A state pro-life group in Missouri is warning pro-life advocates to be careful of the connections between the Girl Scouts organization and the largest abortion business in the nation.
For years, pro-life groups have exposed the links between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood. Now, Missouri Right to Life says that link bears more attention as pro-life citizens across the country have become increasingly concerned about the connections.
“After careful examination and consideration, the board of Missouri Right to Life has voted to issue the following policy statement,” Missouri Right to Life tells LifeNews. “Because Girl Scouts USA promotes, both directly and indirectly through other organizations, policies and behaviors clearly contradictory to the goals and purposes of Missouri Right to Life, Missouri Right to Life urges citizens to consider carefully whether to participate in Girl Scouts or support them in any way.”
The pro-life group provided the following additional explanation surrounding the concerns:
There are many significant pro-life concerns about the Girl Scout organization. Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) collaborates with numerous organizations that promote abortion for all women, including adolescent girls. GSUSA is the largest member organization of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), making up a quarter of its 10 million girl members worldwide and paying over 1 million dollars annually to WAGGGS based on the number of registered GSUSA members. Through its resources, participation in international seminars and conferences, and non-formal education programs, WAGGGS actively advocates for and funds campaigns to expand reproductive/abortion rights. Both GSUSA and WAGGGS delegates regularly participate in various UN conferences, and, as representatives of WAGGGS, advocate specifically on behalf of their 10 million girl members for the inclusion of abortion rights on the global stage. The International Planned Parenthood Federation claims a close partnership with WAGGGS. In the United States, regional Girl Scout councils (though not required) are permitted to partner with local Planned Parenthood affiliates. GSUSA is also a member organization of The Coalition for Adolescent Girls, whose international and national agenda specifically supports abortion related care for adolescent girls.
Girl Scout materials are concerning as well. GSUSA’s Journey series, which is the curriculum used by every Girl Scout council, recommends and promotes many well-known abortion-rights advocates like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Geraldine Ferraro, and Dolores Huerta, and organizations such as Amnesty International, the Population Council, and the ACLU.
Girl Scouts USA’s official blog, which is accessible to all members and which young girls very likely access, is also problematic, as it frequently includes live links to publications that consistently promote sexual and reproductive/abortion rights and explicit sexual content such as The Huffington Post, Marie Claire magazine, iVillage, and Jezebel.
Even the sale of Girl Scout cookies is a concern, as GSUSA makes millions of dollars every year from the licensing fees derived from the production of the cookies to further fund their efforts outlined above.
Until the Girl Scouts renounces its support for and promotion of all those organizations referenced above and their pro-abortion advocacy positions, Missouri Right to Life urges citizens to carefully consider whether to participate in or support the Girl Scouts.
The ties between the two groups have been questioned ever since former Girl Scouts CEO Kathy Cloninger admitted on NBC’s The Today Show: “We partner with many organizations. We have relationships with…Planned Parenthood organizations across the country.” See the video here.
Then, in a national survey, seventeen Girl Scouts councils admit to partnering with Planned Parenthood; many other councils refuse to answer the survey question. Of the 315 Girl Scout councils in the U.S., 17 councils reported having a relationship with Planned Parenthood and its affiliates, and 49 reported they do not. The other 249 refused to disclose any relationship.
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In 2010-2011 Girls Scouts in New York partnered with Planned Parenthood for a sex-ed program, “Real Life. Real Talk.” The program website touts their partners: “Real Life. Real Talk. is proud to count the following organizations, faith communities and companies as partners: …Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways.”
For fourteen year,s the Girls Scouts in Waco, TX co-sponsored a sex ed conference with Planned Parenthood. “It’s Perfectly Normal” a book written by a Planned Parenthood executive was given to all children in attendance says abortion can be “a positive experience.” And in January 2012, Girl Scouts employee Renise Rodriguez wore a “Pray to End Abortion” t-shirt during off-duty v
As LifeNews reported last year, the Girl Scouts joined with Planned Parenthood to head a UN conference and LifeNews reported on the investigation the Catholic Church is undertaking into the ties between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups.
