CINCINNATI (LifeSiteNews) — The Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced last month that it has renewed its partnership with the notoriously pro-LGBT Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) nearly a year after the previous archbishop ended the partnership over concerns about their promotion of gender ideology and same-sex “marriage.”
In a September 30 statement, Archbishop Robert Casey, who was appointed as Archbishop of Cincinnati by the late Pope Francis in February, emphasized that while there are significant differences between the Church’s and the secular organization’s views on gender identity and the human person, it’s important to focus on their shared desire for the flourishing of young women instead of these differences.
The renewed partnership comes just under a year after Casey’s predecessor, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, ended the archdiocese’s 110-year partnership with the organization due to several of its activities and badge requirements contradicting Catholic teaching on gender ideology and homosexual “marriage,” and ordered that all parish schools and parishes end their partnerships with the organization by the end of 2025.
“I am proud of this dialogue and the way we have focused on our shared desire for the flourishing of young women in virtue and faith, rather than being solely focused on our differences,” Archbishop Casey said in the official archdiocesan statement.
“Girl Scouts is a secular organization, and as such, they do not share all of our views. As the Catholic Church we are called to uphold the Gospel and teach young people the Truth of the Catholic faith,” he added. “Despite these differences, we have reached a mutual understanding that allows us to fulfill our mission as Church in the faithful formation of young girls while also accessing all that is best about Girl Scouting.”
READ: Archbishop of Cincinnati ends 100+ year partnership with Girl Scouts over LGBT ideology
“The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio have found a way to work together amid differences in our understanding of identity and the human person,” a spokeswoman for the archdiocese reiterated to LifeSiteNews.
Aimée Sproles, the president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, stressed that the organization was proud to be resuming its relationship with the archdiocese.
“At Girl Scouts, we believe that a part of girls’ healthy development is encouraging girls in their spiritual journey, through partnerships with their individual faith communities,” she said. “This renewed partnership allows our Catholic Girl Scouts to have the support of their family and the Catholic community as they grow in courage, confidence, and character.”
In his letter last year announcing the end of its partnership with the Girl Scouts, Archbishop Schnurr highlighted some of the objectionable activities and badges that clearly contradict Catholic teaching.
Some of these activities include allowing gender-confused boys who identify as “transgender,” “non-binary,” or “gender fluid” to board with girls on overnight camping trips. The Girl Scouts also have a special “LGBTQ+ Pride Month Celebration Fun Patch” for girls to earn by making “a piece of art that celebrates how families come in all shapes, sizes, and kinds,” and attending “an LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in June with your family or troop,” among other activities.
READ: Girl Scouts guidelines allow gender-confused boys to share overnight camping quarters with girls
“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,” Schnurr wrote in the letter.
Indeed, several prominent Catholic clerics have spoken out against gender ideology and transgenderism, including Cardinal Raymond Burke, who, in an August commencement speech at Thomas Aquinas College, condemned it as an “attack on reason and nature.”
READ: Cardinal Burke condemns gender ideology as ‘attack on reason and nature’
“(T)o say that I can change my nature: I was born a male and that I can, through the use of various chemicals and mutilation, make myself a woman – this is an attack on reason, on nature,” Burke said.
On same-sex “marriage” and relationships, the Catechism teaches that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law” and that the homosexual inclination is “objectively disordered.” The Catechism is very clear that homosexual activity can never be approved and repeats that “(h)omosexual persons are called to chastity.” Homosexual acts are mortal sins; therefore, anyone who commits these sins and does not repent through the sacrament of confession is in danger of hell.
In 2014, a long USCCB investigation into GSUSA revealed that the organization regularly donates to the World Association of Girl Guides & Scouts (WAGGS), which promotes so-called “sexual and reproductive rights” and allows local councils to work with Planned Parenthood.
Interestingly, in 2021, while serving as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago under Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop Casey was also among the 68 American bishops who signed a letter asking the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to end discussions on prohibiting then-President Joe Biden and other pro-abortion Catholic politicians from receiving Holy Communion.
Contact information for respectful communication:
Archbishop Robert Casey’s office
Phone: 513-263-6612
Email: [email protected]
