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House Condemns Criticism of Boy Scouts
AP ^ | 11/20/04 | JIM ABRAMS

Posted on 11/20/2004 8:57:06 AM PST by nypokerface

WASHINGTON - The House on Saturday commended the Boy Scouts and condemned legal efforts to limit government ties to the group because of its requirement that members believe in God.

A nonbinding resolution, passed by a 391-3 vote, recognized the 3.2 million-member Boy Scouts for its public service efforts. But the main thrust of the debate was what the House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said were the "strident legal attacks" on the group.

The Pentagon agreed last week to tell U.S. military bases around the world not to directly sponsor Boy Scout troops. The warning resulted from legal challenges to government relations with a group that bans openly gay leaders and compels members to swear an oath of duty to God.

The American Civil Liberties Union and others say that direct government sponsorship of such a program amounts to discrimination.

The Pentagon's ruling does not prevent service members from leading Boy Scout troops on their own time. Also, Boy Scouts still can meet on areas of military bases where civilian organizations are allowed to hold events.

Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz. said the ACLU's challenge was a "nuisance lawsuit" and he was urging Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to reconsider the Pentagon's position.

"Scouting values, military values, citizenship values, a respect and reverence for a creator are not a violation of the doctrine of church and state," said Hayworth, who was an Eagle Scout.

The measure's sponsor, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said Congress would work "to defend the Boy Scout's ability to continue the fine work that they have done for nearly a century."

Voting against the resolution were Democratic Reps. John Dingell of Michigan, Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Lynn Woolsey of California.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: aclu; barneyfrank; boyscouts; bsa; dingell; dod; hr853; lynnwoolsey
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To: nypokerface

DAMNED FAKE CONSERVATIVES STRIKE AGAIN!
If only three demonrats voted against it, you know it was a completely meaningless gesture. God forbid some Republican actually shows some spine and inserts something to the effect of affirming the right to publicly express religion.


21 posted on 11/20/2004 10:12:03 AM PST by dangus
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To: nypokerface
The warning resulted from legal challenges to government relations with a group that bans openly gay leaders and compels members to swear an oath of duty to God.

I may be wrong but I thought the lawsuit was only based on separation of church and state. If so, this is another one the AP has gotten wrong, or is purposefully writing a misleading sentence.

"Compels" them to take an oath. No bias there.

22 posted on 11/20/2004 11:00:42 AM PST by tuesday afternoon (Everything happens for a reason. - 40 and 43)
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To: nypokerface

BTTT


23 posted on 11/20/2004 11:46:51 AM PST by Donaeus (Let the people rejoice...great things HE has promised...great things HE has done!!!)
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To: Neville72

Gator food in the bayou some where no doubt. Gators don't leave any remains.


24 posted on 11/20/2004 11:54:16 AM PST by Search4Truth (When a man lies he murders some part of the world.)
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To: nypokerface

Good for them! It's about time the good guys in the government stood up to the left wingnuts in the ACLU and told them to pound sand. I have been a scoutmaster or assistant scoutmaster for 11 years now. I have enjoyed all that time with my 4 boys. 2 eagles with 2 more to go. I have seen how Scouts have put a lot of boys on the correct path and made confident young men out of city boys.


25 posted on 11/20/2004 12:16:22 PM PST by nuke rocketeer
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