Free Republic

A Colorado radio host is urging listeners to give up Girl Scout cookies due to what he referred to as the organization's promotion of "lesbianism." Kevin Swanson, a pastor and right-wing activist, said on his "Generations Radio" program, which originates in Elizabeth, Colo., that he doesn't condone purchasing Girl Scout cookies because the organization promotes homosexuality and supports abortion, MSNBC reported Tuesday. "Please, I beg of you, stop buying Girl Scout cookies," Swanson said on Monday's radio broadcast. "I'd say you ought to say no to the Girl Scout cookies," Swanson said. "I don't want to support lesbianism, I don't...

Who’s calling the shots over at the Girl Scouts? And where’s the organization headed?The questions matter for two reasons. First, it’s cookie season. Any day now some cute little girls wearing green sashes and bright smiles will knock on your door and sweetly seek support for their projects, badges, and activities. Do you write the check or not? (Forget your craving for Thin Mints. Think rationally!) Should you support the Girl Scouts? Second, the Girl Scouts organization (GSUSA) is in trouble again. In recent weeks, they’ve drawn scrutiny for promoting biased resources (the left-wing Media Matters) and pressuring an employee...

Using a quickly-mobilized email campaign, a pro-life organization in Waco, Texas, succeeded in ousting Planned Parenthood as a featured presenter for “Girls Day 2013,” a YMCA educational program for girls of ages 9 and up. According to LifeSiteNews, pro-life activists were appalled when they learned, on April 4th, that the “Girls Day” program, planned for April 6th, would feature Katie Wolfe, Waco Planned Parenthood’s education director. Wolfe was scheduled to speak to both the young girls participating in the conference and their parents on “building healthy relationships” from Planned Parenthood’s perspective. Upon learning about the scheduled speaker, Joe Pisciotta, director...

Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are. Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA), offers this pithy saying as her favorite quote. In order to figure out who the Girl Scouts are, I suppose we must follow Ms. Chávez’ logic and look at the organizations that GSUSA associates with. A good place to start would be the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). WAGGGS has member organizations across the globe, the largest of which is GSUSA, contributing approximately a quarter of the ten million members that belong to...

When Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) gets criticized for their controversial practices, they usually offer vague statements and empty reassurances. Last week was no exception. I suppose my recent Girl Scout article hit a nerve. Last week, GSUSA released a statement attempting to respond to the concerns I presented. I thought it was interesting that they responded to fairly insignificant me, a lone teenage girl. You see, Missouri Right to Li­­fe, a major player on the pro-life stage, recently issued a very informative and well-documented policy statement about GSUSA. GSUSA has been curiously quiet about those serious concerns. As far as...

Given the friction and financial woes facing the Girl Scouts these days, perhaps it's time for a giant friendship circle. Under that long-standing tradition, a ring of Scouts clasp hands and give a little squeeze, accompanied by a silent wish of good will. Just a year after its centennial celebrations, the Girl Scouts of the USA finds itself in a different sort of squeeze. Its interconnected problems include declining membership and revenues, a dearth of volunteers, rifts between leadership and grassroots members, a pension plan with a $347 million deficit, and an uproar over efforts by many local councils to...

The current head of the Girls Scouts USA, Anna Maria Chavez, is a nominal Catholic with strong ties to numerous pro-abort politicians, and served as an apparatchik for the democrat party for many years. She has campaigned repeatedly for pro-abort politicians. And yet, in spite of the massive problems with the Girl Scouts overall, and their current CEO in particular, Cardinal Dolan saw fit to bestow an award on Ms. Chavez, the “St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal.”

Boys and girls and young men and women of Catholic Scouting in the archdiocese came together at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where they were honored at the annual Scouting Mass. The April 7 Mass recognized the achievements of members of Scouting troops throughout the archdiocese. The ceremony began with an impressive color guard of scouts processing up the cathedral’s central aisle. Scouts also served as altar servers and gift bearers. Cardinal Dolan, the principal celebrant, opened the Mass by saying it was a joy to welcome the Scouts, as he had welcomed many other honored guests to the cathedral. Msgr. Anthony...