http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0506247.htm
GIRLS-BOYCOTT Nov-2-2005 (890 words) xxxn
Parish cancels American Girl event; others urge boycott of doll maker
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Saying that "the pursuit of funds can't come at the cost of our integrity," the pastor of St. Luke Parish in Brookfield, Wis., has canceled an American Girl school fundraiser set for May because of the doll company's ties to a nonprofit group that supports keeping abortion legal.
The American Girl's connection to Girls Inc. through the "I Can" bracelet project -- which promotes girls' self-esteem and service -- also has prompted criticism of the company by at least three organizations -- Pro-Life Wisconsin, Pro-Life Action League and American Family Association. The latter two organizations urged a boycott of American Girl, which produces a line of popular collectable dolls.
"We are asking people who care about little girls, and about the value of human life, to refrain from purchasing products and visiting American Girl Place during the entire Christmas shopping season," said Ann Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, in a Nov. 1 statement.
The head of Girls Inc. said, however, that the controversy resulted from "false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda."
Representatives of American Girl did not respond to Catholic News Service requests for comment on the controversy Nov. 2, but spokeswoman Julie Parks told The Associated Press earlier that some groups "have chosen to misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts."
Writing in the Oct. 30 St. Luke's parish bulletin, Father Francis X. Malloy, St. Luke's pastor, said the parish school had planned an American Girl fashion show for May. The company sells dolls, related books and doll accessories through its Web site and catalog and at stores in Chicago and New York.
"It seemed like a match made in heaven, a motivated Catholic school and an all-American icon," Father Malloy wrote in the bulletin. "We seemed poised to raise enough funds for a new playground and a remake of the school library. Perhaps there would be enough for a rainy day."
But following a special meeting of the Home and School Association at St. Luke's, the pastor canceled the fundraiser, forfeiting a $1,000 deposit. Although the parish hopes to get the deposit returned, "even if we don't it probably won't matter," Father Malloy said. "The real lesson is one of integrity."
"We are a Catholic school and we do have core values of faith and tradition," he added. "These we pass on to our young people -- it's why we have a school. We do believe in preparing our daughters to be strong women of principle -- we just happen to disagree with Girls Inc."
Formerly known as Girls Clubs of America, Girls Inc. "develops research-based informal education programs that encourage girls to take risks and master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges," according to its Web site. "Major programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention and sports participation."
"Recently, our mission to help girls develop their self-esteem and self-reliance has become the target of false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda," said Joyce M. Roche, president and CEO of Girls Inc., in a statement. "Girls Inc. stands on its long positive history. The millions of lives we have touched speak for who we are and our values."
On its Web site, Girls Inc. said it "supports a woman's freedom of choice, a constitutional right established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 in Roe vs. Wade." It also says girls have a right to "convenient access to safe, effective methods of contraception and protection from disease."
In September, American Girl launched the "I Can" bracelet project, selling bands that carry the American Girl "I Can" promise: "I can be myself, follow my dreams and always do my best. I can reach for the stars, lend a hand to others and be a good friend. I can make a difference! I promise to try."
American Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., said it would donate net proceeds from the band sales to Girls Inc. and would make an additional $50,000 donation to the organization to support its educational programs.
Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, praised Father Malloy and St. Luke's for canceling the planned American Girl fundraiser.
"The parish sacrificed possibly thousands of dollars to take a stand for life," she said. "Such courage will most likely not, however, go unrewarded. It would only take a few people who decide not to purchase an American Girl doll, and instead send their money to St. Luke, for the parish to recoup their losses."
The American Family Association, based in Tupelo, Miss., called Girls Inc. a "pro-abortion, pro-lesbian group" and urged its members to tell American Girl that its decision to support Girls Inc. "casts a great shadow over their trustworthiness to put the welfare of girls and children first."
Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League said girls are being "unwittingly introduced to Girls Inc. through the 'I Can' bracelet program, and lured into contact with their radical feminist ideology."
"As consumers, we have both the freedom and the responsibility to spend our gift dollars in a manner consistent with our values," she added. "There are excellent alternatives to American Girl dolls. We expect that many families will choose to reject American Girl this Christmas."
END
Parish cancels American Girl event; others urge boycott of doll maker
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Saying that "the pursuit of funds can't come at the cost of our integrity," the pastor of St. Luke Parish in Brookfield, Wis., has canceled an American Girl school fundraiser set for May because of the doll company's ties to a nonprofit group that supports keeping abortion legal.
The American Girl's connection to Girls Inc. through the "I Can" bracelet project -- which promotes girls' self-esteem and service -- also has prompted criticism of the company by at least three organizations -- Pro-Life Wisconsin, Pro-Life Action League and American Family Association. The latter two organizations urged a boycott of American Girl, which produces a line of popular collectable dolls.
"We are asking people who care about little girls, and about the value of human life, to refrain from purchasing products and visiting American Girl Place during the entire Christmas shopping season," said Ann Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, in a Nov. 1 statement.
The head of Girls Inc. said, however, that the controversy resulted from "false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda."
Representatives of American Girl did not respond to Catholic News Service requests for comment on the controversy Nov. 2, but spokeswoman Julie Parks told The Associated Press earlier that some groups "have chosen to misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts."
Writing in the Oct. 30 St. Luke's parish bulletin, Father Francis X. Malloy, St. Luke's pastor, said the parish school had planned an American Girl fashion show for May. The company sells dolls, related books and doll accessories through its Web site and catalog and at stores in Chicago and New York.
"It seemed like a match made in heaven, a motivated Catholic school and an all-American icon," Father Malloy wrote in the bulletin. "We seemed poised to raise enough funds for a new playground and a remake of the school library. Perhaps there would be enough for a rainy day."
But following a special meeting of the Home and School Association at St. Luke's, the pastor canceled the fundraiser, forfeiting a $1,000 deposit. Although the parish hopes to get the deposit returned, "even if we don't it probably won't matter," Father Malloy said. "The real lesson is one of integrity."
"We are a Catholic school and we do have core values of faith and tradition," he added. "These we pass on to our young people -- it's why we have a school. We do believe in preparing our daughters to be strong women of principle -- we just happen to disagree with Girls Inc."
Formerly known as Girls Clubs of America, Girls Inc. "develops research-based informal education programs that encourage girls to take risks and master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges," according to its Web site. "Major programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention and sports participation."
"Recently, our mission to help girls develop their self-esteem and self-reliance has become the target of false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda," said Joyce M. Roche, president and CEO of Girls Inc., in a statement. "Girls Inc. stands on its long positive history. The millions of lives we have touched speak for who we are and our values."
On its Web site, Girls Inc. said it "supports a woman's freedom of choice, a constitutional right established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 in Roe vs. Wade." It also says girls have a right to "convenient access to safe, effective methods of contraception and protection from disease."
In September, American Girl launched the "I Can" bracelet project, selling bands that carry the American Girl "I Can" promise: "I can be myself, follow my dreams and always do my best. I can reach for the stars, lend a hand to others and be a good friend. I can make a difference! I promise to try."
American Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., said it would donate net proceeds from the band sales to Girls Inc. and would make an additional $50,000 donation to the organization to support its educational programs.
Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, praised Father Malloy and St. Luke's for canceling the planned American Girl fundraiser.
"The parish sacrificed possibly thousands of dollars to take a stand for life," she said. "Such courage will most likely not, however, go unrewarded. It would only take a few people who decide not to purchase an American Girl doll, and instead send their money to St. Luke, for the parish to recoup their losses."
The American Family Association, based in Tupelo, Miss., called Girls Inc. a "pro-abortion, pro-lesbian group" and urged its members to tell American Girl that its decision to support Girls Inc. "casts a great shadow over their trustworthiness to put the welfare of girls and children first."
Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League said girls are being "unwittingly introduced to Girls Inc. through the 'I Can' bracelet program, and lured into contact with their radical feminist ideology."
"As consumers, we have both the freedom and the responsibility to spend our gift dollars in a manner consistent with our values," she added. "There are excellent alternatives to American Girl dolls. We expect that many families will choose to reject American Girl this Christmas."
END