What a nasty thing to say!
Why is it nasty? The statement is not particularly nuanced and goes so far as to insist that a charitable organization largely dedicated to medical science bypass normal scientific methodolgy and accept specific research findings from individual researchers.
Compare this to the position from Pheonix, which applauds the overall goal and work of the foundation, but makes a narrow, nuanced argument about Planned Parenthood, not Komen, missusing funds, specifically in the local area.
Bishops, by and large, are always aware of their collegial structure and overall obligations. I am not saying that they are perfect, but berating an organization that has done tremendous public good for not breaking ranks with the rest of the main stream cancer research community and accepting what is currently minority opinion research as undisptuted fact is the sort of long term, potentially backfiring, overstep that they tend to avoid.
But I guess we are creatures of habit. I’ve noted that I find one of the cricisms valid, but it is an area in which many Catholics (including you, per your own statements) compromise. I’ve also noted that we are talking about a relatively small amount of money, specifically ear marked to get breast cancer screening to women who otherwise would not have access to it. This does not, by itself, invalidate the fiduciary argument, but I’d find the argument more credible if it were more generally applied. I probably have a larger financial connection to abortion, stem cell research, and euthanasia in my 401K than this one, and I strive to make pro-life, pro-social justice investments. And, as noted, you agressively support groups with larger financial entanglements than this.
But, as usual, your response is centered on personal indignation and rpp’s is limited exclusively to indirect back biting (somehow I think he is never going to forgive me for pointing out that he was berating me for quoting, near verbatim, the Church document he was using to prove how ‘wrong’ I was)…
Again, I’m not saying Catholics should not follow their concience or the guidance of their bishop. I’m just saying that we should keep perspective. We are talking about an organization that has done tremendous good which invested a small amount of money in getting breast cancer exams to women who would likely not have access otherwise. It was dispensed per a specific fixed grant application criteria, and all funds were ear marked.
If this is a major dilmena, then a lot of the rock throwers might want to make sure they are not in glass homes. Likewise, they might want to ask themselves if they really should be in the business of demanding only specific research results be accepted in medical science.
