Bishop Leonard Blair reacts to Komen controversy

Controversy continues to swirl around a statement from breast cancer charity “Komen for a Cure” that appeared to reverse a decision to defund Planned Parenthood. Last week the Komen Foundation had said they would no longer fund the pro-abortion organisation, citing the fact that Planned Parenthood was under criminal investigation by the U.S. Congress, and noting that Planned Parenthood clinics did not directly provide mammograms for women, but only offered referrals for the service. After a week of intense criticism from pro-abortion groups, the Komen Foundation appeared to step back from its earlier decision, although pro-life organisations noted that the charity’s statement on Friday was not conclusive.

Earlier this year, Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, with other bishops from Ohio, had expressed his concern about some of the Komen Foundation’s policies – including their funding of Planned Parenthood – and had directed that fundraising carried out under Catholic auspices, should be directed to local Catholic charities.

“We were concerned,” he said, “because, for several years, a number of people had asked if it was appropriate to make contributions to Komen for the Cure, because of their association with Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider, and also because of questions regarding the possible support of embryonic stem cell research.”

Bishop Blair said that he was pleased with the initial reports that Komen was cutting its ties to Planned Parenthood: “We were very happy, recently, with the welcome news that Komen was disassociating itself from Planned Parenthood, it would no longer provide funds for them, only to find out within a few days afterward that they had reversed that decision.”

News of the breast cancer charity’s apparent reversal reached him in Rome, where Bishop Blair is making his ad limina visit to meet with Pope Benedict and officials of the Roman Curia. He said he was saddened by the news. “So that came as a great disappointment to me personally, because obviously we all want to support research to find a cure for breast cancer. That is the goal, and that is very worthwhile and much to be supported. But not with these entanglements with Planned Parenthood and the possibility of embryonic stem cell research.”

Bishop Blair said the bishops would continue to bring the bishops’ concerns to the Komen foundation, “We also want to maintain clearly what our concerns are and try to address them directly. And that’s what we’ve done with Komen in Ohio, with the local affiliates, and want to try to work with them for them to understand what our concerns are.”

Listen to the complete interview of Bishop Leonard Blair with Christopher Wells: