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Culture May 3, 2017
"They are no longer a compatible partner in helping us form young women with the virtues and values of the Gospel.”
The Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas are parting ways with Girl Scouts USA because they reflect “troubling trends.”
You know, the organization that promotes leadership in young women, charity, volunteerism, young women supporting women, earning badges, camping and those amazing cookies you buy at the grocery store in February and *try* not to eat in one embarrassingly gluttonous sitting.
(Yes, I was a Girl Scout.) I always loved Girl Scouts as a kid. Although I did feel a bit nerdy as I got older, like instead of being the cool girl parents were afraid of – like Gia on “Full House” (see, I was so cool) – I was safer like Cory from “Boy Meets World.” But apparently the Kansas City Archdiocese doesn’t think the Girl Scouts are quite wholesome enough to be allowed to hold meetings on their premises anymore.
They’re “no longer a compatible partner” in promoting the Catholic lifestyle, Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann wrote in a statement this week. “With the promotion by Girl Scouts USA of programs and materials reflective of many of the troubling trends in our secular culture, they are no longer a compatible partner in helping us form young women with the virtues and values of the Gospel.”
Churches in Kansas had the option of phasing out the Girl Scouts’ meetings “quickly” or allowing the girls to “graduate” and then not replacing them. Of course, you can guess what direction they decided to choose. The decision came after they had forbidden future cookie sales. That’s right – they even took a holier-than-thou stance on cookies.
Can you imagine being so… let’s say “principled” that you needed to not only go after a young women’s organization, but also go to war on friggin’ Thin Mints? It wasn’t even Lent! Okay, so let’s get into why these guys are really so mad.
Turns out, the Girl Scouts are part of the World Association of Girl Guides, an umbrella organization which has ties to International Planned Parenthood. That doesn’t mean the Girl Scouts do. But you can bet the Archdiocese made that connection. They also condemn discussing women such as Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem as role models because God forbid these young women have heroes who aren’t, well, God.
The Girl Scouts clarified the issue on their website, insisting that they are not partners with Planned Parenthood, which makes sense since most of them are children. The statement also shared, “The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) comprises 145 member organizations that promote mutual understanding and cross-cultural opportunities for girls around the world. Girl Scouts of the USA is one of the 145 member organizations… GSUSA does not always take the same positions or endorse the same programs as WAGGGS.”
Instead, the Archdiocese suggests considering the American Heritage Girls, which, as it turns out, is a real thing and not a made-up rival organization to the Pawnee Goddesses from “Parks and Recreation.” Their principles are “Faith, Service and Fun” and the highest “level” is “Patriot,” so I’m sure it’s a blast.
Meanwhile, this all sucks for the Girl Scouts, since I remember when I was young we used to meet in our local church halls. But hopefully someone will step up to house these important organizations for young women in a time when female relationships, leadership and confidence needs to be fostered the most.
And to the crotchety, old Kansas City Archdiocese – I’m sure the Girl Scouts are going to be just fine. Besides, that just means more Thin Mints for the rest of us.
