Posted on 04/09/2013 12:55:22 PM PDT by Maelstorm
Controversy has surrounded the Boy Scouts of America this year, as same-sex activists have pressured the organization to abandon its long-held values and allow homosexual members. Now, they are trying to remove the Boy Scouts' tax-exempt status.
Alliance Defending Freedom sent a letter to members of the California Legislature Friday to explain the significant legal and policy problems of a proposed bill designed to punish nonprofit youth organizations like the Boy Scouts of America. The bill would strip organizations like the Boy Scouts of their tax-exempt status if they won’t abandon their long-held values and allow themselves to be strong-armed into admitting people into membership who don’t hold to those values.
Thirty-nine California attorneys who are part of the more than 2,200 allied attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom worldwide also signed the letter.
“Youth organizations that have benefitted America for generations should be free from harassment by politicians who don’t agree with the very values that have made these groups successful,” said Senior Counsel David Cortman. “The Constitution protects the freedom of youth organizations like the Boy Scouts to promote the values that have defined them as an organization and to ensure that their leaders and members adhere to those values.”
Under the bill, SB 323, California would strip tax-exempt status from any “organization organized and operated exclusively as a public charity youth organization that discriminates on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or religious affiliations.” Some of the public charity youth organizations at risk include Little League, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Special Olympics, American Youth Soccer Organization, Future Business Leaders of America, and many religious organizations that serve youth.
The Alliance Defending Freedom letter explains that if the bill is passed, many non-profit youth organizations will be forced “to choose between following their core values and beliefs and losing their tax exemptions or abandoning their beliefs to comply with the law.”
“Freedom of association would prove an empty guarantee if associations could not limit control over their decisions to those who share the interests and persuasions that underlie the association’s being,” the letter states.
“The First Amendment protects the freedom of youth organizations to associate with members and leaders who share their values,” added Senior Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. “Our youth deserve to continue to benefit from these groups, and bills like SB 323 severely threaten their ability to do so.”
Not so simple. The purpose of the Boy Scouts is to serve boys, even those stuck behind enemy lines. We cannot abandon every tree which the locust infest. Sometimes, we need to spray.
Be not “tax exempt” - I don’t think too many donors are donating to the boy scouts for the tax writeoff.
THEN they go after CHURCHES!!
Tell the fags to go to hell!
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Then do not use the term.
Call it EXACTLY what it is: Homosexual Coupling.
Good analogy!!
They can’t do that — tax exempt status is a federal thing.
I begin to despair.
Is it possible that the only thing that has kept maniacal perversion at bay for centuries has been bigottry, lynchings, the KKK and the like?
I would like to think that reasoned thought could have command of the public square, but it seems that people are determined to be ruled by extremes.
I am sure that much of this is due to the quality of people. There is ample evidence for anyone who cares to see that what passes for education today, is not. Perhaps it is vain to expect barnyard animals to act like more than they are.
on the way to removing the tax exempt status from churches that are not politically correct
Then, spray away.
Well said.
Look up, for your redemption is nigh.
If nothing else tells us the income tax (16th amendment) should be replaced with a sales tax, then this manipulative game they play with tax status should be the deciding factor.
I don’t use the term. That’s why I put in quotes.
I couldn’t care less if gays want to hookup, cohabit or whatever but, they are not changing a word or phrase that has cultural and religious meaning and definition.
No asterisk after the word.
It is between a man and a woman.
or, if this passes, it will be between a man and a harem.
They’ll replace it with Strength Through Joy, or Obama Youth. History repeats.
agree, it’s so clear now that the likes of Hannity and others on TV and talk radio have become cowards on this issue, they either say they have no problem with it or they shut up about it.
Either way it’s also clear that the homostapo have infiltrated all aspects and how proud the communists would be from the 60’s
All planned parenthood now should be run out and have their tax exempt as well as Soros groups and lets not forget OFA Obama group
I would guess that millions of the most generous donors to California charities would cut them off over this evil attack on BSA. As much as I love my favorite charities, I will not support a charity that is tax-advantaged over BSA - ever.
“The bill would strip organizations like the Boy Scouts of their tax-exempt status if they won’t abandon their long-held values and allow themselves to be strong-armed into admitting people into membership who don’t hold to those values”
Doesn’t the US constitution protect citizens from retaliatory actions by government?
Scouts incorporated = person.
That wording can't be accidental.
In 10 years the Boy Scouts will be a club for young gay boys, complete with pedophiles for leaders.
Does this mean I will be allowed to enter any California mosque with my seeing eye pig?
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