Komen Breast Cancer Group Restores Planned Parenthood Funding

After a storm of criticism, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation said Friday that it's reversed a decision to stop funding breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood affiliates.

The breast cancer foundation also apologized to the American people for raising doubts about its "commitment to our mission of saving women's lives," The New York Times reported.

A number of groups and people said the decision to halt funding to Planned Parenthood was influenced by abortion opponents in and outside the foundation. But in its statement, the foundation claimed the decision was not "done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood."

When it announced earlier this week that it would cut funding to Planned Parenthood, the foundation said the main reason was because Planned Parenthood is being investigated by Congress. The probe was launched by a conservative Republican at the urging of anti-abortion groups.

"Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation," said the Komen statement released Friday The Times reported. "We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair."

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Published: February 2012