Posted on 05/29/2013 6:26:28 AM PDT by llevrok
BREMERTON, Wash. -- On the heels of a historic decision by the Boy Scouts of America, a local priest is making history of his own. He's among the first in the country to cut all ties to the scouts, now that the organization has agreed to allow openly gay members.
Father Derek Lappe is the priest at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bremerton.
For years, the church has served as the chartering organization for BSA Troop 1501 in Kitsap County.
"We do things like scout Sunday at mass, the boys are just very much a part of our parish and the life of our parish," he said.
It's a partnership he's now ending, because of the Boy Scout's latest policy change.
"It was a very difficult decision, it's a very sad thing, with the long legacy we have of scouting in this parish," he said.
Ultimately, Lappe says the new scouting policy just doesn't align with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church.
"My concern is this definition of a young man, a 10 to 18 year old boy as "openly gay" or "openly homosexual"," he said. "How is that supposed to be lived out within what we believe as Catholics and what we teach about Catholics."
The priest met with scoutmasters and parents of the affected troop on Sunday. He says he asked for their feedback, and they were supportive and understanding of his decision.
Lappe also posted an explanation for his change of heart on the church's website and facebook page.
He says he understands that not everyone may agree with him.
"There's going to be a lot of good people who that that I'm wrong and that think my decision is backwards and not going to be helpful at all, and I can certainly understand that position," he said.
KING 5 spoke to at least one family with a child in Troop 1501, who was critical of the change but did not want to appear on camera.
Steve Rinehart, who is a Kitsap County resident, an eagle scout, and supporter of the group Scouts For Equality, said the priest's stance is disappointing.
"I think anyone ought to be able to be a scout," he said. "Gay, straight, it doesn't matter, and by quitting the program, canceling the program there, they have taken away scouting for a group of boys, and I think that's very unfortunate and downright sad."
Scouts For Equality plans to work with the BSA Chief Seattle Council to make sure every scout in Troop 1501 has another troop to take part in, if they so choose.
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting issued a statement after last week's vote, saying that since the change in policy will not take effect until January of 2014, they have time to study its full effects. The council wants to learn more about how it will impact Catholic chartered Scout units and activities.
Laffe says he never intended to be among the first priests to cut all ties with the boy scouts.
Still, he doesn't think he'll be the last. He says he's already gotten calls from other churches, seeking advice as they prepare to take similar steps.
Many churches have. Years ago. Sadly.
Yea but the mormons put up such a fight with prop 8 only do cave on this?
That blows.
Steve Rinehart > CINO. I just recently watched the video of the press conference the president of BSA gave.
Talking all about “Our duty of God” breakfast, and talking about some scout earning an ISLAMIC RELIGION MEDAL. ARE YOU SERIOUS? The catholic church is pulling out, tons of parents will be too.
The ridiculousness of this is mind boggling, evil truly is running rampant and devouring the world. How can a 10-18 year old KNOW OR POSSIBLY THINK he is gay?
I wonder how many of them become openly gay because they were molested by a sick scumbag scout leader. I’d like to type out a long rant about how they will not tolerate OUR BELIEFS, and have to be in EVERY single aspect of our lives. But we can’t discriminate against them! THEY ARE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST US!
We don’t want you queers, we don’t need you queers, go to SAN FRANCISCO where you’re wanted, and allowed to run rampant showing your genitals to children and having live sex shows during parades. SICK SICK SICK SICK
I have to go change my shirt and clean up my keyboard, monitor, wall, and ceiling. Spaghetti is not fun to vomit.
I hope a ton of FAGGOT lib trolls see this and become deeply ashamed of themselves. POUND SAND.
My blood boils.
Gays have had a good year. They destroyed marriage in WA as an institution and gained the power to sue anyone who refuses service to them. Then they destroyed the BSA.
Not too shabby.
Age of consent laws will be next. At this rate, those will be gone by Christmas.
Happy New Year.
When the BSA molestation lawsuits become numerous, you can bet that we will not hear about it on the msm the way that we heard of the Catholic priest scandals.
Any church or civic group can do any of the things that the Scouts do. They are not the only fish in the sea.
I wonder if the scouts will have a special rainbow badge? For what, I don’t know.
I wonder if the scouts will have a special rainbow badge? For what, I don’t know.
I know Father Lappe. He is a fine priest and calls it like it is.
And BSA should not be recognizing and institutionalizing the sexual declarations of minors.
The left wants Father Lappe fired. Surprise, surprise.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3029399/posts
Boy Scouts, “Bigotry” and the Catholic Culture Wars
Catholic World Report ^ | 6/10/2013 | Anne Hendershott
Posted on Monday, June 10, 2013 3:27:49 AM by markomalley
The decision by the Boy Scouts to include self-identified gay scout members has opened a new front in the Catholic culture wars as progressive Catholic organizations are denouncing the decision by a Bremerton, Washington, Catholic priest to cut parish ties with the Scouts following the release of their new policy. Calling the priest’s decision “bigoted” and “bullying,” James Salt, the leader of the progressive organization, Catholics United has organized an online petition asking Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain to “help bring healing to innocent kids and hurting souls who deserve better than bullying.”
On May 26th, Fr. Derek Lappe, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, posted a letter addressed to his parishioners on the parish website which criticized the Boy Scout’s decision. In his letter, Fr. Lappe advised parishioners of his intention to “part ways” with the Boy Scouts: “I do not feel it is possible for us to live out and to teach the authentic truth about human sexuality within the confines of the Boy Scout’s new policy.”
In his letter, Fr. Lappe questioned the new Boy Scout policy, which he believes is based on the idea that same sex attraction is genetic and unchangeable. He stated:
For many years we have seen headlines that proclaim a genetic origin for homosexuality. Various groups in concert with a willing media have tried to convince people that being “gay” is a genetically defined trait, as if being sexually attracted to a person of the same sex is no different an expression of DNA than one’s height or the color of one’s skin. The reality however, is that there is nothing scientific or logical in such a position.
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