Blue is the New Pink

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Mary| 4 Comments


If you have gone outside in the past 11 days, you may have noticed that things are a bit more pink than normal.  Maybe the yogurt you bought at the store last week had a pink lid.  Or maybe the coffee sleeve offered to you at Panera this morning was pink.  Or perhaps even some of your friends on Facebook have changed their profile picture to an icon of a little pink ribbon (I guess you don’t even have to go outside to notice the pink anymore!).  What gives?  As I’m sure you already knew, we are now living in a sea of pink because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Every year during this month, a handful of companies give a portion of the profits from their “pink” merchandise to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Unfortunately, Komen for the Cure gives a portion of their profits to Planned Parenthood—the nation’s top abortion provider.

For this reason, I cannot in good conscience participate in the Race for the Cure, or buy any “pink” merchandise during this month that gives money to Komen for the Cure.

You may be thinking that this is a bit of an extreme stance to take.  Komen for the Cure has made great strides in breast cancer research, and it is true that none of the funds they give to Planned Parenthood are used directly for abortions.  Shouldn’t the good they do far outweigh the minor fact that they give money to Planned Parenthood?

For two main reasons, I really don’t think the Pros outweigh the Cons here.

For one, Komen even acknowledges that there has been no conclusive evidence that there is not a link between breast cancer and abortion (and in fact, there have been many studies implying that there is in fact a link).  Dr. Janet Daling, a leading cancer epidemiologist, and pro-choice advocate, is quoted as saying:

“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.”

Secondly, even though none of the Komen funds are used directly for abortion, giving money to Planned Parenthood for a specific service just frees up other monies to be used on abortion.  There’s no getting around it.  Giving money to Planned Parenthood will always help, in some way, fund abortion.

I don’t find it coincidental in the slightest that October is also the month that the Catholic Church has traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary.  I can’t help but wonder: What would happen if we gave the fight against breast cancer over to Our Lady, rather than giving our money to foundation that supports taking the lives of her children?

Here is a brief statement from the Archbishop of Baltimore, which goes into a bit more detail about why Catholics should refrain from supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure

 

 

 

 

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  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/06729516870952658426 Audrey

    I’m so glad your wrote about this! All the pink stuff really bothers me. For one thing, Komen does support PP. But even if it goes to another organization, it’s not necessarily an better. Also, I’ve heard a lot of breast cancer survivors speak up about how all this actually does a disservice to the cause. It’s really more of a marketing ploy and usually a VERY little percentage actually goes to breast cancer research. So it’s really dishonest marketing to appeal to the public’s desire to spend more if it means supporting a “good cause”.

  • Daniel Williams

    Great post, Mary.  Many people purposefully fail to make the connection between Komen, abortion, and breast cancer… because they don’t want to believe it from an emotional reflex and/or because they choose to ignore the scientific evidence.

    I’m glad you brought this up, as it may open the eyes of people who are good at heart but uninformed.  It reminds me of the words of Jesus on the Cross: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

  • Tout

    Thank you, MARY.Am so glad about you serving the Lord openly.I am not able to write so good. After going 6 times  alone thru the streets praying a rosary, a lady took over; now every May a Marian proces-sion, from one church to an other church,carrying big Maria statue. Pray rosary once a week at a Maria statue in downtown(proper weather),and hang sign “Whether glad, sad or wary, pause a while, say a Hail Mary”. Always cross myself before any meal,no matter where,restaurant, in companie with others who don’t. Always H.Com-munion on tongue,never in hand. I try to evangelize in public.

  • Michaela

    Are you going to stop buying goods from China as they force people to stick to the 1 child rule?