The Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri has cut ties with Girl Scouts U.S.A. over the latter's association with groups that promote abortion, same-sex marriage and contraceptives, and for allowing transgenders to join troops.
In a letter, Archbishop Robert Carlson said the diocese has investigated concerns about Girl Scouts USA and its parent organisation, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
These concerns include WAGGGS' continued promotion of contraception and abortion rights on behalf of its girl members; financial contributions of GSUSA to the parent organisation; and GSUSA's promotion of role models that contradict Catholic values including activist Gloria Steinem and writer Betty Friedan.
Carlson also questioned GSUSA's partnership with Amnesty International, Coalition for Adolescent Girls and OxFam that are in conflict with Catholic values on areas of sex education and reproductive rights.
"Girl Scouts is exhibiting a troubling pattern of behaviour and it is clear to me that as they move in the ways of the world it is becoming increasingly incompatible with our Catholic values," Carlson said in the letter. "We must stop and ask ourselves—is Girl Scouts concerned with the total well-being of our young women? Does it do a good job forming the spiritual, emotional, and personal well-being of Catholic girls?"
He ordered that "effective immediately, I am disbanding the Catholic Committee on Girl Scouts and instead forming a Catholic Committee for Girls Formation that will be charged with ministry to all girls in various organisations."
Carlson also took issue with Girls Scouts' position on and inclusion of transgender and homosexuals.
"Our culture is becoming increasingly intolerant of a Catholic worldview regarding these issues. While Catholics are called to treat all people with compassion and mercy, we must at the same time be mindful of whom we allow to teach and form our youth and the messages they present," he said.
Carlson said while many leaders are fulfilling the mandate of presenting young people with the good news of Jesus Christ within their troops, "I continue to be concerned of messages at odds with our faith that our youth are receiving from GSUSA and the organisations that they partner with."
He said he is asking pastors who allow Girl Scout troops to meet on parish property to hold a meeting with troop leaders to review the concerns and discuss alternative options.
"Our primary obligation is to help our girls grow as women of God. Several alternative organisations exist, many of which have a Catholic or Christian background," he said.
Carlson also expressed concern about the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
"While the new BSA leadership policy currently offers some protections to religious organisations, I continue to wonder in which direction this once trusted organisation is now headed," he said.
