Dear Editor, The Council of Irish Guiding Associations was surprised that David Quinn’s recent column, Why the Church can’t be all ‘inclusive’ (IC 2/1/14) included detailed reference to the change of the Girl Guide promise in Britain while failing to make any mention of the practice in this country. Both our member organisations, the Catholic Guides of Ireland (CGI) and Irish Girl Guides (IGG), continue to include God in their promises.
Following a lengthy consultation process in 2010, the wording of the IGG promise was altered slightly to: "I promise on honour to do my best to do my duty to my God and my country, to help other people at all times and to obey the Guide Law.” Members have the option of replacing the word 'God' with the word 'faith', according to their spiritual beliefs.
The CGI promise also still has the word ‘God’ in it. The wording of our Guide Promise varies on the age group from the most simple 'I promise to love God and other people' of our youngest members (Cygnets aged 5/6) to the more detailed promise for the Guides (10+) and Rangers (14+) which begins 'On my honour with the help of God…' and continues 'I promise to serve God, the Church … and the community'.
However, it is not compulsory for a member to use these exact words; they may choose to change the wording to suit their own religious beliefs in discussion with their local leader, there is no set formula.
It should be noted that although CGI started as a Catholic institution in 1928, the organisation no longer requires that members, whether youth or volunteer, are Catholic.
Both IGG and CGI are inclusive organisations that welcome girls from all religious and faith backgrounds and they work hard to implement equality, diversity and inclusion. The aims of Guiding include encouraging girls to nurture an understanding of spiritual values in their daily lives as well as developing skills in leadership and decision-making and a sense of social responsibility.
Both CGI and IGG work together to further the voice of girls across the island under the umbrella organisation of the Council of Irish Guiding Associations (CIGA).
We think it important to clarify our position since Girlguiding UK's recent decision to omit the word 'God' has created a certain amount of confusion with some people assuming the change applies to Girl Guides in Ireland too.
Yours etc.,
Barbara Ryan,
Chairperson,
Council of Irish Guiding Associations,
Dublin 4.