Concerns Over Girl Scouts Persist Following USCCB Investigation

[estesbob]

WASHINGTON — Tensions between Girl Scouts’ messaging and Catholic teaching have led to a national boycott of Girl Scout cookies, the ousting of Girl Scouts from parishes, and a significant drop in Catholic membership in the Girl Scouts.

Read more: ncregister.com/daily-news/concerns-over-girl-scouts-persist-following-usccb-investigation/#ixzz37eaOqv1v

 

[J_Peterson]

I looked into this a bit last time there was a thread on it. I found the whole thing ridiculous. Profits from the cookie sales go directly to the troop selling them with the exception of a royalty fee that goes to the national organization. Basically the boycott hurts the girls themselves, not the national organization or any alleged radical feminist cause. Luckily that day there were some girls selling cookies in the train station. I made sure to buy a couple boxes.

 

[thestudentAD]

Just for laughs and I’m sorry if this offends anyone at all (Girl Scouts)
But, I saw a meme with a burning house in the background and a girl looking at it with the captions with something along the lines of:
Girl Scouts
You should’ve bought the cookies

 

[27lw]

I looked into this a bit last time there was a thread on it. I found the whole thing ridiculous. Profits from the cookie sales go directly to the troop selling them with the exception of a royalty fee that goes to the national organization. Basically the boycott hurts the girls themselves, not the national organization or any alleged radical feminist cause. Luckily that day there were some girls selling cookies in the train station. I made sure to buy a couple boxes.

Hmm. Not sure about that. I recall (a few years ago) that our troop didn’t make all that much from the cookies (25-50 cents per box, maybe?). Where does the other $3 or so go? It doesn’t cost all that much to manufacture those cookies. It’s all child labor anyway, so those “ladies” at the top can earn their big salaries, while the kids (and a parent) spend their weekend hours pestering people at various big box stores. Or their parents sell them at work.

 

[JimG]

Apparently the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did a two year study on this matter. Here is a Q&A on the USCCB website:

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/youth/catholic-scouting-questions.cfm

Former Denver Archbishop Conley wrote a column for the Denver Catholic Register about some concerns with the Girl Scouts. I can not find a link to the column, but these articles make reference to it.

womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=8220

osv.com/TodaysIssues/BioethicsandScience/Article/TabId/693/ArtMID/13736/ArticleID/3635/Girl-Scouts-At-odds-with-Catholic-teachings.aspx

It should be noted that some parishes have alternative organizations for girls.

 

[jeannetherese]

WASHINGTON — Tensions between Girl Scouts’ messaging and Catholic teaching have led to a national boycott of Girl Scout cookies, the ousting of Girl Scouts from parishes, and a significant drop in Catholic membership in the Girl Scouts.

Read more: ncregister.com/daily-news/concerns-over-girl-scouts-persist-following-usccb-investigation/#ixzz37eaOqv1v

Thanks for the update. I always politely tell the girls selling the cookies that I won’t purchase the cookies because the Girl Scouts organization supports abortion.
May God guide the membership towards policies which are consistently pro-life.
Amen.

 

[mountee]

To me the real issue is whether or not Catholic girls and their parishes should be a part of the GSUSA. This statement from the article sums it up:

“Additionally, there’s something amiss in fighting so hard to keep our girls in a secular organization while making efforts to protect them from elements of the organization.”
Said Saladin, “The funding and membership numbers of GSUSA and WAGGGS are strengthened, even with the most vigilant troop leaders, so Catholic complicity in the troubling messaging of GSUSA and WAGGGS is firmly in place as long as Catholic girls are Girl Scouts.”

Those of us who grew up in the Girl Scouts and loved every moment of it have to take a long, hard look at what being a part of the Girl Scouts means today. Like it or not it is one more secular group which has connections to issues that are not a part of our faith. It is more than buying or not buying cookies, it is about whether the GSUSA through its membership in the WAGGGS is supporting the programs, activities and associations that are contradictory to Catholic teaching. I am not completely sure on where to go with this in my life, but I am feeling that if I support anything knowingly that supports things that are in direct opposition to my faith then I give credibility to that contradictory message.

 

[JourneyForTruth]

The only question to be decided is when the Girl Scouts are viewed by the public, marching in a parade, doing a flag ceremony what is the perception of those viewing the uniform? Does the GS uniform stand for what each troop or council wants it to be? My boy Scout master said 'you need to stand for something or you will stand for nothing". I guess the GS uniform does really stand for anything much.

 

[SnowAngels]

Thanks for the update. I always politely tell the girls selling the cookies that I won’t purchase the cookies because the Girl Scouts organization supports abortion.
May God guide the membership towards policies which are consistently pro-life.
Amen.

Agreed. And to anyone who doesn’t believe it…here is the CEO admitting it: youtube.com/watch?v=ppX6oXCmHF4

 

[Path_Finder]

From 2005 so maybe this has changed but this is interesting:

“Groups that work with young people need to get out of the abortion-advocacy business,” Scott said. He identified Girls Inc., YWCA, Camp Fire, Girl Scouts, and Outward Bound as nonprofits that either have a pro-abortion policy statement or have worked with groups that do.

dakotavoice.com/200511/20051121_2.html

 

[_Abyssinia]

I looked into this a bit last time there was a thread on it. I found the whole thing ridiculous. Profits from the cookie sales go directly to the troop selling them with the exception of a royalty fee that goes to the national organization. Basically the boycott hurts the girls themselves, not the national organization or any alleged radical feminist cause. Luckily that day there were some girls selling cookies in the train station. I made sure to buy a couple boxes.

Today, cookie sales are a major operation, with royalties going to Girl Scouts of the USA from two large baking contracts, and fees to cover administrative costs of state and local council governance involving massive cookie shipments with ordering quotas and delivery rules.

tricitytribuneusa.com/girl-scout-cookies-and-monetary-policy/

By buying cookies from the Girl Scouts, you help to fund Girl Scouts USA.

 

[J_Peterson]

Hmm. Not sure about that. I recall (a few years ago) that our troop didn’t make all that much from the cookies (25-50 cents per box, maybe?). Where does the other $3 or so go? It doesn’t cost all that much to manufacture those cookies. It’s all child labor anyway, so those “ladies” at the top can earn their big salaries, while the kids (and a parent) spend their weekend hours pestering people at various big box stores. Or their parents sell them at work.

I didn’t go any further than the Girl Scouts website, I don’t have children and don’t have any direct experience with the organization. I’ll admit that when I was looking into it I did see some things that were troubling (not on the official website but other materials that people posted online) but it didn’t see anything that indicated it was system wide and didn’t seem like something worthy of a boycott. The girls that are selling cookies in the train station aren’t going to use the funds to advocate for abortion, they’re just little girls. Not buying cookies only hurts the girls that are selling them.

Does any of the money from cookie sales go to Girl Scouts of the USA (the national Girl Scout organization)?

Girl Scouts of the USA is paid a royalty by its licensed bakers for use of Girl Scout trademarks based on gross annual sales. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA, and no other revenue from cookie sales goes to Girl Scouts of the USA.

Girl Scouts of the USA provides contractual services and approves all program, marketing, and sales materials developed by the bakers. GSUSA also provides coordination and training for national media activities, safety standards for girls and volunteers, our world-renowned girl-leadership program, and full support during cookie season.

girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/faq.asp

 

[_Abyssinia]

I didn’t go any further than the Girl Scouts website, I don’t have children and don’t have any direct experience with the organization. I’ll admit that when I was looking into it I did see some things that were troubling (not on the official website but other materials that people posted online) but it didn’t see anything that indicated it was system wide and didn’t seem like something worthy of a boycott. The girls that are selling cookies in the train station aren’t going to use the funds to advocate for abortion, they’re just little girls. Not buying cookies only hurts the girls that are selling them.

girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/faq.asp

But the money raised by selling the cookies helps to fund Girl Scouts USA.

 

[J_Peterson]

But the money raised by selling the cookies helps to fund Girl Scouts USA.

I don’t see the big deal. Girl Scouts USA does not support abortion. Unless you feel they are lying and that they are secretly creating little pro-abortion activists. I’ve looked at the anti-Girl Scout sites and they didn’t seem very credible and the connections they did make were far to remote to be concerned about (unless it’s your troop that did the questionable stuff).

girlscouts.org/program/basics/faith/faqs.asp#a1

 

[SnowAngels]

I don’t see the big deal. Girl Scouts USA does not support abortion. Unless you feel they are lying and that they are secretly creating little pro-abortion activists. I’ve looked at the anti-Girl Scout sites and they didn’t seem very credible and the connections they did make were far to remote to be concerned about (unless it’s your troop that did the questionable stuff).

girlscouts.org/program/basics/faith/faqs.asp#a1

Girl Scouts needs to check themselves… youtube.com/watch?v=ppX6oXCmHF4

 

[captainrick]

Girl Scouts needs to check themselves… youtube.com/watch?v=ppX6oXCmHF4

Watch the above video - it is the CEO of Girl Scouts U.S., stating that they have a “relationship” with Planned Parenthood…" Also, they deal with issues of “human
sexuality”. How lovely…

 

[lutheran_farmer]

My Girl Scout leader was hardcore. We roughed it more than the Boy Scouts during our camping trips. She also lived with another lady. Yeah, we found out later that she was living with a girlfriend.

 

[pianistclare]

To me the real issue is whether or not Catholic girls and their parishes should be a part of the GSUSA. This statement from the article sums it up:

“Additionally, there’s something amiss in fighting so hard to keep our girls in a secular organization while making efforts to protect them from elements of the organization.”
Said Saladin, “The funding and membership numbers of GSUSA and WAGGGS are strengthened, even with the most vigilant troop leaders, so Catholic complicity in the troubling messaging of GSUSA and WAGGGS is firmly in place as long as Catholic girls are Girl Scouts.”

Those of us who grew up in the Girl Scouts and loved every moment of it have to take a long, hard look at what being a part of the Girl Scouts means today. Like it or not it is one more secular group which has connections to issues that are not a part of our faith. It is more than buying or not buying cookies, it is about whether the GSUSA through its membership in the WAGGGS is supporting the programs, activities and associations that are contradictory to Catholic teaching. I am not completely sure on where to go with this in my life, but I am feeling that if I support anything knowingly that supports things that are in direct opposition to my faith then I give credibility to that contradictory message.

Well stated. I’ve always had an issue with the parishes giving up meeting space and time to a secular group, even if it is “for the kids”. Why shouldn’t we have our own groups for children and young people where WE control the content and choose the leadership? Seems like a better use of time and talent…and the treasure that the people in the pews give for the running of the parish. Just my 2 cents.

 

[_Abyssinia]

I don’t see the big deal. Girl Scouts USA does not support abortion. Unless you feel they are lying and that they are secretly creating little pro-abortion activists. I’ve looked at the anti-Girl Scout sites and they didn’t seem very credible and the connections they did make were far to remote to be concerned about (unless it’s your troop that did the questionable stuff).

girlscouts.org/program/basics/faith/faqs.asp#a1

I will post some information that I have found before.

Girl Scouts say they do not take positions on issues like abortion and birth control but they partner with WAGGGS.

GSUSA does not always take the same positions or endorse the same programs as WAGGGS. GSUSA’s relationship with WAGGGS is akin to the US relationship with the UN. The United States may not agree with every position the UN takes, but values having a seat at the table

girlscouts.org/gs_central/mpmf/faqs.asp#5

WAGGGS say:

Anyone who is a Girl Guide or a Girl Scout is automatically a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

wagggs.org/en/join_us

Girl Scouts say:

Q: Does GSUSA have a financial relationship with WAGGGS?

A:Every Girl Scout and Girl Guide organization is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts—and each Member Organization, including Girl Scouts of the USA, pays dues. WAGGGS operates in much the same way as the United Nations: Each Member Organization pays dues based on the size of its membership and the per capita income of the country in which the organization resides.

girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/mpmf/faqs.asp#a9

My Girl Scouts Council which has posted info about Girl Scouts connections to WAGGGs says:

All Girl Scouts members are counted in GSUSA1 and WAGGGS2 membership totals. Each individual girl’s membership triggers financial contributions to GSUSA3 and WAGGGS4.

mygirlscoutcouncil.com/uploads/3/2/6/7/3267198/wagggs_gsusa_mgsc.pdf

Numbers next to names are sources in article. Wouldn’t it be that the the larger the Girl Scouts membership, the larger the dues would be to WAGGGS? Girl Scouts due may not go directly to WAGGGS, but just by being members of Girl Scouts and increasing the membership of Girl Scouts, the result is that more money may go to WAGGGS.

Check out ‘pro life concerns about WAGGGS,’

mygirlscoutcouncil.com/uploads/3/2/6/7/3267198/wagggs.pdf

Girl Scouts say:

GSUSA does not always take the same positions or endorse the same programs as WAGGGS. GSUSA’s relationship with WAGGGS is akin to the US relationship with the UN. The United States may not agree with every position the UN takes, but values having a seat at the table.

girlscouts.org/gs_central/mpmf/faqs.asp#5

They may say that, and it may be true, but Girl Scouts is intertwined with WAGGGS:

The WAGGGS UN New York Team hosted a table at the Girl Scouts of Greater New York 100th Anniversary Bridge Crossing event. All Girl Scouts in the region were invited to attend the huge event, which saw thousands of Girl Scouts, volunteers, and alumni attend.

wagggs.org/en/news/22532

WAGGGS is just one suspect organisation that the Girl Scouts is in contact with, there are others, I have heard of the The Coalition for Adolescent Girls.

 

[John_Lazarus]

Too bad there isn’t an alternative organization run by or with the Church. Something similar to, say, the Church Lad’s Brigade in the CofE. Organizations that teach good citizenship, stewardship of nature, life skills, community service (especially thru the Corporal Works of Mercy, like visiting the sick and infirm, candy-striping at hospitals, volunteering at soup kitchens or food banks, etc), involvement in the parish community and work in the church (altar servers, distributing hymnals – and who says only little old ladies of the CWL are allowed to clean up the church? )

Back between the Wars, I believe, here in Newfoundland the CofE had the CLB, the Kirk had the Newfoundland Highlanders and the RCs had the Catholic Cadet Corps.

And if that’s too martial for you, you can model the organization on “Cadets, hold the ordnance.”

Just don’t use the term “guides” or “scouts” as I think the world Scouting org has a monopoly on the term.