As Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years

The following excerpts come from a May 11 story of Catholic News Agency.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Girl Scouts of the USA is continuing to fall under scrutiny for its alleged connections to groups that promote abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, said that the bishops are looking into concerns about the Girl Scouts organization.

In March, Bishop Rhoades penned a letter to his fellow bishops explaining that the committee recently met and discussed “a variety of the concerns” that have been voiced about Girl Scouts of the USA over several years, including “possible problematic relationships with other organizations” and “problematic programmatic materials and resources.” 

In recent years, the Girl Scouts have met with increased allegations of acting against traditional values.

In 2010, two teenage girls who had spent eight years in Girl Scouts left the organization and created Speak Now: Girl Scouts, a website dedicated to raising awareness about the problems they discovered within the organization.

The two young teens – Tess and Sydney – said that it had become “increasingly apparent” that the Girl Scouts organization had values that were incompatible with their own.

“Leaving Girl Scouts was not a casual, easy, or convenient decision,” they said. However, in the end, they decided that they needed to “stand for our beliefs, for the dignity of life, the sanctity of marriage, modesty, purity.”

Concerns over ties to Planned Parenthood also led 10-year-old Grace Swanke to leave her Girl Scout troop and start selling her own cookies, which she calls “Cookies for Life.” She donates the proceeds from her sales to pro-life groups.

Two years ago, concerns were raised over reports that a sexually explicit Planned Parenthood brochure had been distributed at an international Girl Scouts meeting.

In January 2012, a Colorado troop attracted criticism for allowing a 7-year-old transgender child to join, despite the fact that he was not a girl.

Objections have also been voiced to the Girl Scouts’ relationships with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, an organization that promotes abortion, contraception and homosexuality around the globe.

Representatives of the Girl Scouts denied having knowledge of the Planned Parenthood brochures at the conference and have said that the organization does not take a stand on abortion or birth control.

However, controversy over the organization continues and has drawn the attention of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Voicing gratitude for the work that Catholic Girl Scout troops have done to serve girls and the wider community for many years, Bishop Rhoades also recognized in his recent letter that some important questions remain unanswered on both the local and national levels.

He reiterated his intent “to keep the bishops apprised of the Committee’s ongoing consideration of this matter.”

Bishop Rhoades said that the committee hopes to offer resources for “local level use” by bishops, priests, youth ministers and educational leaders.

These resources “may include considerations related to the identity of Catholic troops and considerations that may be helpful for parents,” he explained.

Furthermore, he said, the committee has recommended having staff from the bishops’ conference work with the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry to identify and address and remaining questions or concerns that remain at the local level.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declined to comment on the matter with the Girl Scouts because it is ongoing.

However, the controversy has led some families to pull their daughters out of Girl Scouts and turn instead to other organizations that offer some of the same activities for young girls, but with a Christian approach.

American Heritage Girls, a Judeo-Christian focused girls organization, was founded in 1995 in Ohio by a group of parents seeking “a wholesome program for their daughters” to contrast the secular options available.

The organization has grown to more than 19,000 members in 45 states.

Recent years have also brought significant growth for the Little Flowers Girls’ Club, a Catholic program for girls aimed at promoting virtue by exploring saints, Scripture and the Catechism.

Started in 1993 by a Catholic mom of 11, Little Flowers now has some 50 registered groups throughout the U.S. and Canada, although registration is optional, as the groups are run at the local level.

The group says that it “strives to bring the Catholic faith alive and inspire the girls to become authentic Catholic women.”

For original story, Click here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:15 AM By JMJ
According to A.L.L. and Judie Brown, there is a man that is suppose to be overseeing the Girl Scouts; sorry, I can’ remember his name, of which the Bishops rely heavily on his information. Sadly, he has been blinded to the facts and finds ‘no problems’ with the Girl Scouts. He should be removed from his post as he is endangering the lives of far too many of our young girls. Every Catholic should avoid contact with the Girl Scouts of America, as I do, until they get back on track again and clean house. Their cookies are not as great as they used to be and the price is criminal and if the Mass. Dept. of ‘Public Health’ were brave enough, they would ban all sales of these cookies. +JMJ+

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:36 AM By max
who would have thunk? i thought they just promoted cookies and having fun!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:16 AM By Tracy
Gods plan: plant and nurture. The devils plan: infiltrate and destroy.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:27 AM By Cody in Tucson
Passing the Girl Scouts selling cookies outside of Safeway I wanted to say “do you know that your organization supports the abortion, contraception, gay, radical feminist agenda, heck no I won’t buy your cookies!”, but my wife just won’t let me do it. “Yes dear!” That’s why we get married to good Catholic women.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:22 AM By Dana
Having been a girl scout as a girl and as an adult a brownie leader, it saddens me to see the infiltration of sleezy organizations like FP trying to gain a foothold but the local groups are still composed of dear little girls being taught by caring mothers and it would be foolish to condemn them in an effort to get at the others. Think of those sweet little girls doing their best to be faithful scouts, out selling cookies and having people give them dirty looks as though they were doing something wrong. At least, give something to the girls for their troop’s funds if you don’t want to support the cookie drives.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 12:07 PM By Catherine
This topic was discussed before on CCD and it is important to note that the poster who uses the name k also ran interference to protect the image of the the Girl Scouts. In 2010 Girl Scouts USA published a book called MEdia. The publication designed for girls in grade six through eight is a guide that offers insight into how young people should process messages. On page 26, a very curious recommendation is given under the headlines “Consider the Source”, text encourages girls to go to the George Soros funded MEdia Matters for America website to clear up any media misinformation. Thank you Bishop Kevin Rhoades for looking into this matter.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 12:35 PM By Brad
Cody, yes, I think the same thing. Oh, how sad it is sometimes to be in this world and see the demon and his sickening legion manipulating us. It is now coming on a par with Soylent Green. Actually, I saw how they found vitamin capsules in China a week or so ago made proudly with powdered abortions. Yes.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:03 PM By Abeca Christian
Get rid of Girls Scouts, don’t buy their cookies and don’t place your daughters there. Try other clubs that are more within faith based leadership! Help other clubs grow, let Girls Scouts decrease! Educate others on the truth about Girls Scouts, word of mouth is great! Not everyone knows, so lovingly show them the facts!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:03 PM By Bob One
Cody in Tucson, say it to the leaders, not the kids. Most of the kids that age would not know what you were talking about. Most of the troop leaders (mothers in the neighborhood) wouldn’t know what you were talking about either. They just want to give the kids a good time-camping, etc. We need to deal with the adults in charge, not the little kids.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 2:37 PM By Abeca Christian
Catherine yes I recall that thread. You are right but I think that the poster you mentioned may deny what you are pointing out. Even though it was obvious. I am tired of many who work against good. Whether they may know it or not but they are actually stooping so low because they are interfering from getting the truth out and actually bringing more confusion instead of clarity. De-sensitizing sin, many do that with the confusion they bring!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:01 PM By Angelo
Cody in Tucson. Thank God for your wife! What a inapropriate thing to say to little girls. But then thats you. By chance were those little girls Hispanic?

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:03 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
As a Senior Scouter, over 30 years, I wonder why the Catholic Scouting Committee just doesn’t break away from the Feminist “leadership” and start Catholic Girl Scouts of America. The woman who brought me back into Scouting, also was active in Girl Scouts, when she found out that some of the Counselors at the Summer Camp were active Lesbians, she withdrew her daughter and herself from them. If your daughter is a Girl Scout, she is getting their monthly magazine that is full of feminist trash. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:27 PM By k
“Reaching Girls Before It’s Too Late” May11 2011 I have two posts. It was another close encounter with Catherine who posted as TheTruthHurts back then.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:34 PM By JLS
Brad, I saw that same heads up on the pills made from aborted babies. The Chinese government is reported to be cracking down on that bizarre industry. More investigation should be done and more of it brought clearly into the public eye.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:36 PM By max
@ CODY IN TUCSCON, your post was a scream. i can just see yo0ur wife saying, “don’t you dare speak to those little girls!” besides, they might try to sell you the liver-flavoured cookies if youd did!!!!!!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 5:57 PM By Cody in Tucson
To those upset about my thoughts entering Safeway – I did buy 2 boxes from the little girl in my neighborhood who came to my house with her wagon and her mom selling cookies. Of course I requested 3 pieces of photo ID to make sure they were living in the neighborhood legally before I made the purchase. And, the liver-cream filled cookies are pretty good!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:38 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Angelo, there you go with the race card again! What’s going on with you? What possible difference could it make what race the little girls were that Cody passed outside of the grocery store without saying what was on his mind, not about racism, but about the girl scouts? It seems you are burning with racial issues yourself lately – or has your wild racism-imagining been running away with you all these years? You’re starting to make me nervous with your gunning for someone you can accuse of racial issues when absolutely none are there! You’re starting to sound as if you are going over the top with the racism stuff. Get a grip, my friend! Most of us don’t even think about racism, let alone constantly imagine it hiding under every bed. You might find it wise to imagine you are wrong every time you imagine you have detected racism in every post. By the way, I have a Mexican goddaughter and have quietly helped support a large Mexican family for over 20 years, so please don’t try to pull the race card on me too. I am posting to help you back to sanity on this issue, not to become the next person to be falsely accused of racism because I disagree with you.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:58 AM By jeff
1, my daughters are not in girl scouts. 2. I have resarched this issue heavily and I cannot find any concrete proof that GS supports PP. The only offense I can find is that some of the national leadership is pro-choice. I doubt any national womes group does not have the same problem.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:07 AM By OSCAR
Angelo, the Catholic Faith has nothing to do with race. I’m sorry that you believe it does. There must be no discrimination and no favoritism – this is in the CCC and the Bible. We all support LEGAL immigration and LEGAL trade.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:31 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Oscar, 7:07 AM, I am a long time Scouter in the BSA, did you even read my posting of 3:03 PM? God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:15 PM By aj10
For decades it has been common knowledge that at the top, the BSA were evangelical Christians and at the top, the GSA was pro-lesbian/feminism/etc. What I am reading is not news to me. What individual girls will meet is the values of their individual scout leaders. If the leader is a Christian, they will be taught Christian values. If it is a feminist, they will be indoctrinated into feminism.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:40 PM By JLS
OSCAR, while you are equivocating over legal vs alleged illegal immigration, the farmers in the Pacific Northwest do not have enough field workers to harvest the crops, which are going to waste. Be careful to adhere to the US Constitution which says a man is not guilty until proven guilty by a court of law. Your “illegal” immigrants are typically not taken to court and thus are not illegal at all. People on the fringes of the food chain will go hungry and starve while you debate and fuss over legal technicalities … hope you sleep better now.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 10:48 AM By MacDonald
JLS makes a very good point about our country’s situation and the harvesting of crops. I just read a very sad article about the situation in Alabama, which created some very severe anti-immigrant laws, only to now find themselves in the position JLS describes — no one to harvest the food we need. The American citizens too lazy to do such work sit around collecting welfare checks, and the people who ARE willing to do such labor are now scared to show up for work. Great move, Alabama…

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:31 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
6:15 PM By aj10, No matter who their local leaders are, they are still subjected to their feminist writers in their National publications! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:33 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
11:40 PM By JLS, The Republicans have constantly tried to get a “Guest Worker” plan passed, and it was the Demoncrats and their Union owners who have prevented it. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher