Of Kate Quiñones

CNA staff, 29 Oct 2024 / 1:35 p.m

The Archbishop of Cincinnati is ending a 110-year relationship with the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) over the group’s promotion of gender ideology “contrary” to Catholic teaching.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr announced that pastors in the archdiocese must sever all partnership with GSUSA until December 2025.

“The Archdiocese of Cincinnati cannot work with an organization that, at its highest level, supports ideas that the Church considers false and harmful,” Schnurr wrote on Oct. 28. letter to the faithful.

Schnurr noted that GSUSA “has embraced and promoted an impoverished worldview of gender and sexuality” through activities, badges and resources. GSUSA and its local Ohio chapter “have contributed to the normalization of 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,” he noted.

“Our greatest responsibility as the Catholic Church is faithfulness to the Gospel and sharing the saving mission of Christ,” Schnurr said. “Therefore, it is essential that all youth programs in our parishes and schools affirm the virtues and values ​​consistent with the teaching of Jesus Christ.”

Schnurr noted that the decision to withdraw from GSUSA “was not taken lightly” and that the Church had a conversation with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio (GSWO) leaders.

“Despite mutually respectful discussions and communication with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio over the past two years, we have been unable to agree on an acceptable path forward,” he wrote.

In recent years, the archdiocese has had conversations with the GSWO regarding a “memorandum of understanding” regarding the practices allowed for Girl Scout troops in the archdiocese. In 2023, the archdiocese demanded that the GSWO “cease promoting activities, resources, badges and awards repugnant to Catholic teaching,” but the two groups reached an “impasse” in April of this year over wording in the memorandum, conformable Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Schnurr noted that Scouting “is fundamentally good” because it “builds virtue, discipline and community” and “helps to form responsible and well-rounded citizens.” The Archbishop shared his gratitude to those who served as Scout leaders for “faithfully helping young people to incorporate the values ​​and lessons traditionally associated with Scouting into their lives.”

“While this development is difficult to share, it does not diminish my deep respect and appreciation for the many Girl Scout leaders in our archdiocese who have faithfully served our youth,” Schnurr said.

GSWO said in a statement that he was “deeply disappointed” by the archbishop’s decision, according to a report by WLWT5.

Materials, questionable Girl Scout practices

In a list of unacceptable Girl Scout materials, the archdiocese singled out the “Inclusive Together” patch, which features a “Social Identity Wheel” that encourages girls to identify their sexual orientation and gender identity in group conversations.

The archdiocese also highlighted the “LGBTQ+ Pride Month Fun” label, which promotes the idea that gender can be rejected and encourages girls to watch LGBTQ+ films, including material rated R and TV-MA.

Several controversies have plagued the GSUSA over the past decade, such as the national group’s decision to implement LGBTQ+ Pride Month Patches as well as a controversy about “gender inclusive” overnight camps.

The national group says it leaves placement decisions for transgender youth on a case-by-case basis, but notes that GSUSA “may serve” biological boys who identify as girls, “if the child is recognized by family and school/community as a girl. and live culturally like a girl”, according to him website.

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the results of the the two-year investigation in GSUSA in 2014. The investigation followed reports that GSUSA contributed to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, which is linked to Planned Parenthood and the abortion and contraception advocacy USCCB finder. Following the investigation, the USCCB advised dioceses to work with local Girl Scout chapters to obtain materials acceptable to Catholic troops.

GSUSA DISCLAIMS any partnership with Planned Parenthood on its website and states that it does not take a position on abortion, birth control, or sexuality.

Girls of American heritage are favored

Schnurr recently approved a faith based scout groupAmerican Heritage Girls (AHG), encouraging parishes to collaborate with the group. AHG has a committee dedicated to supporting Catholic girls in their faith, which has Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska as episcopal moderator.

“Scouting can be an effective part of Catholic youth ministry, supporting a way of life congruent with the Gospel, as it has done in our own archdiocese for decades,” Schnurr said.

Other Catholic leaders have supported AHG, including Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who in 2017 authorized an archdiocesan transition from Girl Scouts to American Heritage Girls. Other Catholic dioceses and archdioceses, including Birmingham, Alabama; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Fort Worth, Texas; Milwaukee; Omaha, Nebraska; and Rockford, Illinois, have supported AHG in recent years.

GSWO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kate Quiñones is a writer for the Catholic News Agency and a member of the College Fix. She has been published by the Wall Street Journal, Denver Catholic Register and CatholicVote and graduated from Hillsdale College. She lives in Colorado with her husband.