Jump directly to the content
Ted OlsenTed Olsen

Weblog

A Boycott That Worked

Plus: Missionaries flee Haiti, missionary murdered in Mozambique, battle for Baylor continues, clergy abuse report released, and many other stories from online sources around the world.

Texas Girl Scout group breaks relationship with Planned Parenthood after cookie boycott
Who says prolife boycotts (or, to coin a word, a girlscott) don't work? This week, in response to a Girl Scout Cookie boycott organized by Pro-Life Waco, the Bluebonnet Council of Girl Scouts withdrew its cosponsorship of sex education programs with Planned Parenthood.

Council executive director Beth Vivio said the relationship was severed because it was perceived as an endorsement of abortion.

"Our policies basically state that we do not take a position on issues like abortion," she told the Waco Tribune-Herald. "We feel these are private matters that need to be discussed or determined by each family."

John Pisciotta, director of Pro-Life Waco and an associate professor of economics at Baylor University, is pleased, but is concerned with other areas of partnership between the council and Planned Parenthood.

Pisciotta is no wild-eyed fanatic, and, fortunately, the media hasn't been able to portray him as such. The Ft. Worth Star.-Telegram quoted him saying, "I don't take pleasure in upsetting families and upsetting little girls. That is a downside of this. But it did get the conversation going."

Even more interesting a quote in an earlier Tribune-Herald story.

"I'm hearing that Girl Scout cookie sales may hit an all-time high," he said before the council made its decision to withdraw its sponsorship. "I'm happy about that. I hope they double it from last year. … In our boycott, the financial impact is nil. Our whole goal is education. We want everyone to know about this multifaceted entanglement between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood. Many people are mad about this."

And now Planned Parenthood is mad. "I'm sick to think that an organization ...

Article Preview

This article is currently available to CT subscribers only.

To continue reading:
LoginorSubscribe

Weblog

Launched in 1999, Christianity Today’s Weblog was not just one of the first religion-oriented weblogs, but one of the first published by a media organization. (Hence its rather bland title.) Mostly compiled by then-online editor Ted Olsen, Weblog rounded up religion news and opinion pieces from publications around the world. As Christianity Today’s website grew, it launched other blogs. Olsen took on management responsibilities, and the Weblog feature as such was mothballed. But CT’s efforts to round up important news and opinion from around the web continues, especially on our Gleanings feature.

Ted Olsen

Ted Olsen

Ted Olsen is Christianity Today's managing editor for news and online journalism. He wrote the magazine's Weblog—a collection of news and opinion articles from mainstream news sources around the world—from 1999 to 2006. In 2004, the magazine launched Weblog in Print, which looks for unexpected connections and trends in articles appearing in the mainstream press. The column was later renamed "Tidings" and ran until 2007.


More from Christianity Today
A Fractured and Beautiful Faith

A Fractured and Beautiful Faith

How songwriter Audrey Assad transcended "positive and encouraging" to create music for the church.
A Terrifying Grace

A Terrifying Grace

Why God’s omniscience is good news for us.

Streaming This Weekend, May 24, 2013

What to watch this weekend (hint: don't make a huge mistake).
Can a Christian Family Ever Be Too Big?

Can a Christian Family Ever Be Too Big?

Experts weigh in.
Get Instant Access
Christianity Today Magazine
Subscribe now for a year (10 issues) at $24.95 for print, iPad, and instant web access.

International Orders

Comments

This article has no comments
You must be a Christianity Today subscriber to post comments
(on articles open to the public, you must at least register for a free account).
Login
or
Subscribe
or
Register

Don't Miss

Rob Bell's 'Ginormous' Mirror

Rob Bell's 'Ginormous' Mirror

To read his book is to read about our fascination with ourselves.
Losing my Edge

Losing my Edge

When your initial enthusiasm fades, you need a plan if you're going to bring your best to your calling

War and Peace

War and Peace

Pastor Tullian Tchividjian survived a leadership coup by finding rest in the liberating power of the gospel.

more | current issue

Today's Christian Woman

Ministering to Military Families

Ministering to Military Families

Five tangible ways to...

Books & Culture

A Measure of Forgiveness

A Measure of Forgiveness

Memories of a British...

Small Groups

Conflict in Small Groups

Conflict in Small Groups

Work through conflict...

Out of Ur

Review: Missio Alliance Gathering 2013

Review: Missio Alliance Gathering 2013

Reflections on mission...

Facebook

CT eBooks & Bible Studies


Shopping