St Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson stated in an open letter that the organisation promotes values "incompatible" with Catholic teachings.

The archbishop urged parishes that host Girl Scout meetings to consider alternative programmes that are more Catholic- or Christian-based.

Archbishop Carlson's letter states that Girl Scouts of the USA and affiliated organisations promote role models like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan who are "in conflict with Catholic values".

The letter states the organisation promotes and is partners with groups that advocate for things such as contraception and abortion rights.

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In a recent article, Joan Chittister writes that the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Catholic Charities in the US, Caritas, and now the Girl Scouts, have 'been curtailed, "investigated" or put in some kind of canonical receivership because of their reputed lack of orthodoxy on sexual issues or because of association with other groups that, according to the bishops, have the same problem. And all of that in the face of the sex abuse debacle of the church itself, still to be resolved, never monitored, and totally closed to outside investigation.'

• Read Joan Chittister's article in National Catholic Reporter
• Image: CBS News