CV-NEWSFEED // The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has recognized the American Heritage Girls (AHG) as a Christian alternative to the Girl Scouts.

According to Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr

Unfortunately, in recent years some Scout organizations have adopted and promoted an impoverished worldview regarding human life and sexuality. Through activities, badges and awards, these organizations have helped to normalize a gender ideology that is devoid of Christian virtue and at odds with the Catholic understanding of man as created in the image and likeness of God.

The archbishop recommended that young girls join AHG rather than Girl Scouts or Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America). He explained, “AHG is openly Christocentric and dedicated to helping girls follow God’s call to grow in purity, service, responsibility and integrity. In addition, AHG explicitly believes that every person is created in the image of God.”

In an exclusive interview with CatholicVote, Julie Goodwin, AHG’s national Catholic relations specialist, explained how the program builds community, teaches girls Christian leadership skills and helps them embrace their femininity.

Goodwin said AHG builds community between girls and families because the program is designed to pair older girls with younger girls. Parents also benefit from the program, “because you know that every parent in that room, every parent going to an event, is on the same path of raising our girls.”

The Christian leadership taught by AHG also allows the girls to encourage one another to pray and build their relationship with Christ. “Many of our girls pray the rosary on the camping trips or read the Liturgy of the Hours or come together to pray,” Goodwin said. “The girls’ leadership allows them to exercise that peer pressure.”

The program also teaches girls to embrace their femininity, as the program requires high school students to read the books of Pope John Paul II. Letter to the women. Goodwin said, “For these older girls, sometimes it’s a real eye-opener to think about (femininity) from a Catholic perspective. They see it as a beautiful gift.”