Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) has issued a statement in response to the decision of St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson to ask pastors to seek alternatives to the Girl Scouts and is insisting that the organization is “non-political” and compatible with Catholic values.
The Huffington Post is reporting on GSUSA’s response to Carlson’s rebuke of the Scouts which came in the form of a letter advising all parishes that host a troop to meet with troop leaders and begin to come up with an alternative program for girls.
This decision came as a result of a years-long attempt by the Church to deal with the increasingly liberal stance of the Girl Scouts who are associated with advocacy for abortion, contraception, homosexuality and transgenderism.
In its response to Carlson’s letter, the organization is once again resorting to its usual disingenuous claims that the company takes no position on abortion or contraception. However, the organization has several well-documented connections to Planned Parenthood, including allowing local councils to associate with pro-abortion organizations such as Planned Parenthood if they please – and plenty of them do – while the GSUSA does nothing to stop this.
The Church has also been troubled by its association with WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), an umbrella organization which advocates for accessible abortion and “sexual rights” for youth.
In response to Carlson’s concerns, GSUSA once again stated that it is a separate organization from WAGGGS – but that’;s not the issue. The problem is that GSUSA pays an annual quota fee to WAGGGS which is derived from scout dues, which upsets many scouts and troop leaders who don’t want to fund WAGGGS and its various immoral advocacies.
In spite of these and a host of other troubling associations, a spokeswoman for Girl Scouts USA denied that its practices contradict church teachings.
“Girl Scouts of the USA looks forward to extending our longstanding relationship with faith-based organizations, including the Catholic Church and Catholic communities, throughout the country,” the spokeswoman said in a statement. “As the preeminent leadership development organization for girls of every faith and background, we remain committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”
As the Post reports, the spokeswoman would not directly address the archdiocese’s claims that it had promoted Steinem and Friedan as role models and instead provided a statement saying only that the Girl Scouts is a “non-political, non-partisan organization.”
“Building girls’ leadership skills is a non-political, non-partisan agenda,” the spokeswoman said.
Depending on who is at the helm, “buildling girls’ leadership skills” can be very political, and very partisan, a fact GSUSA has proven over and over again.
But as an organization, the Girls Scouts has good reason for concern over Carlson’s move. There are more than 4,000 troops affiliated with Catholic schools and parishes in Eastern Missouri and man of those troops will have to find a new home as a result of Carlson’s order.
Gabe Jones, a spokesman for the St. Louis Archdiocese, confirmed to the Post that if a Catholic pastor determines that a local Girl Scout troop is not achieving “mission effectiveness” in advancing Catholic faith, the priest can choose to oust it.
St. Louis is not the only diocese in the U.S. that has voiced serious concerns over the liberalism that has taken over the Girl Scouts. It’s only a matter of time before we know if other diocese will choose to follow Carlson’s lead and decide to no longer gamble with the health and well-being of our girls.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Looking for an alternative to the Girl Scouts? Young Women of Grace is aimed at 12-17 year old girls and teaches them to recognize their feminine genius and inherent dignity as daughters of God to form them into strong, capable and grace-filled leaders of tomorrow. Click here for more information.
