Representative Bob Morris issues apology for Girl Scouts comments

NewsChannel 15 has obtained a written statement from Representative Bob Morris that says he apologizes for the written remarks he made about the Girls Scouts earlier this week.

In it, Representative Bob Morris apologizes to the Girl Scouts of Indiana but said he still would not sign the Resolution honoring the Girl Scouts because of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and its policies.

The following statement was released February 23, 2012:

After reflecting on the letter I wrote on February 18, 2012 to my fellow Indiana Republican Representatives, I realize now that my words were emotional, reactionary, and inflammatory. For that I sincerely apologize. I apologize to the Girl Scouts of Indiana and all of the girls and parents of Indiana who are participating in and running their Girl Scout organizations in a way that promotes leadership, community involvement and family values. I certainly should not have painted the entire Girl Scouts organization with such a wide brush.
As I have mentioned, the letter was intended for only my colleagues in the Statehouse. That is not an excuse for the breadth of my letter – rather, it is the reason for the lack of research and evidence it contained. I was merely attempting to express my reasons for not signing the House Resolution honoring the Girl Scouts and challenging my colleagues to think about the issue. I assure you that on matters of state policy and law making my research is extensive.
Too, had I known this letter would have gone to a wider audience, I would have cited further evidence for my position. In hindsight, I never should have written the letter. However, I still would not sign the Resolution honoring the Girl Scouts – not because of any local troops or even the Girl Scouts of Indiana, but because of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (Girl Scouts USA) and its policies. My conscience would not allow me to publicly endorse an organization that partners with Planned Parenthood – our State’s leading abortion provider. My family and I view abortion as the biggest evil of our time. And as Blessed Pope John Paul II said in his Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, “every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the natural law written in the heart (cf. Rom 2:14-15) the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree.” I hope that my stance will help to spread the Gospel of life. Perhaps it will cause the Girl Scouts USA to reconsider its policies.
On March 5, 2004, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America’s CEO, Kathy Cloninger, stated in an interview on the NBC Today Show that the Girl Scouts USA partners with Planned Parenthood with regard to sex education for Girl Scouts. To my knowledge, the Girl Scouts USA have not rescinded, corrected or denied that statement. If the Girl Scouts USA now denies the statement of its CEO, I challenge the organization to do so publicly so that individuals are not confused as to the organization’s ties to Planned Parenthood.
Girl Scouts USA is also the founding and largest member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (“WAGGGS”). Money raised by Girl Scouts USA is used to support WAGGS. As you can see from the link on its own website, WAGGS openly promotes sex education and access to contraception and other “sexual and reproductive health services” for young people. I cannot, in good conscience, honor an organization that supports such policies. It is my sincere hope that this statement will end the publicity with regard to my letter. I look forward to moving on to more important issues of state policy.

Thank you.

Tuesday, before the release of the above written statement, the Fort Wayne lawmaker said he planned to stand by his allegations that the Girl Scouts are a radical organization that promotes abortions and homosexuality.

Both the scouts and Planned Parenthood dismissed Rep. Bob Morris' comments as absurd, as did Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma.

But the Fort Wayne Republican told The Associated Press his critics need to do more research into the 100-year-old scouting organization.

"My family and I took a view and we're sticking by it," Morris said, adding that his daughters were joining an alternative group for young girls run by conservative Christians. "My girls are no longer Girl Scouts. They're now going to join American Heritage Girls."