Christian Retailing

LifeWay Bible withdrawn over abortion links Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Thursday, 15 December 2011 10:07 AM America/New_York

B&H Publishing Group is pulling a special edition Bible from stores following concern about its links to a pro-abortion group.

Released in October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the pink-cover Here’s Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Bible has been on sale in the general market, with $1 from each sale going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast health education, screening and treatment programs.

But LifeWay Christian Resources (LCR), B&H’s parent organization, has decided to withdraw the edition after learning that some Komen affiliates have given money to Planned Parenthood, whose own affiliates offer breast exams.

“We made a mistake,” said LCR President and CEO Thom Rainer in a statement. “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 was unchanged, Rainer said, “so we will continue to seek innovative ways that are in keeping with LifeWay’s core values.”

Marty King, spokesman for LCR, told Baptist Press that the Bibles were not sold in LifeWay Christian Stores, but at mass retailers like Wal-Mart. The goal had been to “get the Bible into the hands of people who may not frequent LifeWay Christian Stores or LifeWay.com,” he said.