The Archdiocese of Atlanta has told Roman Catholic organizations in the region to cut off their support for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer charity because it provides grants to Planned Parenthood.

“Until recently, donations to the greater Atlanta affiliate of the Komen fund did not constitute a direct cooperation with evil, because none of the money they raised went to Planned Parenthood,” Pat Chivers, communications director of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, said in a statement.

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Earlier this year Komen decided to halt grants to Planned Parenthood, but the charity reversed course after a public outcry. Funds from Komen helped underwrite cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood health centers for more than 170,000 lower-income women in the last five years.

According to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Komen Atlanta “worked behind the scenes to encourage the national Komen office to resume funding for Planned Parenthood.”

“We no longer support the Komen fund in any manner because of this very public display of pro-abortion conformity. We found the action of the Komen fund disappointing, discouraging, and we do not see how continued support is possible at this time.”

However, Komen Atlanta has never provided grants to Planned Parenthood, though the national Komen office has, according to 11alive.com.

Approximately 36 percent of Georgia women over age 40 have not had a mammogram in the past year, according to Komen Atlanta. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates breast cancer will be responsible for nearly 40,000 deaths this year.

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[Race for the cure via Flickr user Renee V, Creative Commons licensed]