How do I explain to my friends that it is wrong to buy Girl Scout cookies?

[jrmap]

Recently I discovered that the national headquarters of the Girl Scouts of America contributes money to Planned Parenthood. When I posted this information on Facebook, some of my friends were very supportive and are really checking the issue out; but others, even those who are fine Christian believers, have simply said they do not want to hurt the sweet little girls who come to their house to sell cookies and that such young girls have nothing to do with the national headquarters’ decisions. This concerns me as I will not knowingly support any group that contributes to Planned Parenthood because of their huge abortion business.

Is there a particular Bible verse I may use to teach these less educated Christians that it is better to hurt one of these sweet young girls than to indirectly support the killing of millions of little girls long before they ever get the chance to sell Girl Scout cookies? And even further with this issue is that the Girl Scouts in our parish will be taking orders for these cookies and I will obviously be talking to our priest about this, but what if he does not see the seriousness of the situation? What can I do to help get the right information out there?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

What you are proposing is a boycott. Boycotts can be a helpful means of fighting for social justice, but those who promote them must keep in mind that others do not have a moral obligation to join a boycott by refusing to buy a morally-neutral product from a company that chooses to do immoral actions with the profits it receives. In the case you propose, the customer is not supporting Planned Parenthood by his cookie purchase. He is supporting his local Girl Scout troop, which may give some of its profits to the national organization, which may in turn use that money for purposes that are contrary to Catholic doctrine and morals.

The Girl Scouts of America has indeed raised eyebrows with some of its moral choices in recent years, and many people have chosen to express their displeasure by refusing to buy GSA’s cookies and/or by supporting worthy alternative organizations (example). Doing this need not be an occasion for hurting “one of these sweet young girls”; all that is necessary is to give a polite “No, thank you” to any and all solicitations to buy. It is also perfectly reasonable for concerned advocates to provide relevant information to Catholic parishes that sponsor troops and provide opportunities for sales.

But advocates must remember that they too are selling something (their position) and must be prepared to accept a polite “No, thank you” from those who do not agree that opposition to problematic actions by an organization necessitates that everyone must join a boycott of the organization. Certainly those who disagree should not be labeled “less educated” or have their Christian commitment impugned.