By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-10-30 19:26:33 | Updated at 2024-10-30 21:38:36
2 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // After over a century of working together, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, is discontinuing its partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA over the organization’s promotion of gender and sexual ideologies that are contrary to the values and teachings of the Catholic Church.
“Scouting is fundamentally good – it builds virtue, discipline and community. It helps form responsible, well-rounded citizens. … Scouting can be an efficacious part of Catholic youth ministry, espousing a way of life congruent with the Gospel, as it has in our own archdiocese for decades,” wrote Archbishop Dennis Schnurr in a letter to parishioners announcing the change on October 28.
The letter continued:
Unfortunately, in recent years, Girl Scouts of the USA has embraced and promoted an impoverished worldview regarding gender and sexuality. Through some of their activities, resources, badges and awards, Girl Scouts — including the local chapter, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio — has contributed to normalizing a sexual and gender ideology contrary to the Catholic understanding of the human person made male and female in the image and likeness of God.
A webpage from the Archdiocese explains that while “most, if not all, of the Girl Scout troops associated with Catholic parishes and schools in the archdiocese have not participated in anything objectionable,” the decision to cut ties was made in light of issues related to the broader organization.
The Archbishop wrote in his letter, “The Archdiocese of Cincinnati cannot partner with an organization that, from its highest level, advocates ideas that the Church considers false and harmful to girls, regardless of the good that otherwise might be accomplished through that organization.”
Noted in the Archdiocesan webpage is that Girl Scouts has promoted a “LGBTQ+ Pride Month Fun patch” that, for example, can be earned by in part attending LGBT pride celebrations; and watching Girl Scouts-recommended documentaries and movies, one of which is rated R, about LGBT history, and then talking about the films with friends, among other activities, according to the Archdiocesan webpage. Girl Scouts also recommends participants learn about LGBT identities’ definitions as given by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
A different patch can be earned by engaging in a “Social Identity Wheel” activity that asks participants to share their “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” when filling out the wheel. Gender identities that participants can choose from include “transgender” and “gender non-binary,” among others.
The Archdiocese’s decision to cut ties with Girl Scouts did not occur overnight, but rather came after dialogue and efforts that culminated in an impasse in April, according to the webpage.
In 2012, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched an investigation into Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) over reports of the organization’s ties to International Planned Parenthood and promotion pro-abortion and pro-contraceptive legislation. Based on the USCCB’s findings, dioceses and archdioceses were recommended to work with their local Girl Scouting troops to ensure the activities of troops on Catholic campuses were acceptable.
In 2016, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati reached a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. In 2021, as this MOU was expiring, the Archdiocese uncovered “concerns previously not identified about a growing advocacy, both at the national and local levels, for sexual and gender ideologies contrary to the Catholic understanding of the human person and moral teaching of the Church,” according to the webpage.
This launched a dialogue described by the Archdiocese as “[c]ordial and mutually respectful” between the two parties. The Archdiocese expressed its concerns, and also proposed a new MOU. In response, the local Girl Scouts offered with their own MOU that “failed to address the fundamental concerns of the archdiocese.” After further efforts to reach an agreement, the impasse was apparent.
According to news outlet Local12, the Archdiocese’s partnership with Girl Scouts was 110 years old.
“While this development is difficult to share,” Archbishop Schnurr wrote in his letter, “it does not diminish my profound respect and appreciation for the many Girl Scout leaders in our archdiocese who have faithfully served our youth. Your mentorship has made a difference in the lives of many and I am very grateful for your service.” He asked the faithful to pray for cultural renewal through the Gospel and Our Lady’s intercession.
In a statement about the Archdiocese ending the partnership, the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio said, “We are deeply disappointed by this decision,” later noting that they “remain open to a mutually respectful dialogue,” according to Local12. The statement did not mention the Archdiocese’s concerns over the broader organization’s promotion of gender and sexual ideologies. The full statement can be read here.
The Archdiocese is giving local chapters that use Catholic parish or school grounds 14 months to either disband, find a different meeting location, or convert their troops to a Christian alternative organization.
All programs at parishes and schools within the archdiocese need to “affirm virtues and values consistent with the teaching of Jesus Christ,” reads the Archdiocese webpage.
The third option for these local troops is for them to convert to American Heritage Girls (AHG) troops. AHG is a Christian organization that has been endorsed by Archbishop Schnurr.
“AHG is openly Christ-centered and dedicated to helping girls respond to God’s call to grow in purity, service, stewardship and integrity,” reads the Archdiocese webpage.
AHG “and its values are perfectly aligned with Catholic youth ministry,” it adds, noting the organization openly shares the Church’s understanding that human beings are made in the image of God.
