parenthood helps the Komen Foundation reach under-served communities like low-income women and minorities.

In an official statement, Richards said Planned Parenthood has a "treasured relationship" with Komen -- an organization that has played a significant role in raising the national awareness of breast cancer risk, screening and treatment -- and thus, has saved countless lives.

Brinker said the events of this week have been "deeply unsettling" for Komen supporters.

"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," she said.

Brinker said that the Komen Foundation will communicate with its key supporters and its network of local chapters starting today to refocus its attention on its mission.

Richards said today's decision is "really a victory for women and women who rely on this care." It demonstrates, she added, that "political bullying" won't keep women for standing up for women's health.

A number of Democratic lawmakers today commended the decision.

"With these changes to their policy, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is depoliticizing its grant-making process and refocusing itself back on its core mission: saving women's lives," Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., said in a statement.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called the development a "big victory." The decision "just goes to show you when women speak out, women win," she said.

[debbie1120]

How can you be for finding a cure for life and contribute for murder at the same time? hummmm!!!

[lucylipstick]

I don't understand why people, primarily women, are so upset over this. Both organizations are about women's health. The Komen foundation fundraisers for its money, and it has been generous in GIVING money to PP. PP gets 316 million from the govt. in addition to grants from other foundations. If Komen doesn't want to give to PP any longer, then why should it?! It was a GIFT...not a payment for services rendered. It's ok to have a different philosophy...to have a change in philosophy. After all, look at the people who've had a change in philosophy/opinion about our president and vice-president. AND you have the right to take your money and give to PP...but Komen does breast research...does PP?

[raymailhot]

There are a lot of Americans that give to charities with expectation the money is spent there.

With this, I believe the komen group lost a lot of support.

Many don't give to the united way for this same reason.

[debbie1120]

Agreed!

[Wanderwits]

I support anything women support, they know the importance of it, I don't, but I'm in support of them every time, cause the women are the bond of a family, and a lot of people should butt out of their way, they got no business. Women need our support, do your best.

[Lindag10]

Hey little sis: I read your previous posts with great interest. You really have been through the "wars" and have come out a great person. Every time I start to feel sorry for myself I run into someone who has had things FAR worse than I can ever imagine. Usually I just laugh at these pompous windbags like Perrish that spew their garbage and call themselves Christians. But then every once in a while I can't resist calling them out. Of course they're so self absorbed and full of themselves whatever I say rolls off their backs like water off a duck's back. I've learned that most Christians are quite selective about who they help and what they do for others despite all the noise they make. Take care.

[littlesis69]

I agree with you Linda. It amazes me in posts like these how many people seem to have forgotten what they learned in school in regards to reproduction and fetal development. For the most part, I too can laugh at the nincompoops claiming to be "Christians" on this board. If they were true Christians, they'd leave the judgement passing for the Man upstairs instead of doing it themselves. Lots of hypocrites here, that's for sure. What's sad is that the more one tries to educate these people, the more close-minded they become. I care about preventative measures whether it's in regards to pregnancy or heart disease screening, diabetes, etc. That's one of the few ways we're going to save this country money on health care. As you've seen I've picked on a few of them as well - a couple have really gotten under my skin. In particular, republicanandlovinit who appears to be one of the biggest male chauvinists I've seen for a very long time. I think he's definitely a member of the TEAliban. :-) You take care as well.

[nancy_naive]

So then, Perrish, if you have abortion made illegal, it will be because it is murder?

[Lindag10]

Yea and it's legal for Perrish to spout his "Christian" views too.

[nancy_naive]

and what punishment would you decree that a woman who has an illegal abortion suffer?

[wfw3536]

I will not support an organization that gives money to support an organization like Planned Parenthood whose biggest business is abortions. How sad Komen folded under the pressure of the left wing media and 26 democratic senators.

[user044]

I am so sorry to hear this. All the poor babies that are being killed deserve to live. How can a company that valuse live and tries to save lives give funds to a place that kills life. I pray that Susan G.Komen stops funding planned parnethood and gives their money to a clinic that provide mammograms only.

[nancy_naive]

So, the right-to-lifers are upset over 300,000 abortions per year.

If you nose about on the net, you'll find that they estimate there's someplace around 1.5 million adopted children and despite the best efforts of Bragelina, the number of people wanting to adopt has been dropping. But let's assume it's holding steady.

So, 1.5/18 (no reason to believe the total number isn't spread across all ages) is 83,000. That's the number of kids entering and leaving adoption per year.

Let's double that. 170,000. No make it 200,000. Let's say that's the number of families seeking to adopt. Hell, just to make the numbers easy. Let's kick it up and claim that 283,000 families are serious about adopting, so that means 200,000 go away without a kid... each year.

What are you going to do with the other 100,000 kids?

[nancy_naive]

yep. it ain't murder

[retm-w]

perish1

How many children did we kill in Afganistan and Iraq? How many children are being abused by pedophiles? Guess that's ok, never hear a peep out of the pro lifers about that.

[sirmarion-2009]

If the Komen Charity group feels its funds are being spent to fund abortions and not cancer screening they have every right to pull their funding.

[nancy_naive]

Ari Fleicher. Remember him? He's the one behind this decision. Maybe Mitt needs a new press secretary.

But, their funding ISN'T going to anything other than cancer screening.