Reactions Heated on Planned Parenthood/Komen Rift

Planned Parenthood says it has received more than $400,000 from 6,000 donors in the 24 hours since news broke that its affiliates would be losing grants for breast screenings from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer foundation.

Komen, meanwhile, incurred vehement criticism from some members of Congress, numerous liberal advocacy groups and some newspaper editorial writers. But it was applauded by many conservative religious and anti-abortion groups that abhor Planned Parenthood for its role as the leading U.S. abortion provider.

Planned Parenthood says the funding cutoff was a result of Komen succumbing to pressure from anti-abortion activists. Komen, in a statement issued Wednesday evening, denied that politics played a role and reiterated that its decision was based on its newly adopted criteria for issuing grants.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)