“Scouting is fundamentally good – it builds virtue, discipline, and community. It helps form responsible, well-rounded citizens. Scouting has a strong, multi-generational heritage in our country, one associated with positive values and memories. Scouting can be an efficacious part of Catholic youth ministry, espousing a way of life congruent with the Gospel, as it has in our own archdiocese for decades. Many of you have served as scout leaders, faithfully helping young people incorporate the values and lessons traditionally associated with scouting into their lives. I am deeply grateful for your dedication to this calling.”
– Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr
Unfortunately, in recent years, Girl Scouts of the USA has embraced and promoted an impoverished worldview regarding gender and sexuality. Through some of their activities, resources, badges and awards, Girl Scouts – including the local chapter, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio – has contributed to normalizing 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.
After consultation with the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council and Deans, and with the recommendation of key archdiocesan leaders, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr has instructed the pastors of the archdiocese to discontinue their parishes’ partnerships with the Girl Scouts over a 14-month (November 2024 – December 2025) timetable.
Responding to reports of contributions from GSUSA to the World Association of Girl Guides & Scouts (WAGGS), an organization tied to International Planned Parenthood and its advocacy for legislation that includes both artificial contraception and abortion as “preventive healthcare for women,” the USCCB conducted an extensive investigation. This investigation resulted in the USCCB advising dioceses to reach an understanding with their local Girl Scout chapter(s) regarding what would and would not be acceptable for Catholic troops.
Following the results and recommendations of the USCCB investigation, the AOC reached agreement with the local Girls Scouts council, GSWO, on a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining what would and would not be acceptable relative to Girl Scout troops in the archdiocese.
At the expiration of the existing MOU, in preparation for the planned creation of a new MOU, staff from the AOC began looking at the materials and resources offered and promoted by GSWO. This investigation yielded concerns previously not identified about a growing advocacy, both at the national and local levels, for sexual and gender ideologies contrary to the Catholic understanding of the human person and moral teaching of the Church.
Cordial and mutually respectful discussions between the AOC and GSWO about these concerns began but were stalled at one point by a change in leadership at GSWO. Over this two-year period, further concerns along the same lines were identified.
In November 2023, with input from a moral theologian, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati proposed a new MOU to GSWO. This proposed MOU recognized that GSWO could not change the advocacy trajectory of GSUSA, but requested that GSWO cease promotion of activities, resources, badges and awards repugnant to Catholic teaching.
In December 2023, GSWO offered a new MOU of their own. This proposed MOU failed to address the fundamental concerns of the archdiocese. AOC staff then edited the GSWO proposal to include terms essential to reaching a common understanding and proposed this revision to the GSWO.
In April 2024, leaders from both the AOC and GSWO met to attempt to resolve differences with wording of the MOU. At this juncture, it became clear that there was no apparent path forward.
In August 2024, Archbishop Schnurr endorsed the American Heritage Girls (AHG) as the “preferred scouting option for girls” in the archdiocese based on its mission, consistent with that of Catholic youth ministry, of “Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.” AHG’s vision of the human person is congruent with that of the Catholic Church.
In October 2024, after consultation with the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council and Deans, and with the recommendation of key archdiocesan leaders, Archbishop Schnurr announced the discontinuance of the AOC’s partnership with the Girl Scouts, to take place over a 14-month timetable.
Objectionable materials/promotion include:
It is certainly true that most, if not all, of the Girl Scout troops associated with Catholic parishes and schools in the archdiocese have not participated in anything objectionable. The leaders of these troops have promoted and modelled what it means to be a faithful Catholic woman through both troop activities and pursuit of Religious Awards. This decision is not a reflection on any of the local troop leaders.
It is essential that all youth programs at our parishes and schools affirm virtues and values consistent with the teaching of Jesus Christ. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati cannot partner with an organization that, from its highest level, advocates ideas that the Church considers false and harmful to girls, regardless of the good that otherwise might be accomplished through that organization.
Parents have the right and responsibility to make moral choices on behalf of their minor children – it is not the place of the Church to make such decisions. The Church does, however, have a responsibility to form consciences and educate the faithful on possible dangers. We encourage parents to carefully consider the USCCB and AOC findings regarding the Girl Scouts in order to make informed prudential decisions.
Such conversations would necessarily have to be tailored to the particular troop or girl. A basic outline might include:
By the end of calendar year 2025, every Girl Scout troop operating on any Catholic campus in the AOC must decide to do one of the following:
From now until the end of calendar year 2025, Girl Scout troops may continue to meet on campus in accordance with any scheduling or other protocols of the parish or school. The 14-month timetable recognizes the decisions and steps that troop leaders will need to take. There are likely a number of important events scheduled, projects underway, and badges being pursued. Lastly, in the event that a troop decides to convert to an AHG troop, this allows the time to do so.
During this 14-month period, the following activities, which would typically be associated with ministries of the parish or school, shall be phased out:
Engaging and nurturing Catholic girls/young women in their faith and in the life of the Church remain priorities of every parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The conclusion of the partnership between the archdiocese and the Girl Scouts in no way diminishes the importance of this. With the agreement of your pastor or principal, as appropriate, a parish may support activities such as:
AHG has chartered troops in every U.S. state and 15 countries. There are a handful of AHG troops currently chartered in parishes across the AOC. Archbishop Schnurr wholeheartedly endorses AHG and urges anyone looking for a scouting program that will form girls in faith and virtue to consider starting or converting to an AHG troop. For more information on how to do so, visit https://americanheritagegirls.org/start-a-troop/charter-organizations/ or contact Ms. Julie Goodwin, AHG Catholic Relations Specialist, at [email protected] or 515.771.2025, ext. 158.
Yes, the Catholic religious awards offered by the USCCB to all scouting organizations will still be available. It is the right and responsibility of all the baptized to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in every area of his or her life. If this includes involvement in the Girl Scouts of America, then Catholics are encouraged to bring the light of Christ into their troop. Catholic religious awards provide good teaching and activities to grow in the Catholic faith.
AHG is an overtly Christian organization whose mission is “Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.” AHG is openly Christ-centered and dedicated to helping girls respond to God’s call to grow in purity, service, stewardship and integrity. Moreover, AHG expressly believes that every person is made in the image of God. The organization and its values are perfectly aligned with Catholic youth ministry.
This announcement addresses the specific findings for GSUSA and GSWO and the inability to find a mutually acceptable path forward for partnership with Girl Scouts.
Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) continues to be an approved scouting organization in the AOC. This status, as with all scouting organizations, is reviewed by the AOC from time-to-time.
Other approved scouting organizations can be found HERE.
