DETROIT — If Catholics in Ohio want to contribute to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research, the state’s bishops won’t object. But Bishop Leonard Blair of the Toledo Diocese says it “would be wise to find alternatives to Komen for Catholic fundraising efforts.”
In a July 5 letter on the Diocese of Toledo’s website, Bishop Blair addresses moral questions that have been raised in regards to Susan G. Komen — about both the organization’s relationship with Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country, and its stance on embryonic stem cell research.

“The bishops of Ohio have discussed this and have looked into the matter. As best we can determine, at present the Komen Foundation does not fund cancer research that employs embryonic stem cells,” he writes. “However, their policy does not exclude that possibility. They are open to embryonic stem cell research, and may very well fund such research in the future. They are also contributors to Planned Parenthood, which, though it may claim to provide needed medical services to poor women, is also the largest provider of abortions in our country.”

As a result, Bishop Blair states that he and Ohio’s other bishops suggest alternatives to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, “to avoid even the possibility of cooperation in morally unacceptable activities.”

After local secular media picked up on the bishop’s communication, a statement on the Diocese of Toledo website clarified that the diocese wasn’t putting a “ban” on the Komen Foundation.

“Individual Catholics who want to contribute to Komen locally can continue to do so on the basis of Komen’s assurance that no local funds go to Planned Parenthood or to embryonic stem cell research,” the statement reads. “However, there are some who in good faith continue to have misgivings about Komen’s association with Planned Parenthood and its openness to embryonic stem cell research.”

In his letter, Bishop Blair acknowledges the importance of helping to prevent and educate people about breast cancer.
“We are all familiar with the mobilization of effort in our country on behalf of this worthy goal,” he writes.
He also acknowledges that many in Catholic institutions and schools raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness.

In his letter, he encouraged these Catholic entities to support such efforts through local Mercy Cancer Centers — a Catholic entity — instead of Komen.

“Through Mercy, we can help local women who are without financial means to receive specialized care which includes treatment, detection and support in their fight against breast cancer,” he writes. “We can be assured that at Mercy, these women will receive a high level of compassionate care that respects their human dignity.”