US archdiocese ends 100-year partnership with Girl Scouts over ‘sexual and gender ideology’

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has severed links with the Girl Scouts of the USA, marking the end of a more than 100-year-long partnership. It follows a seven-month impasse in which leaders of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati clashed with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio over the group’s alleged promotion of a “sexual and gender ideology” contrary to Catholic teaching.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr announced that the partnership will end in a 28 October letter. The archbishop states that the decision is a response to an “impoverished worldview regarding gender and sexuality” that Girl Scouts of the USA has “embraced and promoted” in recent years. The partnership will come to a close, Schnurr said, by the end of 2025 after more than 100 years.

“Through some of their activities, resources, badges and awards, Girl Scouts – including the local chapter, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio – has contributed to normalising 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,” Schnurr said.

“The Archdiocese of Cincinnati cannot partner with an organisation that, from its highest level, advocates ideas which the Church considers false and harmful,” he said.

A spokesperson for the archdiocese declined to comment more specifically, referring Crux to an informational resource the archdiocese has put together. The Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and the Girl Scouts of USA did not respond to a Crux request for comment on the archdiocese’s decision.

In a statement published on 29 October, the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio said they were notified of the archdiocese’s decision late on 28 October and are “deeply disappointed”. The organisation said it remains open to a mutually respectful dialogue, and it hopes the archdiocese will return to conversation.

“Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is – and always has been – a secular organisation that welcomes girls of all faiths,” the organisation said. “Our membership includes girls and families of many faith traditions, and we believe that a part of girls’ healthy development is encouraging girls in their spiritual journey, through partnerships with their faith communities,”

An FAQ page on the Girl Scouts of USA website states that the organisation “does not take a position or develop materials” on the issues of human sexuality, birth control and abortion”. The page also notes that the organisation does not have a relationship or partnership with Planned Parenthood.

The Girl Scouts of USA and the US Catholic Church have had a relationship for more than 100 years. However, cracks in that relationship surfaced in 2012 because of the Girl Scouts of USA’s alleged ties to the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts.

That association had ties, a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) investigation found, to International Planned Parenthood. This led the USCCB to advise dioceses to reach an understanding with their local Girl Scout chapters around what would and would not be acceptable for Catholic troops of girl scouts.

According to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the archdiocese and Girl Scouts of Western Ohio then reached a memorandum of understanding for girl scout troops in the archdiocese. When that agreement expired in 2021, additional concerns were identified, prompting an investigation by the archdiocese.

“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,” the archdiocese states on its FAQ page.

New memoranda of understanding were proposed by each side in 2023, with neither budging. Fast forward to this month, and Schnurr, after consultation with the archdiocese’s presbyteral council and deans, and with the recommendation of key archdiocesan leaders, chose to end the partnership.

“Please know that this decision has not been made lightly. It only comes after extensive research and interaction with leaders of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio,” Schnurr said in his letter, noting that “we have attempted to mitigate the influence of GSUSA at the local level”.

Schnurr recommended that every Girl Scout troop should convert to an American Heritage Girls troop, which he calls the “preferred scouting option for girls” based on a mission that is consistent with that of Catholic youth ministry.

Schnurr, in closing, stated the respect he has for many Girl Scout leaders in the archdiocese.

“While this development is difficult to share, it does not diminish my profound respect and appreciation for the many Girl Scout leaders in our archdiocese who have faithfully served our youth,” Schnurr said. “Your mentorship has made a difference in the lives of many, and I am very grateful for your service.”

The USCCB, on its website, states that each local bishop determines their diocese’s relationship with the local Girl Scouts Branch.

Following the USCCB investigation in 2012, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was the first diocese to sever its relationship with Girl Scouts of USA in 2014. Crux did not find any other instances of a diocese making a similar decision.

Photo: Scene from a ceremony welcoming a new member to the Girl Scouts in Los Angeles, California, USA, 24 March 2017. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Girl Scouts of the USA.)

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