An Indiana representative who urged colleagues not to sign a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts next month has backed off the strong wording of his appeal but said he still opposes the legislative tribute, says The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne, Ind., and the Christian Science Monitor.

In a letter to fellow lawmakers, which the newspaper published, Rep. Bob Morris called the Scouts a “radicalized organization” that is affiliated with Planned Parenthood and promotes “homosexual lifestyles.” Both the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood have said they have no formal ties.

“I realize now that my words were emotional, reactionary, and inflammatory. For that, I sincerely apologize,” Mr. Morris, a Fort Wayne Republican, wrote in a statement to The Journal Gazette Thursday. “I certainly should not have painted the entire Girl Scouts organization with such a wide brush.”

Mr. Morris said Thursday that he still would not “publicly endorse an organization that partners with Planned Parenthood.” He cited a 2004 interview in which the Girl Scouts CEO Kathy Cloninger said the national organization works with Planned Parenthood on sex education.

Read a Chronicle of Philanthropy article on how the Girl Scouts and other nonprofit groups have been drawn into America’s “culture wars.”