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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But a statement from St Louis archdiocese has hit out at coverage of Archbishop Robert Carlson's remarks, saying they were taken out of context.

During a court deposition last month, Archbishop Carlson was questioned about the period when he was an auxiliary bishop in Minnesota several decades ago.

Attorney Jeffrey Anderson asked the archbishop if he knew an adult engaging in sex with a child was a crime.

"I'm not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not," Archbishop Carlson replied.

"I understand today it's a crime," he said.

The archdiocese's statement said Archbishop Carlson was responding to a question about mandatory reporting of child abuse in Minnesota, which became effective in 1988.

The deposition transcript shows Mr Anderson asking a double question about mandatory reporting and the archbishop's knowledge of whether child abuse was a crime.

This drew an objection from the archbishop's attorney.

Mr Anderson then rephrased: "Archbishop, you knew it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a kid?"

The deposition was part of a lawsuit against Twin Cities archdiocese and Winona diocese.

When asked when he first realised it was a crime for an adult — including a priest — to have sex with a child, Archbishop Carlson said "I don't remember" .

Mr Anderson, who is representing an alleged clergy abuse victim, released documents showing that, in 1984, then-Bishop Carlson was aware of the seriousness of child abuse allegations.

The then-auxiliary bishop wrote to his archbishop that parents of an alleged victim were planning to go to police.

Archbishop Carlson admitted that during his time in St Paul and Minneapolis he never personally went to police, even when clergy admitted inappropriate behaviour.

But he encouraged parents to do so at least once, he said.

In his testimony, Archbishop Carlson responded 193 times that he did not recall abuse-related conversations from the 1980s to mid-1990s.

A deposition from 1987 has another bishop, now deceased, saying he was advised by Carlson to answer "I don't remember" if questioned in court.

Archbishop Carlson said he had no knowledge of that discussion, but added he wouldn't have given that advice.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter (Original story)

National Catholic Reporter (Rebuttal)

NBC News

Deposition transcript

Image: St Louis Today

Franciscan Sister Pat Farrell was addressing the 900-strong assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in St Louis, Missouri.

The LCWR's 1500 members represent about 80 per cent of US congregations of female religious.

The assembly is the first since the Vatican's doctrinal assessment, which said reform was needed to ensure fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas that include abortion, euthanasia, women's ordination and homosexuality.

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle, who is to supervise the reform, is not attending the assembly. Mercy Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the US bishops' conference, said he offered to come, but was told his presence "would not be helpful".

In a telephone media conference before the assembly, Sister Farrell said it would work on normal business as its response to the Vatican. "We don't want to allow this doctrinal assessment to really take over the mission and the entire agenda of our organisation because we do have other important things to be about," she said.

Asked if a democratic vote of the membership would be taken, she said "a sense of the membership" would be determined. "Our process of discernment is typically not taking a vote," she explained.

In a welcoming address, Archbishop Robert Carlson of St Louis praised the work of the sisters and their influence on his own life. Referring briefly to the standoff with Rome, he cited as a model the conflicts between apostles Peter and Paul in the early days of the Church. "They managed to work things out then, and I pray that you will work things out now," he said.

In a blog post on the eve of the assembly, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the US bishops' conference, wrote "We Catholics love the Sisters!" and voiced confidence that they would survive the "examination by Rome".

Sources:

Catholic News Service

Catholic News Agency

National Catholic Register

Image: New York Times