Girl Scouts and Abortion
Over the last few years tons of information has come out exposing close ties between Planned Parenthood and Girl Scouts. From money between the organizations to extreme sex and abortion education being taught to the young Girl Scouts. It is much debated whether these young girls should stay within the organization or not given these strong pro-abortion ties to Planned Parenthood. What are your thoughts? Please take the poll below or share your thoughts.
For the Dignity of the Born and Unborn,
Timmerie
www.Timmerie.com
This is a tough one for me because I went all the way through Girl Scouts, got all the top awards, everything – my mom's referred to me as a Girl Scout four-star general. I do remember that at some GS event I attended in middle school, there was a woman from Planned Parenthood who talked to us about body image. Which is fine as a topic, but why did they necessarily need Planned Parenthood to do it?
I haven't been able to find consistent, reliable information, complete with evidence, about whether the Girl Scouts actually give money to PP or not. If they do, I wouldn't give up my lifetime membership – I'm not paying any money to them and heck, I EARNED that Gold Award – but I wouldn't put my (hypothetical) daughter in the organization.
It's too bad they have this affiliation – I remember being a teenager when the whole "no gay people in Boy Scouts" thing was happening, and I liked that the Girl Scouts didn't take a stance one way or the other when it came to GLBT stuff. I was in the closet (bisexual) and it was a relief to know that I wasn't going to have to risk a moral conflict with GS. Why can't they just acknowledge that different people have different stances on abortion and not affiliate with any one side?
Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood Director and author of Unplanned has stated several times that while working at PP, she received checks from the local Girl Scouts. GSUSA’s international arm, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) supports abortion at United Nations events, and membership fees, uniform and badge purchases and all cookie sales contribute to WAGGGS.
Timmerie, great post, except I think you've got the wrong poll up!
Marauder, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I haven't seen solid evidence of whether or not there's a financial connection, either. But regardless, the ideological connection is more worrisome. Like you said, why bring in an abortion center representative to talk about body image? The only reason I can think of: to present these kids with the idea that Planned Parenthood is mainstream and trustworthy.
It sounds to me like there was one confirmed GSA meeting in which they handed out this pamphlet: http://www.ippf.org/NR/rdonlyres/B4462DDE-487D-4194-B0E0-193A04095819/0/HappyHealthyHot.pdf
That was a stupid thing to do, and I definitely disagree with it, but it sounds more like a one-off than a pervasive connection between GSA and PP. From what I understand there were plenty of GSA Scout leaders horrified by this as much as anyone else, so it doesn't sound like par for the course for GSA.
Meanwhile I think GSA does a lot of good, and I'm not big on the notion of impugning the whole organization based on scant evidence.
As someone coming from a Catholic family, it reminds me a bit of the way people lambaste the entire faith based on some pederast priests. I'm not saying the trespasses are irrelevant or small, but I am saying that it strikes me as unfair to assume an entire organization is corrupt based on what may be isolated events.
Dear "M" and others: The women and girls at the troop level are *mostly* good, God-loving people but what they are being required to teach the girls through the GSUSA books and website is far from wholesome. The national, and international Girl Scout organization is very corrupt. Many councils are also willingly partnering with Planned Parenthood to bring sex-ed to girls. Why is this dangerous? We all know PP is the largest provider of abortion, but they also teach immorality and promiscuity to youth, grooming future abortion and contraception clients. Yes, young people need to know about their bodies and sex, but it should come in light of morality and the consideration that human sexuality is a gift from God. When we support Girl Scouts, we support in name and financially the whole organization, our council, as well as national and international Girl Scouts and their pro-abortion views.
The incident with the PP brochure and Girl Scouts was not an isolated incident. The GS curricula is a mess for pro-lifers. The World Assoc Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is advocating for abortion and sexual rights for youth an the United Nations, and using girls as advocates! WAGGGS has an ongoing partnership with International PP. What pro-lifer wants to be a part (by their support through GS membership, purchase of cookies, etc) of training up young girls to advocate for international abortion rights? It's sick.
Please get the facts: http://www.100questionsforthegirlscouts.org ~ is well documented and factual. It will show you the many connections between Girl Scouts and abortion, PP, IPPF, and more. Please be informed and help us protect our girls.
The Girl Scouts are anything but Pro-Life. While there may be Catholic scouts who are Pro-Life-the organization does nothing but promote Planned Parenthood speakers and push a feminimst, liberal agenda. It doesn't take much to see their evil agenda. Take a look at the recent 100th convention speaker line-up. Many with PP ties! Did you find any Pro-Life speakers on the list? NO. I urge anyone who claims to be a Catholic to immmediately leave the Girl Scout organization. If you no not—your money is going towards Planned Parenthood and more. There are many sites out there–with factual information. http://www.100questionsforthegirlscouts.org; http://www.honestgirlscouts.com and more! check them out—it is sickening to learn how un-Catholic the organization is! I was the leader of my daughter's brownie troop and as soon as we heard what was taking place–we exited the program. As I began my investigation–I learned that what I discovered did not happen overnight and that it had been going on for over 15 years. They aren't going to change— But please note there are great Christian alternatives such at the Little Flower program and American Heritage Girls.
There is no doubt that one cannot claim to be pro-life and at the same time continue to allow their daughters or themselves to be involved in the Girl Scouts. We can all make excuses on how our local GS leader is a wonderful woman and would never teach that stuff but in reality these excuses are made by us to try to justify the reason why one can still continue in the Girl Scouts. There is so much factual and documented evidence out there by many websites that if one is truly honest with themselves they would see that staying in the Girl Scouts is not an option for someone who is pro-life. If you really care about the dignity of life, then take the time to really see for yourselves the proof the is out there on websites such as; 100questionsforthegirlscouts.org, speaknowgirlscouts.com, and girlscoutswhynot.com. To say your are pro-life but can remain in the Girl Scouts is to lie to yourself and to choose to stay blind to the realities of what is truly going on within this once beautiful but now long fallen organization, the Girl Scouts.
TXmom4Life and Anonymous, thanks for the links. Welcome to Pro-Life News of the Day. You should be aware that since this is a secular blog, we really aren't talking about the morality of a Catholic deciding to join the Girl Scouts. Rather, we're concerned with Girl Scouts' pro-abortion ties more generally. Any pro-life parent should be educated, regardless of the family's religion.
From what I've seen of http://www.100questionsforthegirlscouts.org, it is not factual at all. It simply asserts, as have comments here, that GSA and PP have strong, permeating ties, and then links to more blogs or to its own website again. The first link I found to GSA itself was a screen cap in which GSA overtly states "No, Girl Scouts of the USA does not have a relationship or partnership with Planned Parenthood." It goes on to say that GSA didn't distribute the pamphlet they are accused of distributing. http://www.gssjc.org/about/FAQ_Social_Issues.pdf
This whole thing rings more like a conspiracy theory than an actual strong pro-abortion stance by GSA. I've looked around and the only information I can find about this link is on blogs with a lot of assertions and no evidence. That does not constitute factual information.
Meanwhile, even if it was true that there was a specific event in which a GSA group gave out PP brochures to young teenagers, I don't believe that shows that there is a permeating link between PP and GSA. Sounds like a lot of GSA Scout leaders would be horrified by such an event, as opposed to accepting it as the way GSA does things.
As far as Catholicism, my point was definitely not "if you are Catholic you can't be in Girl Scouts."
My point was there have been Catholic priests who have done terrible things, but they aren't representative of Catholicism, and good Catholic parents can continue to raise their kids in Catholicism despite the isolated events of some bad people.
As a parallel, there may have been GSA reps who promoted PP sex-ed, but they aren't representative of GSA, and good parents can continue to have their girls in GSA despite the isolated events of some bad people.
TXmom4life: There isn't anything that Girl Scout leaders are "required" to teach Girl Scouts through the GSUSA books and website, except maybe the Girl Scout pledge and the rules of selling cookies. Different troops pick which activities they want to do and which badges they want to earn – for example, lots of people associate Girl Scouts with camping, but my troop went on maybe three overnight camping trips (one night each) over several years. If a troop leader looks at what the book and site say about abortion or sexuality and think, "Yeah, I'm not doing this," that's within their discretion and it's not any type of rules violation.
My money isn't going towards Planned Parenthood because I don't give GS any money. I got adult lifetime member status years before this whole PP/GS controversy came to light.
I'm glad there are alternative groups to Girl Scouts, but I think the long-term solution to this is to get GS to drop any official ties with Planned Parenthood, rather than have a scenario where families have to pick between "Pro-Choice Scouts" and "Christian Scouts". Better to chop off the rotting part of the plant than to uproot the whole thing and throw it out.
Ooops the links changed on me. Technological malfunction fixed! I'm really enjoying the comments on this issue. I feel that it's a very sticky situation and there is more than one way to skin this cat.
Timmerie, I see you have someone from C-FAM on your panel. I received the blog below via Austin Ruse, President of C-FAM. The blog post is authored by Austin's wife Cathy Ruse, dated 11/18/2011 regarding Girl Scouts. Check it out: http://www.nationalreview.com/home-front/283497/girl-scouts-hire-lead-singer-queer-rock-band/cathy-ruse. Lots of pro-life champions concerned about girls staying in Girl Scouts for a variety of reasons.
To Marauderthesn: All Girl Scouts are required to use the curricula in the Journey's program to receive the bronze, silver and gold award, which are the highest GSUSA awards. There is plenty of documentation of 100questionsforthegirlscouts.org in the Abortion, Planned Parenthood and International Planned Parenthood sections to link GSUSA to PP and abortion advocacy. See documentation of PP and GS Annual Reports at this link showing the relationship between many GS councils and PP on http://www.honestgirlscouts.com and click Hall of Shame. Have you seen the video of the GSUSA CEO Kathy Cloninger where she said on national television that Girl Scouts partners with Planned Parenthood? How can you then deny this fact? It came right from the GSUSA CEO's own mouth. The truth is there … we can twist it or we can ignore it, but it still remains the truth.
Archbishop Chaput eloquently says…"Here's the story:Catholic witness has a cost. When we're willing to pay it, we prove who we are as disciples–and the NATION benefits. When we're NOT, life's a lot more comfortable. But, that was never the point of the Gospel. Little else needs to be said. Boy Scouts partner with the AHG group and girls can have access to camps, training etc. When we as mothers and women make a choice to choose glossy well funded GS we are no longer the role models that Christ has given us the courage to be. Our country is in a economic depression and even worse, we are in a moral depression. As for me I choose to stand with courage as the GS $$$ makes pawns out of our children to finance a filthy agenda. God bless the role models who have courage. Your children will someday know who you are.
If you are not sure about the radical agenda of GS USA, take 10 minutes to watch this and then honestly ask yourself again what you believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnRiM84MWUI&feature=share
Marauder and Kelsey, I need to ask you this: If Girl Scouts does not write a check, but keeps sending people over to Planned Parenthood for sex education instruction, are they not, in the end, supporting Planned Parenthood? Go to HonestGirlScouts.com to see the Councils that affiliate with pro-abortion groups, hire Planned Parenthood educators, give Women of Distinction Awards to Planned Parenthood Directors, purchase booth space and use Girl Scout resources to man booths at Planned Parenthood fairs and tell me that, in the end, they are not supporting PP with a wink and a nod.
TXmom4life, I'm not saying there's no connection between GS and PP. I'm saying that A) you can go all the way through GS without ever getting into anything about sexuality and abortion (I know because I've done it, and I'm pretty sure they haven't added some mandated sexuality curriculum since 2004) and B) I, personally, am not giving money to PP through GS because I'm not giving money to GS.
Regarding the Cathy Ruse blog post, the fact that GS hired the lead singer of a queer rock band isn't problematic for me in and of itself, but the specifics of this guy's career are indeed inappropriate for someone who works with young people. I think the issue of GS ties to PP needs to be viewed as a separate issue from GS material regarding what 100 Questions calls the "LGBT agenda," because I – and, I'm sure, other people – think this section of the 100 Questions website is homophobic and unrelated to anything about abortion. Do I want to get GS to drop any ties to PP? Heck yes. Do I think some sinister agenda is being advanced when GS states that they want to embrace diversity and be non-discriminatory? Heck no.
marauderthesn: Thanks for the dialogue. BTW I never said you were giving money to PP. When people are active in GS, they fund GSUSA's activities that promote abortion advocacy and connect girls to PP. I know other lifetime members who are making their voice heard and speaking out about the GS/PP issue. They remain a lifetime member because they paid for it and you really can't change it. Good for all of you. Regarding 100questions: the LGBT section is to bring to families' attention to the fact that GSUSA is hiring and appointing to their board prominent advocates in the LGBT/same-sex marriage movement. Will that concern everyone? No. Will it concern conservative families who support traditional marriage between a man and woman? Yes. You are absolutely entitled to your opinion and each of us has our own set of morals. For those families who are conservative, I believe they have a right to know this is happening in the national leadership of GSUSA and decide if they want to fund this practice. I am glad that you and I can agree on a couple of things: GS and PP should not be connected and a man who makes videos about killing women should not be working with the girls courtesy of Girl Scouts USA.
marauderthesn,
A phobia is a serious psycological disorder. To label factual information that 100questions provides about GS activity in LGBT affairs as homophobic is simply namecalling.
While the comments in that section may be unrelated to abortion, they are not unrelated to concerns that many families may have about indoctrination to which their children are exposed. The 100questions site is not limited to the issue of abortion, as a parent's concerns should be broader than focusing on one issue (as critical as that issue may be). I am also concerned about the new age and somewhat anti-parent orientation of some of the Journeys programs and other newer materials, some of which will soon be required for Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards.
Even if people want to insist that the PP connection is somehow unfounded, awareness of these other issues reveals a larger picture that is increasingly questionable.
I was in GS for many years, and my daughters were for a few as well, but as I learned of all of this, it made me very uncomfortable and feeling like I always had to be on watch, double-checking materials and resources, on the defense for the sake of my daughters' formation even though their leaders were wonderful. This is not the GS of my childhood, and there are so many other opportunities for kids anymore that it did not seem worth it to stay. We had no difficulty finding other worthwhile activities to fill that time, and I now lose no sleep over the possibility that I might somehow be supporting the abortion industry through membership in GS.
In a Journey's book that I have in my house and purchased from the Cincinnati Great River's Council store, called ME-dia, on page 72, there is a website that GIRLS are encouraged to visit which was founded by Jane Fonda (and other left wing radicals) who complain about white men (not black men, white men, which is a racist comment in itself) having the majority of jobs in the media. The website is http://www.womensmediacenter.com. Look at the partners of this website. All of them are abortion or abortion related websites. This is in a girl's book 6-8th grade. Do parents even read what they girls are given these days? I am still on the first Harry Potter book! Tell me this is not an agenda on the Girl Scouts part? Am I really nitpicking here? The Catholic church is turning a blind eye to this. And they are going to be sorry someday. Parishioners are being asked to shell out money for the priests that have been abusing now and getting away with it. I was born a Catholic and will die a Catholic, but for God's sake and the sake of our Catholic daughters, take a stand. Over 9,000 Catholics were aborted in the last 38 years in Hamilton County. Why?! Because we are giving mixed messages as parents about what type of organizations are appropriate for them to be members of and which ones are NOT. I think the Girl Scouts is a disgusting organization that has been taken over by fanatics. Fanatics who want our little precious girls to believe that they are different if they are being taught that abortion is WRONG. The lesbians are in the camps here in Ohio, at Camp Butterworth. They want our daughters to think their life style is accepted by God. They are talking openly about their "Life Partners". This is unacceptable and WRONG. These are our girls! Our future generation of leaders. They cannot lead our nation if they are spiritually broken which is what abortion does to them. They don't know that until it's over and they have children of their own. Then, they feel unworthy to do anything of importance and the gifts God has given them are wasted because their spirit is broken. Get out of Girl Scouts. Girls Scouts give the Margaret Sanger award, the inventor of abortion. Is this not an allegiance to the fanatic that invented abortion?? Wake up!! Keep your daughters OUT. Spend more time with them camping and praying, making cookies, talking to them, knowing them and teaching them that society is going to try and change their values. Join other scouting organizations such as American Heritage Girls and Little Flowers. Their agendas are pure and Christ centered. The Girl Scouts is seeking government funding because the Christians are on to their disgusting agenda and have stopped enrolling their daughters, stopped buying their cookies and are fed up with the left wing changes to the program. Not one conservative adult exists within the Girl Scout organization for long. If they decide to fight it, they are asked to leave.
As parents, we have to decide what is best for our children…part of that decision is investigating the organizations that we may associate with. Sadly, many parents do very little investigating and can therefore put their childrn at risk. I am a practicing Catholic…as is my family. We cannot associate with any organization that is contrary to our faith and beliefs…there are alternatives to GSUSA. My husband and I would never put our children's souls in jeopardy by associating ourselves with GS…which has recently become an organizaton that discourages traditional family and living according to His word. So, I took my 48 Girl Scouts and left the organization. We are happily joining American Heritage Girls which is an organization inline with our beliefs. I have thoroughly investigated this organization and it is as wholesome and clean as GS used to be when founded by Juliette Low. Let's face it, GSUSA is a huge money making corporation with a hard left agenda. GSUSA consistently teaches things which are in direct conflict with Sacred Scripture. We didn't walk away, we ran away. We no longer have to stand in the freezing cold peddling cookies to make a measley $.40/ box. We actually do fundraisrs and keep the funds in our troop…or fundraise for other worthwhil organiations! GSUSA does not allow fundraising for others. Imagine that! As AH Girls, we are also in partnership with the Boy Scouts. Glad to be a FORMER Girl Scout leader…and not looking back.