"I am deeply saddened by the damage that the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America has done to itself and to scouting by changing membership rules to allow openly homosexual scouts.
In bowing to the demands of CEO?s from wealthy, pro-homosexual foundations and corporations which fund scouting, the National Council may have protected its finances in the short run, but it has rejected the original reasons for scouting -- to help teach boys how to become moral men. Those days are gone.
I was a Cub Scout as was one of my sons. We enjoyed and benefited from the emphasis on character development which included self denial, not self justification.
And by Scoutings own standards, this decision fails. The decision of Boy Scouts of America to allow openly homosexual scouts in its ranks is in conflict with the Scout Law to be clean and reverent, as well as Scouting?s Oath ?to do my duty to God? and to ?keep myself ... morally straight.?
Therefore, I applaud Arlington Diocese Catholic Bishop Paul Loverde, who lamented that "As an organization founded on character and leadership, it is highly disappointing to see the Boy Scouts of America succumb to external pressures and political causes at the cost of its moral integrity.?
Homosexual groups previously and unsuccessfully sued the Boy Scouts of America all the way to the US Supreme Court in 2000 which held that Scouts can define their own association's standards. It would be surprising indeed if the National Council would not follow this shameful action with an embrace of homosexual scout leaders. Sadly, the National Council has now grasped defeat from the jaws of that important victory.
Bishop Loverde has stated that the Arlington Diocese cannot and will not compromise Catholic moral teaching. Some Catholic dioceses and parishes may try to run their own version of Boy Scouts -- trying to avoid entanglement in the moral confusion displayed by Scout leaders. However, they will be under the constant threat of homosexual activists threatening litigation. I do not see how it could work.
Homosexuals and their supporters who urged this change claimed to be promoting ?tolerance,? but that is never their goal. They are completely intolerant of those who resist them. Homosexuals were free to have created another scouting organization, but they wanted ours. Well now, they have it, or what will be left of it. It is a sad day for America."
from bob marshall - republican member of the virginia House of delegates representing the 13th district, currently serving his 11th term. his district includes portions of Prince William and Loudoun counties.
