We have an update to a story we first brought you Monday that's been getting a lot of attention. The Indiana lawmaker who called the Girl Scouts a “radicalized organization” that supports abortion is standing firmly behind his comments.
This all began when Republican Rep. Bob Morris of Fort Wayne refused to sign a resolution honoring the Girl Scouts for its 100th birthday. He said he couldn't support the measure because he believes the Girl Scouts has become a "radicalized organization" that supports abortion.
Morris wrote an email to fellow House lawmakers saying he'd done some Internet research and discovered that Girl Scouts is linked to Planned Parenthood.
He accused Girl Scout leaders of "indoctrinating" girls with Planned Parenthood, and pushing role models who are "feminists, lesbians or Communists."
Both the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood deny having any relationship. Reporters eventually caught up with Representative Morris and here's a portion of what he said:
Morris: "If you do the research and look online, and I've challenged many people including constituents to do this and their eyes have been opened.”
WRTV reporter: “let's go through a few other things. You say girl scouts promote homosexual lifestyle. How do you know that?”
Morris: “Like I said, when you get online and you look at it…”
WRTV reporter: “So what you're saying is you're trusting everything that you've read online?”
Morris: “My family did the research. There are girls online that state as such and I challenge everyone to do your research on Girl Scouts of America."
The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana addressed Morris' claims in detail in a document provided here.
Again, both the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood deny having any relationship.
Planned Parenthood called Morris' comments, "Inflammatory, misleading, woefully inaccurate and harmful."
But as you’ve read, Representative Morris says he's done his research and stands by that letter.
We're told people are leaving piles of Girl Scout cookies on the doorsteps of his home and office.
How are Morris' fellow Rebulicans reacting?
House Speaker Brian Bosma, who is also a Republican, offered and ate Girl Scout cookies throughout the day yesterday as he oversaw business at the House.
At one point yesterday, he told House colleagues he'd, "purchased 278 cases of Girl Scout cookies in the last 48 hours."
Reaction from the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana
The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana have responded to Morris' claims in a very thorough document: Click here to read it
Statement from Planned Parenthood of Indiana
The following statement was released Tuesday afternoon:
“It was disappointing to read Rep. Morris’ inflammatory, misleading, woefully inaccurate and harmful words about Planned Parenthood, the Girl Scouts of America, and the President and First Lady.
"PPIN does not produce nor distribute the materials Rep. Morris referenced. Planned Parenthood of Indiana is first and foremost a provider of affordable, high-quality health care, serving more than 100,000 Hoosiers across the state. Our nonprofit provides preventive services such as life-saving cancer screenings, Pap tests, birth control, testing and treatment for STDs, as well as sexual health education and health counseling. As part of our sexual education services, we offer a variety of age-appropriate education services developed by trained professionals.
"On the national level, inflammatory and generally inaccurate claims about a partnership between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood have been promoted primarily by anti-choice lawmakers seeking to place pressure on organizations to disassociate or distance themselves from Planned Parenthood. As part of their campaign against the Girl Scouts, these groups are also attacking the Girl Scouts’ policies on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"Planned Parenthood currently has no formal partnership with the Girl Scouts, but supports their mission and recognizes their century of contributions to our society.
"Planned Parenthood of Indiana will continue working to fulfill our mission of providing affordable and quality care to Hoosiers who need it. At a time when Indiana’s families are struggling, it is disappointing to see legislators, such as Rep. Morris, focused on divisive social issues and restricting access to basic health care, rather than creating jobs and putting our neighbors back to work.”
Letter from Bob Morris
This is verbatim text of the letter from Indiana state Rep. Bob Morris to fellow lawmakers:
February 18, 2012
Members of the Republic Caucus
Dear Fellow Representatives:
This past week I was asked to sign a House Resolution recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of America. After talking to some well-informed constituents, I did a small amount of web-based research, and what I found is disturbing. The Girl Scouts of America and their worldwide partner, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), have entered into a close strategic affiliation with Planned Parenthood. You will not find evidence of this on the GSA/WAGGGS website—in fact, the websites of these two organizations explicitly deny funding Planned Parenthood.
Nonetheless, abundant evidence proves that the agenda of Planned Parenthood includes sexualizing young girls through the Girl Scouts, which is quickly becoming a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood instructional series and pamphlets are part of the core curriculum at GSA training seminars. Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley of Denver last year warned parents that “membership in the Girl Scouts could carry the danger of making their daughters more receptive to the pro-abortion agenda.”
A Girl Scouts of America training program last year used the Planned Parenthood sex education pamphlet “Happy, Healthy, and Hot.” The pamphlet instructs young girls not to think of sex as “just about vaginal or anal intercourse.” “There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore and be yourself!” it states. Although individual Girl Scout troops are not forced to follow this curriculum, many do. Liberal progressive troop-leaders will indoctrinate the girls in their troop according to the principles of Planned Parenthood, making Bishop Conley’s warning true.
Many parents are abandoning the Girl Scouts because they promote homosexual lifestyles. In fact, the Girl Scouts education seminar girls are directed to study the example of role models. Of the fifty role models listed, only three have a briefly-mentioned religious background – all the rest are feminists, lesbians, or Communists. World Net Daily, in a May 2009 article, states that Girl Scout Troops are no longer allowed to pray or sing traditional Christmas Carols.
Boys who decide to claim a “transgender” or cross-dressing life-style are permitted to become a member of a Girl Scout troop, performing crafts with the girls and participate in overnight and camping activities – just like any real girl. The fact that the Honorary President of Girl Scouts of America is Michelle Obama, and the Obama’s are radically pro-abortion and vigorously support the agenda of Planned Parenthood, should give each of us reason to pause before our individual or collective endorsement of the organization.
As members of the Indiana House of Representatives, we must be wise before we use the credibility and respect of the “Peoples’ House” to extend legitimacy to a radicalized organization. The Girl Scouts of America stand in a strong tradition that reflects with fidelity the traditional values of our homes and our families. The tradition extends from coast-to-coast and back through the past one hundred years. That said, I challenge each of you to examine these matters more closely before you extend your name and your reputation to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional American family values.
I have two daughters who have been active in the Girl Scouts of Limberlost Council in Northeastern Indiana. Now that I am aware of the influence of Planned Parenthood within GSA and other surprisingly radical policies of GSA, my two daughters will instead become active in American Heritage Girls Little Flowers organization. In this traditional group they will learn about values and principles that will not confuse their conservative Hoosier upbringing.
I have been told that, as of today, I am the only member not supporting the Girl Scout Resolution.
I challenge each of you to examine these matters and to decide carefully whether or not to sign the resolution.
Respectfully,
Bob Morris
