Catholic Church of Arkansas bans assoc. with Komen Foundation

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The Respect Life Apostolate of the Diocese of Little Rock issued a statement on Feb. 4 discouraging its parishes and schools from supporting or participating in any activities that benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Respect Life Director Marianne Linane said the diocese has adopted the policy for the organization for three reasons, the primary reason being that some Komen affiliates have given money to Planned Parenthood. While no affiliates in Arkansas have provided funding to the organization, she said, 25 percent of the money raised in Arkansas goes out of state and could potentially find its way to affiliates that do give to Planned Parenthood.

The second reason is that Komen endorses embryonic stem cell research on its Web site, Linane said.

...

She said the final reason is that Komen denies the link between breast cancer and abortion.


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http://www.nwarktimes.com/nwat/News/62592/

My wife and I have been affiliated with the Komen Foundation affiliates in Arkansas for nearly a decade and this has hit the organization like a ton of bricks. The Diocese sent factually incorrect letter to Catholic churches and hospitals in the state demanding that they cease all involvement with the Susuan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Of course, this is the same Komen Foundation in Arkansas that donates hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to Catholic affiliated hospitals and programs, and has possibly put many good breast cancer prevention and detection programs at Catholic hospitals in Arkansas into jeopardy. Although I shouldn't be surprised and aghast by this....... I am.

...nothing has been banned. Parishes and schools are "discouraged" and the Apostolate is "asking" that associations be broken.

While I think the Apostolate is reaching in this instance, especially given the Komen Foundation assurance that money given to PP for breast health services can't be used for anything else, I also don't see anything saying that parishes and schools can't continue their association with Komen, if they choose to do so.

they have been banned.

...but no, I trust what I see, and what I see here is not a ban.

And frankly, even if there were to be a ban, though I wouldn't agree with it, I believe that the diocese would be completely within their rights.

and I said nothing to the effect that they had no right to order, or "discourage", a parish or hospital from affiliating with Komen....that is obvious, of course they do. I simply think it was a horrible decision on their part.

I believe that the long term damage done to the community that the Church should be serving outweighs any potential gain.

go to support their misogynistic ideals? Gee, 25% of the money might go to the national organization, which in turn might send a small amount to PP, which in turn might spend a small amount on offering women reproductive choice. Can't have that now, can we?

I can't even respond to the nonsense about the abortion-breast cancer connection. No science in there whatsoever, just RW wishful thinking.

Apparently a lot of "educational" materials have been sent to physicians containing that lie, and some of them believe it.

That is just bizarre!

http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/

And the refutation - just one link, there are many, many, many!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/23/health/webmd/main2718947.shtml

...but the diocese was wrong. 25% of the funds raised from local affiliates do go to the Komen Foundation national organization, but these monies go to a national research fund which does not distribute funds to PP or to embryonic research (because there is no embryonic research occuring with regards to breast cancer). The 75% of the funds that remain local are distributed, in full, to local prevention and detection programs. What happens is that some local affliates of the Komen Foundation distribute funds to PP clinics because they are the only places available in some areas to perform screening and prevention services.

Anyway, facts do not play a role in the thinking and actions of the diocese (as you mention re: the abortion-breast cancer connection), so none of the above is important.

:eyes:

:argh: :mad: :puke: :grr: :nuke: :banghead: I have yet to find the words to express how angry that goddam lie makes me. I have family members who are convinced that they won't get breast cancer because they live a godly life. They think I must have done something to deserve breast cancer, like have an abortion, since I'm a sinner. :sarcasm:

His first response was "What did you do to deserve that?" The other women were speechless at the remark. I just shrugged my shoulders. I don't waste my time with such ignorant people.

By the way, this guy was/is into the TV and radio preachers big time.

Oh, yeah...and he is a Republican.

Gawd has damned them for having an abortion!!11!!1



no wait....



:grr: I completely agree with you - this irrational fundie talking point is one of my personal outrages. My husband's devout Catholic mother died of breast cancer and three of his Catholic sisters have all had breast cancer. I hate that this terrible LIE is out there - it causes so much damage and takes the focus off zeroing in on other potential causative agents.

But it doesn't make their position any less reprehensible.

some type of existence after the physical body dies.

That belief prompts the question "when does that entity, call it soul or spirit, come into existence?"

Some believe the soul/spirit is created at the instant of conception, others when the baby leaves the womb, and other views.

IMO, those who do not believe in an afterlife are a minority in our society and will find it hard to get elected in most areas.

And there are far more of us atheists out here than you think there are.

Remember the wall of separation is still there - and after November should be rebuilt higher and stronger.

We don't need religious tests for public office. The last time we mixed religion and politics in this country people got hung, drowned or pressed.

"Remember the wall of separation is still there - and after November should be rebuilt higher and stronger."

I assume you expect BO to lead an effort to rebuild a higher and stronger wall?

Don't be surprised if BO, a political chameleon, disappoints you.

Churches are a mainstay in many African American communities and they will work very hard for his election.

If elected, IMO BO will not offend them.

I would not be surprised if BO continued Dubya's faith based programs for churches because African American churches benefited.

You brought up people voting for atheists.


I'm not too worried about Obama here.

And you seem more concerned with putting religion into public life than keeping it out.

We need a whole lot less Jesus and a lot more rock and roll.

Bye.

and more dedicated to helping pharmaceutical companies continue to profit off treatment of breast cancer than to finding a cure.

Than anyone doubt some medically dubious and specious propositions. That's some original thinking, there.

The idea that someone should be denied health care because some people that own the hospital have weird religious beliefs is just appalling.

As a Catholic I don't see the scientific proof that their is a link between the two. Please tell me science is not going back to the middle ages via my church.

What a bunch of crap. They are also hyper critical on anything which *might* go towards abortion no matter how small it is.

sanctity of life, indeed.

But there is good news, for the Foundation. Sales of Garth Brooks's The Ultimate Hits (Pink Edition) has raised over $7 Million dollars!!!!

"The Catholic Church of Arkansas" is not represented by either St. Joseph's nor the "Respect Life Apostolate" nor the Diocese of Little Rock for that matter.

Also, learn the difference between "discourage" and "ban".

All you've done here is precipitate a bunch of ignorant Catholic bashing. The RLA and the churches that heed their letter are wankers, but it's not fair to drag all Arkansan Catholics into the mud.

Our company used to participate in the Race for The Cure, but a few years ago he found out they were associated with Planned Parenthood, and no more Race. We also quit participating in the city-wide United Way campaign because of their associatiation with PP. My boss is a real "morals" kind of guy. :sarcasm:

What a joke this type of thinking is, but that is what the hyper "pro-life" crowd wants. One minor step out of line and out they go.

This is political.

Then we fund health care and education.

The religious have gotten a free ride for far too long. Time to end it.

...but I don't agree that it is political. To the Catholic church, abortion and embryonic stem cell research are moral issues, not political ones. They may, as may any other group, advocate for political solutions to what they see as moral problems, but so long as they don't do it in a strictly partisan manner ("Don't vote for Democrats, they're pro-abortion", "Vote for Republicans, they're pro-life"), they are free to advocate for their beliefs without losing their tax exempt status.