Approximately one dollar from the purchase of each Bible would have been donated by LifeWay (a resource of the Southern Baptist Convention) to the Komen Foundation, whose affiliates this year gave almost $700,000 to Planned Parenthood.
Bound4Life’s Susan Tyrrell had observed,
What’s more disturbing about this Bible is who publishes it. Bible publisher B&H Publishing is known for the Holman Christian Standard Bible … a solid Bible translation. B&H is a division of Lifeway Resources. … It’s baffling to me how such a large company could have missed the memo about Komen, which has been published from sea to shining sea.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation had partnered with B&H Publishing to publish the Here’s Hope breast cancer awareness Bible. Sold through retailers such as Wal-Mart, it was described this way:
The Here’s Hope Breast Cancer Bible is a reminder that God has not forgotten you, a friend, or loved one who has been impacted by breast cancer. Not only will you find encouragement and inspiration through testimonies from breast cancer survivors but more importantly you’ll encounter God’s life-sustaining words for you.
Baptist Press quoted LifeWay President Thom Rainer from a statement he released Wednesday:
As this project has developed, we realized it was a mistake. When our leadership discovered the overwhelming concern that some of Komen’s affiliates were giving funds to Planned Parenthood, we began the arduous process of withdrawing this Bible from the market. Though we have assurances that Komen’s funds are used only for breast cancer screening and awareness, it is not in keeping with LifeWay’s core values to have even an indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood.
Marty King, spokesman for LifeWay Christian Resources, added: “The initial goal was to get the Bible into the hands of people who may not frequent LifeWay Christian Stores or LifeWay.com. … We’re working with those companies now to withdraw the Bible, but that can’t happen overnight.”
Baptist Press noted that the Komen Foundation has tried to distance itself from Planned Parenthood’s abortion practices, saying in a statement that “under no circumstances are Komen funds used to fund abortions or other non-breast services,” yet the article listed 18 chapters of Komen for the Cure which donated money to Planned Parenthood affiliates in 2009-2010.
Many pro-lifers question why Komen supports Planned Parenthood — especially as the abortion provider doesn’t even perform mammograms. Furthermore, abortion is thought to increase the risk of breast cancer. Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, wrote in the October issue of Legatus, a Catholic business magazine, that Susan G. Komen is often perceived to be a worthy charity:
Almost everyone in America knows a woman who has had breast cancer. Some of those beloved friends and family members may have died from it. So when an organization like Susan G. Komen for the Cure conducts fundraising projects for research, it’s difficult to say no. We’re encouraged to help by buying a certain brand of yogurt or a certain soft drink. Pink ribbons pop up on products everywhere. We can buy items we would normally buy and feel good about helping find a cure. [But] the ties between Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood are very real.
If Komen’s mission is to find a cure for breast cancer, why are they giving huge sums of money to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider? … Komen says the grants are used to fund breast exams and mammograms. However, numerous reports confirm that Planned Parenthood doesn’t do mammograms. What Planned Parenthood does do is abortion.
Prolifers were initially advised to contact B&H and Lifeway to protest the partnership, and their outcry was heard. Yesterday LifeNews.com encouraged readers to contact them again to thank them for their response.
