Contact: Austin Ruse, President, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), 202-393-7002 

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following statement is submitted by Austin Ruse:

"Today the Susan G. Komen Foundation made an announcement that appears that they have reversed themselves on funding of Planned Parenthood. While I do not believe they have reversed themselves, it may turn out to be the case. We do not know.

"What happened this week was nothing short of a Mafia shakedown campaign by Planned Parenthood against the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

"Planned Parenthood told the Komen Foundation 'either give us money or we will destroy you.' They were aided and abetted in this hostage taking by the mainstream media.

"At this point, pro-lifers should cease their support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We should wait and see what happens. We know there are five more Komen grants to Planned Parenthood in the pipeline. If any more come up, we will know we have lost and Planned Parenthood has won.

"I do not regret the work I did over the past days on this issue, neither should any pro-lifer. I only regret we could not have done more to make Komen strong and able to fight off the thuggish abortion giant, Planned Parenthood.

"What the week has shown is that Planned Parenthood, an organization that is under criminal investigation all over this country, will stop at nothing to maintain their stranglehold on organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

"We should continue to pray for Nancy Brinker and all of her colleagues at the Susan G. Komen Foundation."

Austin Ruse is president of C-FAM, a New York and Washington DC-based research institute working exclusively on International social policy.