Girl Scouts Feel the Bite of Low Cookie Sales – Thank Planned Parenthood

March 5, 2012 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 03/05/2012

Girl Scout cookiesMartinsburg, WV – All the excitement over the Susan G. Komen defunding-then-refunding Planned Parenthood fiasco has died down. This is, in no small part, thanks to the fact that Komen did in fact reinstate its funding of Planned Parenthood and pro-life Senior VP Karen Handle is no longer with the organization. I think this is also due to the collective disgust felt by millions of pro-life advocates that prematurely gave Komen a slap on the back and promise of support.

Is it possible the whole thing was nothing more than an ingenious PR campaign on the part of both organizations designed to boost donations? Because the fiasco accomplished that goal. No, no, no wild conspiracy theories here.

What is not dying down is the anger over the partnership between Planned Parenthood and the Girl Scouts. This is a scenario straight from Cecile Richards’ nightmares as both organizations are being blasted from all sides for a partnership they say doesn’t exist; while more and more evidence of the partnership surfaces.

Cathy Cleaver Ruse has a very informative article in the Washington Times showing the deep and secure partnership between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood. At this point, trying to deny the partnership exists is somewhat like trying to deny the earth revolves around the sun; or that the sun exists. No one’s buying it. Ruse says:

“If Girl Scout defenders call this old news, show them the current Planned Parenthood sex-ed program, ‘Real Life. Real Talk,’ where the Girl Scouts of NYPENN are listed as a valuable partner. (A screenshot of the page is saved at FRCBlog.com.)…A cottage industry of Girl Scouts watchdog groups has flourished online with names like Girl Scouts Why Not, 100 Questions For the Girl Scouts, Honest Girl Scouts, Speak NowGirl Scouts…Visit these sites to see Girl Scouts tax returns showing its annual million-dollar-plus contribution to the radical World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, an aggressively pro-abortion organization that openly partners with International Planned Parenthood Federation. (Incidentally, every little girl who signs up for the Girl Scouts is automatically made a member of this umbrella group.) See the biographies of speakers at the Girl Scouts’ 2011 national convention and discover their positions withPlanned Parenthood and their promotion of Planned Parenthood. Read experts from Girl Scouts literature encouraging girls to visit Planned Parenthood programs and websites.”

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

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Open Letter to Komen from Dr. Gerard Nadal

February 6, 2012 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 02/06/2012

Komen Pink RibbonMartinsburg, WV – It’s not often I post an open letter for our readers. But this one is both informative and speaks to the issues taking place with Susan G. Komen and their recent decision to defund Planned Parenthood. I have talked with a number of people that are confused or have been misinformed about the decision and are not sure exactly what is taking place. This letter I believe helps to clarify the situation and speak truth to the legitimacy of why it was necessary to defund Planned Parenthood.

Take a few moments to read Dr. Nadal’s letter – especially the last two paragraphs. Dr. Nadal is one of America’s most prolific pro-life writers. His blog is widely respected for integrating science with the pro-life movement to show how life begins at conception and should be defended from that time to natural death. You will no doubt be blessed by this article, encouraged by Komen’s decision, and equipped to discuss intelligently on the topic should it arise in your day.

An Open Letter to Susan G. Komen Founder, Nancy Brinker
by Gerard Nadal, Ph.D.

Dear Ms. Brinker,

As one who has been at odds with SGK over your organization’s funding of Planned Parenthood, I write today to offer you my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations for the principled and prudential position that you have taken in defunding Planned Parenthood.

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

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I’m So Angry at Komen – Might Not Be the Best Response

February 4, 2012 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 02/04/2012

Komen pink ribbonMartinsburg, WV – Maybe you’ve felt a wide range of emotions this week in light of the Susan G. Komen media circus that’s taken place. First we were shocked with happiness at the decision to defund Planned Parenthood and it seemed another giant step in the fight to defend life had been taken. Then the backlash started against Komen for their decision; and it wasn’t pretty – then again abortion isn’t a pretty thing so when pro-abortion advocates are upset it tends to be an ugly sight. Then out of the blue we start seeing headlines that Komen has reversed their decision and will keep funding Planned Parenthood.

Whew…it’s been a wild few days and I am exhausted. But, there is a lot of misinformation out there and it needs to be cleared up before we go any further.

If you missed it, I highly encourage you to read this article by FPCWV president Jeremy Dys. Jeremy does an excellent job of clearing up some of the confusion taking place. After phone calls and inquiries by friends wanting to know what is going on, I want to take a few moments to try and alleviate anger with what I believe is a win for life.

To get a competent grasp on the events of the last few days I would encourage reading several articles. Specifically, this article from The Blaze reprints Komen for the Cure founder and CEO Nancy Brinker’s media statement on the “reversal.” Another article by Newsmax.com is important because it gives the number of “mammogram referrals” Planned Parenthood did over the last five years. This little number has huge implications. This article from Lifenews.com carries comments by a Komen board member in light of these events. Finally, this article from Citizenlink.com has the reactions of a number of pro-life leaders from across the nation to this confusing news.

So now you’ve read a number of articles and have a better handle on what is taking place. Let me see if I can make a little more sense and clarify why I am – as others have noted – “cautiously optimistic” – about what has taken place.

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

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Please Do Not Buy This Bible!

January 2, 2012 By

Correction (1/4/12): After this article was published and then distributed widely across our statewide network of churches and families, it came to our attention that Lifeway has since stopped this ill-fated project.  You can read more about this error here.  Below is the entire statement from Lifeway’s CEO announcing the error:

We made a mistake.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, B&H Publishing Group released to several mass market retailers a Cancer Awareness Bible as a way to place God’s Word into the hands of those suffering through breast cancer. As part of the project, B&H agreed to donate $1 from the sale of each Bible to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for breast health education, screening and treatment programs.

As this project has developed, we realized it was a mistake.

When our leadership discovered the overwhelming concern that some of Komen’s affiliates were giving funds to Planned Parenthood, we began the arduous process of withdrawing this Bible from the market. Though we have assurances that Komen’s funds are used only for breast cancer screening and awareness, it is not in keeping with LifeWay’s core values to have even an indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood.

B&H’s mission to advance the gospel through distribution of God’s Word is unchanged, so we will continue to seek innovative ways that are in keeping with LifeWay’s core values.

Thom S. Rainer
President and CEO
LifeWay Christian Resources

——————-ORIGINAL STORY——————-

by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/02/2012

Pink Komen BibleMartinsburg, WV – It probably seems odd to you that a faith based organization such as the Family Policy Council of West Virginia is asking you not to buy a Bible. It might seem even stranger knowing that I am a pastor with many Bibles on my shelves. But let me assure you that there is good reason for me asking you not to buy this very brightly colored pink Bible.

The Bible is a life changing book containing the words of God Almighty. The pages of Scripture have the ability to speak hope into the circumstances of life that each of us are facing. I can think of no better place to find grace, truth, love, and life than in the words of this sacred text. So the idea of buying a Bible and helping support abortion is so appalling to me that I am now asking you not to buy this Bible.

This new Bible comes from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation for breast cancer research in conjunction with Lifeway Christian Stores and B&H Publishing (the publisher known for the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). You might be thinking that all that sounds well and good considering that Lifeway is the Christian stores of the Southern Baptist Convention and the HCSB Bible is a well-respected modern translation; and you would be right.

The problem here is that the link between Komen and Planned Parenthood has been well established. Komen, in 2010 alone gave more than half a million dollars to Planned Parenthood for “breast cancer screenings and women’s health.” But the truth is that very few (if any) Planned Parenthood clinics actually do mammograms or any other form of breast health examinations. So the money Komen funnels into Planned Parenthood is actually serving to fund abortion.

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You Want the Facts on Planned Parenthood? Here’s the Facts

November 8, 2011 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 11/08/2011

Martinsburg, WV – What is the overriding mission of Planned Parenthood? If you listen to PP president Cecile Richards you would think that it was to “help women” and provide

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards

Cecile Richards seems to have a friend in the White House

 “quality medical care.” Richards talks so often about all the wonderful “medical services” PP provides – such as mammograms, prenatal care, and cancer screenings, etc. If you didn’t know better you would think that all these wonderful things are the primary mission of PP and the main services provided.

I hope you know better by now.

 Lest there be any doubt whatsoever that PP’s mission is to perform as many abortions as possible, check out this article showing the statistics on PP services.

“According to Tait Sye, national spokeswoman of Planned Parenthood, 63 of the more than 800 Planned Parenthood facilities in America provide the option of prenatal care to pregnant clients—that’s 7.8% of the clinics.  On the other hand, 321 of the clinics—about 40%— provide abortion services, and every one refers for abortion…”

To further show exactly why PP exists, look at the breakdown of client services:

“332,278 of Planned Parenthood’s clients obtain abortions, while 7,021 of them received prenatal care, and 977 did adoption referrals through Planned Parenthood.”

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cover Up? Is the Abortion-Breast Cancer Link Being Covered Up?

October 27, 2011 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 10/27/2011

Martinsburg, WV – One thing you can count on here at the Family Policy Council of West Virginia (FPCWV) is our dedication to advancing, defending, and equipping the people of

pink ribbon

Is the pink ribbon helping spread breast cancer?

 West Virginia and the surrounding areas with the information you need to make informed decisions. At times it seems the media and other news outlets almost hide the truth and bury the evidence in order to advance some socio-political agenda.

Consider the evidence showing a link between induced abortion and breast cancer. We’ve talked about this before; you can read what we have previously written here, or here; just to mention a few. We’ve pondered why the abortion industry would cover up such vital information, or deny that a link even exists. And we asked why groups like Susan G. Komen, who are supposedly “racing for a cure” to cancer would give money to a group like Planned Parenthood, when such an obvious link between abortion and breast cancer exists.

We find all of these questions strange and difficult to answer. But the one thing we don’t have a hard time believing is that a link between abortion and breast cancer does exist. In fact, for this writer, this is a concrete fact that is impossible to deny.

Just recently I read a report that says over the last 54 years more than 80% of studies conducted show a positive link between induced abortion and breast cancer. That is a number that is hard for the staunchest skeptic to deny. The report states:

“Since 1957 there has been 66 studies done which looked at the relation of induced abortion and breast cancer, including 53 which showed a positive correlation and 25 that were statistically significant. There were only 13 which showed no association.”

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

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The Numbers are In. They Don’t Lie But Planned Parenthood Does.

July 28, 2011 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 07/28/2011

Politifact truth o meterMartinsburg, WV – Planned Parenthood. An organization that is worthy to be loathed entirely. This criminal organization has done nothing to help women, doesn’t offer mammograms, does very little prenatal or adoption referral work, help sex traffickers cover up their crimes, breaks state and federal laws, sucks millions of dollars from tax payers that could be going to legitimate health services organizations; all so they can sell as many abortions as possible in order to make billions of dollars at the expense of our children and women’s health.

Planned Parenthood.  To be honest, I have a hard time not speaking of this organization without disgust and disdain creeping into my voice. But I’ll refrain from sharing my personal opinion, and simply give you the facts. Maybe you will see something worthwhile in the existence of Planned Parenthood; I doubt it, but maybe.

I am sure you are well aware of the media’s fact checking website Politifact. This website fact-checks everything said by politicians and reports on the accuracy or falsity of the statement. (Insert sarcastic remark about how busy they must be here.)

No matter how anyone tries to spin the facts and distort the numbers, the staggering lopsided business of Planned Parenthood is well documented and impossible to deny. This is an abortion business that concentrates on offering, pushing and providing abortions. This is a business that cares far more about its bottom line than anything else; and the facts bear this out.

Consider these statistics:

“Planned Parenthood provided prenatal services to merely 7,021 women and referred only 977 women for adoption services. These numbers were a 25 percent drop in prenatal care clients and a whopping 59 percent decline in adoption referrals from the 2,405 adoption referrals in 2008. The abortion business helped only 9,433 prenatal clients in 2008, down substantially from the 11,000 women it provided prenatal care to in 2007 — showing health care given to pregnant woman has fallen substantially over the years.”

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Is Susan G. Komen a Complete Failure?

July 26, 2011 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 07/26/2011

Martinsburg, WV – We like to follow up stories we write in order to let you know how things progress with a particular issue and/or organization. Not too long ago Family Policy

Adult stem cell

Image of an adult stem cell

 Council president Jeremy Dys wrote about the Susan G. Komen foundation’s support for Planned Parenthood; I also wrote about the odd partnership between the two organizations.

Neither Jeremy nor I can figure out why Komen is sending money to a group for services they don’t perform (mammograms). And with the very well documented link between abortion and breast cancer the partnership between Komen and Planned Parenthood seems all the more unlikely and odd.

Komen is coming under attack again. This time for news that it regularly sends funds to organizations that conduct embryonic stem cell research.

Embryonic stem cell research is research conducted on human embryos. This is not an ethical form of research because it destroys a living human embryo in order to conduct its research. On the other hand, adult stem cell research is perfectly ethical simply because it uses a living person’s own mature, adult stem cells for research; thereby not killing any living human beings. But that’s not all.

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Susan G Komen: Race to Fund Abortion

June 21, 2011 By

by Nathan A. Cherry, 06/21/2011

Komen for the CureMartinsburg, WV – Planned Parenthood has made a fortune selling lies in order to advance their abortion industry. If they were completely honest – which seems like far too much to ask – they would admit that their number one priority is performing abortions. We all know this to be true, but they are still having trouble fessing up. Other services, say, mammograms, aren’t important enough for Planned Parenthood to actually perform; they just want to say they do in order to get money from the government (our money) and other organizations.

Enter the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

We’ve all heard of Komen for the Cure and perhaps you’ve even taken part in one of their marathons or other fundraising venues. But did you know you might have been raising money for abortion?

We’ve mentioned this before, but it is becoming more of an issue that Komen for the Cure gives money to the Planned Parenthood abortion industry. Specifically, Komen says they give money for mammograms. The problem is that Planned Parenthood doesn’t do mammograms…at all!

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About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

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Are You Going to Race for the Cure and Fund Abortion?

March 31, 2011 By

Does the Komen Foundation support the abortion industry?

Last year, I ran my first 5K.  At the end of May, I plan on running my first 15K.  In between, I was considering running another 5K as a warm up to what will be a significantly more difficult run at the end of the month.  As I looked for options in Charleston, WV, I noticed that the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is set for the first part of May.

While it is good timing to have such a race, I do not plan on running the race, but I might change my mind.

Don’t get me wrong.  The goals of the Komen foundation are laudable, noble, and necessary.  My wife’s grandmother battled (and won) breast cancer twice.  My own mother is a survivor of breast cancer.  It’s an evil reminder of our fallen world.  Watching a loved one fight that battle is heartbreaking.  My mother began her treatment mere days before my oldest son was born.  By God’s grace, not only did she get to meet my oldest son, but was present for the births of my other two boys.

For their work to fight breast cancer, I applaud the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Unfortunately, they may have lost my trust.  Why?  Komen appears to be investing in the abortion industry.

In the grand scheme of Planned Parenthood’s $2 billion budget, it’s not a big deal.  According to one report:

Komen’s own figures show 20 of Komen’s 122 affiliates have made donations to Planned Parenthood and, last year, those contributions totaled $731,303. Komen spokesman John Hammarley also confirmed Komen affiliates contributed about $3.3 million to the abortion business from 2004-2009.

via Komen Planned Parenthood Grants Questioned After Mammogram Expose’ | LifeNews.com.

And, I understand the rationale – I really do – that Komen has given that money so that Planned Parenthood will provide needed – and life-saving – mammography services.  But, as we have repeatedly pointed out, Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry does not provide mammograms! Planned Parenthood is, first and foremost, in the business of terminating children during pregnancy.

I am forced to invest a portion of my hard-earned dollars by the U.S. Government that provides more than $350,000,000 to the abortion industry.  Likewise, the State of West Virginia will arrest me if I refuse to pay my portion of the more than $300,000 tax dollars that fund the abortion industry in West Virginia.  While I am working to end those subsidies, I cannot in good conscience pay even a nominal race entrance fee, let alone raise money if even a portion of that money may make it to the abortion industry’s bank account.

Still, I want to be thorough.  So, I looked up the number for the chapter president of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and gave her a call.

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About Jeremy Dys

Jeremy Dys is the FPCWV's President and General Counsel. In addition to his duties of providing strategic vision and leadership to the FPCWV, Dys is the chief lobbyist and spokesman. Dys is regularly featured in local, state, and national print, radio, and television outlets. He lives close to Charleston with his wife and growing family.

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