and I had such a nice time together. She didn't push boundaries, I
didn't lose my temper. She was focused, patient and brave. We spent
time with Girl Scouts and parents from our Church troops, it was a
lovely weekend.
Before going through the process to start a troop, I prayed,
researched, prayed and listened. I really felt called to Girl Scouts
USA. I loved my time as a Brownie, Junior and Cadette. I really don't
know why GSUSA has gotten so much bad press, but here is some
information about what has been in the news over the past year:
Not all the information on the Internet is accurate, and that our
organizational integrity is at stake when we fail to properly
investigate allegations--The National Federation for Catholic Youth
Ministry
Here is the official GSUSA statement regarding Planned Parenthood:
" GSUSA does not provide any financial support to Planned Parenthood,
nor do we have any national collaboration or relationship with that
organization. We believe issues related to health and sexuality are
private matters for girls and their families"
3/12/10
We have been alerted about negative article that is circulating in a
national religious publication in which allegations were made about a
United Nations meeting involving the World Association of Girl Scouts
and Girl Guides.
GSUSA is aware of this situation and has assured us that this article
is a complete misrepresentation of the facts. See below for GSUSA
response.
"We are very disturbed and disappointed about the article. We have
been assured by our national organization that this article is a gross
misrepresentation of the facts. Girl Scouts of the USA is actively
investigating the situation and will be preparing a Girl Scout
position statement.
The mission of the Girl Scout program is to build girls of courage,
confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. It is
not the role of Girl Scouting to take a position on issues such as
abortion, birth control, sex education, etc. Our membership is a cross-
section of America's diversity with regard to religious opinions and
practices. We believe these matters are best decided by girls and
their families.
In some areas of the country, depending on community norms and in
response to requests, Girl Scout troops or groups may hold discussions
about human sexuality. In all instances, the topic is discussed from
an informative rather than advocacy point of view. Participation in
these discussions is totally optional, and each girl who participates
must provide written consent from her parent or guardian.
3/15/10
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)
This week, an online publication by the Catholic Family and Human
Rights Institute alleged that Girl Scouts, by participating in an
event at the United Nations earlier this month, helped to distribute
Planned Parenthood information as a part of the experience. We had
adults and GSUSA media staff on the ground at the event and know this
information to be false. We took steps to ensure that our fact-finding
was comprehensive and complete, and we are communicating with you so
that you have up-to-date information in the event you receive
inquiries surrounding this issue.
Here are some top-line facts of the event in question:
On Wednesday, March 3, GSUSA, UNICEF's Working Group on Girls, Girls
Learn International, and The Grail jointly hosted a Young Women's
Caucus at the 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at
the United Nations. The Caucus was a group conversation conducted to
formulate the Girls' Statement—a document that seeks to draw the
attention of world leaders to key issues affecting girls around the
world.
The Girls Only Workshop that Girl Scouts of the USA co-sponsored at
the event was supervised by adults and included no distribution of any
brochure or collateral of any kind. The only participants were adults
from GSUSA, Girls Learn International and The Grail, as well as 30-35
teenage girls. The event involved groups of girls, sitting in circles
with adult supervision, developing language for the document. No
materials were handed out. From the perspective of the GSUSA media
staff member who attended the Caucus, there was no involvement
whatsoever by Planned Parenthood.
The Girl Scout organization does not take a position on family
planning. Our membership is a cross-section of America with regard to
opinions on religious and social issues and practices. We believe
these matters are best decided by girls and their families.
The Girl Scout organization has no affiliation with any political
organization.
3/16/10
Update on Girl Scouts and the United Nations from GSUSA
Earlier this month, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) was honored to
attend and participate in the 54th Commission on the Status of Women
at the United Nations, where girls were encouraged to take action on
global issues concerning women and girls. Our participation in that
conference was recently the subject of numerous internet stories and
blogs that are factually inaccurate and troubling. Here are the facts
of that meeting:
The Girls Only Workshop was jointly hosted by Girl Scouts of the USA,
UNICEF's Working Group on Girls, Girls Learn International and The
Grail. The meeting was only open to the girls and participating
sponsors.
Only seven adults were in the room at the time of the meeting, each
representing one of the sponsors of the event. No one from Catholic
Family & Human Rights Institute was in the room to report on the event.
30 – 35 girls from across the world participated in this event. All
teenagers.
The girls received a copy of the only document they were working on
titled "The Girls' Statement". No other documents were given to
the girls as part of this event.
The room in question was also used to host other events over the
course of the multi-day conference. Prior to our girls entering the
room, we did not "sanitize' the room to ensure that no trash or
other items were left behind. We did request that those not associated
with the sponsors leave the room prior to our session.
The Girl Scouts of the USA was not contacted by Catholic Family &
Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) regarding its initial story to discuss
the facts of this event. Had they applied these basic journalistic
standards, perhaps the true details of this event would have been
reported.
Our Mission in Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence
and character, who make the world a better place. We continue to be
proud of our girls and look forward to showing the world what our
girls can do. We thank everyone for their support of Girl Scouting.
3/18/10
The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry has issued the
following in support of Girl Scouts:
In the last several days NFCYM has received inquiries about a meeting
at the United Nations with Girl Scouts of the USA and whether or not
Girl Scouts of the USA distributed offensive material to girls. Our
practice, as an organization, is to investigate such matters by going
directly to the source involved. Therefore we contacted GSUSA and they
have officially offered the statement below [statement is above as
3/16/10 update.] Please share this with those in your diocese who have
voiced any concerns with you. This is a good reminder that at times we
can be quick to render judgment without fact, that not all information
offered on the Internet is accurate, and that our organizational
integrity is at stake when we fail to properly investigate allegations.
"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry!"
--St. Padre Pio
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