The cancer research fund-raising season is well under way and many people, by contributing to door-to-door solicitation, cancer walk-a-thons and other venues for raising money, are unknowingly providing funds for human embryonic stem cell research.One of the USA’s major cancer research fund-raising groups, the “Susan B. Komen for the Cure” breast cancer organization, which endorses embryonic stem cell research and denies the connection between abortion and breast cancer as well as the connection between chemical contraception and breast cancer, has given significant sums of money to cancer research organizations which focus their efforts on human embryonic stem cells.

Komen’s 2007 Parent tax return, indicates that the American Association for Cancer Research, whose research position statement says: “Stem cell research - including research involving human embryonic stem cells - is essential to the advancement of cancer research, according to a position statement adopted by the Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research,” received $2.5 million.

Massachusetts General Hospital Research, whose website states that human embryonic stem cells have never been used successfully to treat any human diseases (http://www.massgeneral.org/regenmed/forthepublic_faq.htm#excited), received $1,266,328.

Yale University Research posses an active policy regarding the conduct of human embryonic stem cell research (http://www.yale.edu/provost/html/escropolicy.html), and received $1,465,856.

$2,045,354 was given to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-013.html), whose stated purpose from their Information Overview “… is to increase the numbers of biomedical scientists who are pursuing research involving human embryonic stem cells (HESC).”

Your local Avon Lady may also ask you to buy a pin or ribbon to support breast cancer research while you are browsing her line of personal care products. Avon Foundation’s tax return reveals the substantial sum of $3,250,000 was given to the Massachusetts General Hospital, whose policy on embryonic stem cell research is referenced above.

The Canadian Cancer Society, which is currently soliciting donations, also supports embryonic stem cell research.

Catholics are encouraged to direct donations to local Catholic hospitals that provide breast cancer services including detection, treatment, research and patient support groups, rather than supporting any fundraising that may direct your contribution to human embryonic stem cell research.