Jared Moore

For those who haven’t heard, Lifeway recently pulled all copies of a special pink-covered Bible that partially benefited Susan G. Komen for the Cure because some of Komen’s affiliates have given money to Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion provider.  

Baptist Press reports:

For each sale of the Here’s Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Bible — published by LifeWay’s publishing arm, B&H — $1 was donated to Susan G. Komen, a popular charity that works toward finding cures for and raising awareness of breast cancer. Earlier this year the pro-life group American Life League reported that 18 of Komen’s affiliates had given more than $600,000 to Planned Parenthood during 2009-10, the last year for which stats are available. Komen said the money was for breast exams, but the fact that Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider caused pro-life organizations to criticize the Komen-Planned Parenthood ties.

Here is Thom Rainer’s full statement concerning Lifeway’s decision to pull the Bibles from the market (via Baptist Press):

We made a mistake.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, B&H 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.

I just wanted to publicly thank Thom Rainer and Lifeway for their decision.  I imagine that the cost to print these Bibles and the process necessary to remove them from the market costs money.  Even in the economy the United States is in, you still decided to live out your core values.  I especially loved this statement by Rainer, “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.”

So, Thank you Lifeway and Dr. Rainer.  You’ve publicly shown that human life is more valuable than the “almighty dollar.”  Southern Baptists should be thankful for your stand!  Continue on for God’s glory alone.

Source: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=36798 (Go to Baptist Press to read more about this story.)

Incoming search terms for the article:

• notes from survey of christian ethics dr magnuson