Komen breast cancer charity provides funding for Planned Parenthood

Dr. Alveda King, pro-life advocate and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, takes issue with such claims, telling TheDC that giving Planned Parenthood money is part of an insidious cycle. “Breast cancer is linked to abortions, Planned Parenthood gives abortions and then they turn around and give you mammograms, ‘We are going to give you breast cancer then we are going to turn around and let you know that you have it, and then we are going to get with this great organization and raise money to treat it,’” she said.

Hammarley says he has been dealing with allegations of Komen and Planned Parenthood’s sinister link for years, but that once people hear the explanation there is little to be concerned about. “This is an issue that opponents to Planned Parenthood bring up on an annual basis,” Hammarley said. “I love the power of he Internet, and I totally subscribe to it, but sometimes it takes a little longer to explain the truth than it does to answer a rumor.”

Despite having to rehash the explanation for the connection between Komen and Planned Parenthood ad nauseum, Hammarley said that the group has no intention of cutting off funding, as for many lower income areas Planned Parenthood is the only option. “In many of these communities that is the case, that the only other option is a Planned Parenthood sponsored program. So in order to ethically meet the needs of women in their area the system is set up so… we don’t deny to women the services they need just because it is inconvenient on our part,” Hammarley said.

Despite Hammarley’s confidence abortion opponents remain steadfast in their belief that Komen should shun Planned Parenthood and its programs.

Malec, for example, remains incredulous that Planned Parenthood is the only place Komen can find screening and treatment programs in under-served communities.

“They claim that Planned Parenthood in some of these states is the only provider offering the breast cancer screening. I find that a little hard to believe personally,” Malec said. “We are living in America, it would be completely different if we were living in a third world nation, but I don’t think women are having difficulties in an overwhelming majority of cases — I would think it would be extremely rare for a woman not to have access to breast screening.”

Bordlee concluded that people should reach out to Komen and let their voices be heard. “Citizens who are concerned about that should contact Komen and encourage them to put 100% of the money that is raised to ethical breast cancer research and screenings,” Bordlee said.

*Update: Upon publication Hammarley revised the dollar amount Komen provided to Planned Parenthood  to $731,303 donated in FY 2009 and $3.3 million donated from FY 2004-2009.

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