Komen Official Quits After Planned Parenthood Controversy

A top executive at Susan G. Komen for the Cure resigned Tuesday over the breast cancer charity’s decision to back down from severing ties with Planned Parenthood.

Karen Handel, senior vice president of public policy for Komen, in recent days emerged as the figure behind the charity’s decision to prevent its local affiliates from making grants to Planned Parenthood clinics for breast-screening programs.

The charity said Friday that it wouldn’t go ahead with the move, following several days of harsh criticism that spread quickly through social media. In recent days, petitions have circulated online calling for Ms. Handel’s resignation.

Ms. Handel said in her resignation letter, which was earlier reported by the Associated Press, that she “openly acknowledge[d]” her involvement in the policy change “and continue[d] to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve.”

“What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision—one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact—has unfortunately been turned into something about politics…. This development should sadden us all greatly,” she wrote.

She also said that Komen had been trying to find a way to end its relationship with Planned Parenthood before she became the charity’s top lobbyist in the spring of 2011.       More