SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A pink Bible was pulled from store shelves across the country, including those in Utah, after it was recalled by its publisher who says the special edition Bibles were a mistake.
LifeWay Christian Resources issued the recall after complaints about where one dollar from each Bible sale was going. The proceeds were dedicated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
LifeWay says it can no longer support the foundation because it has funded cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Local Lifeway shopper, Heidi Vanlostenvorp, says she admires the decision. “I think it's sad that any Bible would be pulled from the shelves but I also think it's noble that somebody stands up for what they believe in."
The Here's Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Bibles were removed from Wal-Mart and other retail stores.
The president of LifeWay says even an indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood is against its core values.
LifeWay says because Planned Parenthood provides a host of sexual health services, including abortion; it cannot support Susan G. Komen’s breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Tempesst Wall recently became a Christian who affiliates with LifeWay. She says she understands the value of some Planned Parent services, but as a Christian, she now stands with the publisher. She says LifeWay promotes sexual relationships only within marriage. "I think they are just trying to hold strong to that and just trying to promote what the Bible tells us."
Susan G. Komen for the Cure maintains none of the money raised from the sale of the pink Bible was used for anything but breast cancer screenings. The foundation also says the only losers in the controversy over the pink Bible are the women who need cancer screenings.
The special editions Bibles went on sale in October and were slated for sale through September of 2012. LifeWay says it will make good on the $25-thousand dollars in proceeds already earmarked for the foundation from Bible sales. That money will be designated for screening purposes only.
A media manager from LifeWay, the books publisher, contacted ABC 4 after this story aired to inform us the special edition Susan G. Komen Bibles were never sold at LifeWay stores but were instead sold at mass market retail stores including WalMart.
