Susan G. Komen Foundation Also Stops Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

In addition to pulling funds from Planned Parenthood, The Susan G. Komen Foundation also decided to stop funding embryonic stem cell research centers, making it fully transparent the organization has evolved from non-political non-profit to a partisan advocacy organization.

That means the loss of $3.75 million to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, $4.5 million to the University of Kansas Medical Center, $1 million to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, $1 million to the Society for Women’s Health Research, and $600,000 to Yale University. That’s a loss of nearly $12 million dollars in research money to eradicate breast cancer this year alone.

This is a new position for the organization which had previously supported all sorts of scientific research targeted at finding a cure for breast cancer and saving women’s lives. Its new position is that the organization will categorically no longer support any embryonic stem cell research.

Instead of the loud, clumsy announcement Komen made in severing ties with Planned Parenthood, this is a decision they quietly slipped in during November 2011. After all, with this new pro-life branding, you would think the Susan G. Komen Foundation would want to crow about its policy change since embryonic stem cell research is an issue near and dear to the anti-choice crowd Komen now serves.

Maybe it’s because there won’t be any gory anti-stem cell research ad running during the Super Bowl this Sunday like Randall Terry’s anti-abortion ad. After all, Karen Handel has made it clear she and Terry share an agenda, and the Komen Foundation has under Handel’s watch closely allied itself with Americans United For Life, the zealously anti-choice group that takes credit for pushing Komen directly and through members of Congress, to sever ties with Planned Parenthood.

Could it be that the Komen decision was timed in part to help flood the media with a barrage of anti-abortion attacks, airing primarily in key swing states in the 2012 election?

Well, let me ask this. What else could explain the stark contrast in the way Komen released information about these decisions?

Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Next Step: Political PAC?

Susan G. Komen’s Cozy Relationship With Anti-Choice Groups

Photo from guisse95 via flickr.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Debbie C.

6:41AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

I think Susan G. Komen Foundation has gotten too big for their britches. They think they are invincible. I have a feeling they are more like Humpty Dumpty and are headed for a great fall.

February 27
send a green star

John M.

1:45PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

Canada is the world leader in stem cell research (decades ahead of the United States), and there is a campaign in Canada for a simple source of stem cells, the umbilical tissue of newborn infants.

February 16
send a green star

Annmari L.

1:41PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

Stem cell research is essential in the fight to cure many deseases. I have clicked the SGKF-button a long time now, but I'll quit. I won't support anyone who doesn't support women.

Ann S.

3:58PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Finally, this sinister, money-hungry organization that so many were blinding funding is being exposed for what they really are.

February 11
send a green star

Thomas W.

9:52AM PST on Feb 11, 2012

I no longer support the Komen foundation and do not click on the breast cancer site at care2.
Which I have been clicking everyday since 2000. (but I do click all the others at care2, daily)

John Z.

10:10PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Kathryn E - overlooking the historical re - write in your penned litany of errors, seriously taken by none; I do want to point out for the reader a very significant point for reflection - Saint Mary Magdalene was forgiven!

February 6
send a green star

G C.

9:34PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

SGK is pretty mucked up :(

Richard H.

7:39PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

You can donate directly to those cited institutions that are affected by the Komen decision.. Ignore the Komen Foundation.

JL A.

4:16PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

apparently Komen only wants to find the cure in noncontroversial ways and will choose to reduce their likelihood of success in finding the cure to appease those who wish to impose their religious views on all women and the entire society instead of permitting religious freedom.

Kathryn E.

11:42AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

joanna e.
Mary Magdalen was made out to look the whore by the Christian church to keep women down, you just could not have a woman as one of the apostles of Christ; that was not the agenda.

In the beginning the Mother Earth was who was worshiped for so very long then came men who wanted that power for themselves. You can't believe any of the male orientated religions. Who all believe in hate, war, killings no matter what they preach.

To this article the Komen foundations must go; no contribution from me they have become and extension of the right wing bigots who want to keep all women home, married and pg. They want women to be subservient to males instead of equal as God wanted.

No contributions to Komen or any of their subsidiaries.