When the Susan G. Komen Foundation made a decision to defund Planned Parenthood, they knew they'd be kicking a hornet's nest of controversy. But when they decided to essentially reverse their decision, they stuck their entire leg in the nest. They've been pummeled by "hornets" on both sides now, and they'll doubtlessly be feeling the fallout--financial and otherwise--for years to come.
I've never been skiddish about being pro-life. I believe abortion is a terrible social ill, and one of the clearest illustrations that human beings are depraved down to our cores. I've also worked to find common ground with pro-choice advocates, supporting increased support for unwed mothers, higher adoption incentives, and greater access to contraceptives. There is much progress to be made in promoting the common good both with communities who hold my position and among those who don't.
Yesterday, Christianity Today, a pro-life, evangelical publication released a handful of articles discussing the Komen controversy from a pro-life Christian perspective that gives fellow believers much to chew on. I've decided to point interested readers to these pieces.
First, Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote, "It's not Easy Being Pink." He focused on Komen's reticence to be forthcoming in their motivations for making such a controversial decision.He draws on Reinhold Niebuhr's insistence that moral ambiguity is not moral innocence, and holds that this was a terrible moral failure in addition to a PR mistake.
"The organization lacked the confidence to stand on moral grounds and deny the funding because of Planned Parenthood's involvement with abortion," he says. "Instead, it tried to finesse the issue by adopting a policy that, on its face, was really not about Planned Parenthood at all. The ruse did not work."
Second, Matthew Lee Anderson of Mere Orthodoxy wrote, "The Politics of Breast Cancer." I love and respect both Matthew and his writing (his book, Earthen Vessels, is a fine theology of the body that I recommend to you), but I found myself disagreeing in varying degrees with his assertions that 1) health care is inherently political, 2) there is no common ground on this issue, and 3) the culture wars are still raging, but in hibernation. Perhaps I am wrong, and he is right. Read his article and decide for yourself.
Third, Russell Moore, Dean of The Southern Baptisti Convention, penned, "The Pink Ribbon and the Dollar Sign." I found his article stunningly brilliant due to his characteristically gospel-centered approach and fresh perspectives. Moore turns the argument back on readers by showing how greed is at the root of this problem, and the malady infects all of us. The issue is placed into proper perspective and Jesus is raised up when he says,
"Let's stop highlighting how God "blesses" the millionaire who tithes. Let's stop trumpeting the celebrity football players and beauty queens as evidence of God's blessing. Let's show that God has blessed us in a Christ who never had a successful career or a balanced bank account, but who was blessed by God with life, and with children that no one can number, from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language."
Finally, journalist Mollie Ziegler Hemingway wrote, "The Komen Fiasco's Silver Lining." I found her piece refreshing for a reason that exceeded the strong content. Too often Christians discuss this issue from a male perspective, excluding the voices that are most intimately connected to the issue itself. Of course, Christians are guilty of excluding women from many conversations, but the reasons for inclusion here are great. I say "kudos" to Christianity Today for allowing a woman to weigh in, but perhaps this should have been three women and one man rather than three men and a lady. I digress.
Mollie provides the other side of the Komen controversy in her article, offering several points I'd not considered. For example, she notes that Planned Parenthood's lack of mammogram services have been exposed. The public now has a better picture of what exactly Planned Parenthood is up to, and the answer is providing abortions.
Take a look at the articles, and then let me know what you think of this controversy by leaving comments below.
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