A recent story from Waco, Texas revealed a link between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood.  This unholy alliance with the nation’s largest abortion provider so incensed some local parents that they called for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies.  As the story gained steam, generating a firestorm of protest about the Waco Girl Scout and Planned Parenthood entanglement, the local Girl Scout council quickly decided to sever ties with Planned Parenthood.

On March 5th Kathy Cloninger, CEO of the Girl Scouts of America, appeared on NBC's "Today" show to discuss the boycott.  After describing Waco as a local decision, Cloninger explained that Girl Scouts of America addresses the challenges girls face in today's world, including issues regarding sexuality and body image.  She then added, "We partner with many organizations.  We have relationships with our church communities, with YWCAs, and with Planned Parenthood organizations across the country, to bring information-based sex education programs to girls." 

Thus, what was thought to be an isolated link with Planned Parenthood has now been revealed to be a national Girl Scout policy.  Given this potential relationship between any Girl Scout council and Planned Parenthood, parents should look into whether or not their local Girl Scout organizations are supporting Planned Parenthood events or providing Planned Parenthood materials to their daughters.  STOPP International has taken on the task of investigating Girl Scout councils nationwide to determine which are involved with Planned Parenthood.  STOPP announced a target date of April 5th for releasing their results.

I have received a letter from one Girl Scout leader in Illinois who will be resigning.  She is calling for a boycott of Girl Scouts until they sever all ties with Planned Parenthood.  That action seems like a reasonable step.  Would you want your daughter exposed to a book for young girls with chapters on masturbation and homosexuality?  The book, which was graced with the Girl Scout logo, included images of couples having sex and a boy properly wearing a condom.

The March 9th Chicago Tribune published an article about the shifting sexual preference of teen girls.  The story covered girls who date other girls most of the time, but keep their options open to re-consider dating boys.  To reinforce the point, a “diversity day” event at a Washington, D.C. high school was mentioned.  No students identified themselves as gay or lesbian, but 15 out of 60 students identified themselves as bisexual.  Is this what the Planned Parenthood version of sex education is leading to?  It is urgent to protect children from Planned Parenthood, whether they are gaining access through the Girl Scouts or the school system.

Such disordered sexuality only leads to dangerous experimentation, and ultimately abortion in many cases.  A study of pregnancy-associated deaths published in the latest issue of the "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology" (AJOG) has found that the mortality rate associated with abortion is nearly three times (2.95) higher than that associated with pregnancies carried to term.  This study is more evidence that abortion hurts women.  Another young woman (in Sweden) has died after using the abortion drug, RU-486.  The phrase “safe sex” is as much of a lie as the phrase “right to choose”.  One leads to the other, and both “choices” have serious consequences for the future of those children who have been deceived by these lies.  “Safe sex” education must be replaced with abstinence education for the well-being of our children.

Bill Beckman