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Supreme Court Refuses To Take Up Boy Scout Case
AP ^ | 5/30/6

Posted on 05/30/2006 3:17:33 PM PDT by SmithL

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Tuesday from an atheist father over Boy Scout recruiting at his son's public school.

John Scalise had asked the court to bar public schools from opening their doors to Boy Scout recruiters and promoting membership, arguing that the group discriminates against nonreligious boys and parents by denying them membership if they don't swear to religious oaths.

Scalise's dispute with the Scouts dates back to 1998, when his son was a third-grader in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

He claims he and his son were barred from a Scout program at the elementary school because they would not pledge "to do my duty to God and my country." They are nonreligious Humanists.

Michigan courts ruled that the school-Scout partnership did not advance religion in violation of constitutional dictates.

Attorneys for the Scouts and Mount Pleasant school system told justices that the appeal was frivolous.

A Michigan appeals court said that Mount Pleasant schools allowed other organizations to use class facilities, including a hospital group, an Indian tribe, a Baptist church, and a hockey association.

Scalise argued that his son, Benjamin, was taunted by classmates and humiliated by a Boy Scout recruiter in front of other students. Benjamin Scalise is now 17.

The Supreme Court's last Boy Scout case was in 2000. Justices ruled 5-4 at the time that the Boy Scouts can bar gays from serving as troop leaders. The ruling was written by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who died last year.

Scalise's attorney, Timothy Taylor of Mount Pleasant, said taxpayer-funded schools are too cozy with the Boy Scouts.

"It's going on all over the country and has been for decades," he said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antitheist; boyscouts; bsa; onmyhonor; recruitment; ruling; scotus
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To: HungarianGypsy

You are right. Spiral Scouts. He's not satisfied that his son could join this group but is electing to try and remove the rights of those who use the Boy Scouts. What a jerk.


41 posted on 05/30/2006 4:26:39 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: jiggyboy
Jotting you down in my "every thread is really abortion" notebook

I'm just a bystander to this one, but sheesh, cut the poster some slack. He makes a good point. There is a deep connection between atheism and abortion: Abortion is only imaginable if you deny that there is a God, in Whose image and likeness we are made.

And when you write down my name, please spell it right and capitalize the second "S."

(As Hancock said, I'll write my name nice and big so the king can read it without his glasses.)

42 posted on 05/30/2006 4:42:15 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: wagglebee

Good news!


43 posted on 05/30/2006 4:53:06 PM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: Rummyfan
I haven't donated to the United Way since a local representative could not guarantee me that none of my money would go to planned unparenthood.
44 posted on 05/30/2006 5:20:22 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: Iam1ru1-2
Years ago, a friend in the cement industry provided his own insight into why the Boy Scouts and Scouting are so valuable to our way of life. He said, simply, Scouts are a place where average kids can achieve.
Average kids are just that. But an arrow point or a Life Scout badge provides an initiation into how life works and how to progress in your working life. Achievement leads to recognition and success.
He had hired dozens of employees for various levels at Lone Star Cement Company. In his interviews, he always asked about a Scout connection and was never disappointed in those he hired.
45 posted on 05/30/2006 5:32:21 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: Pox
That is how the Dems do it. One little bit at a time.
46 posted on 05/30/2006 5:34:08 PM PDT by JSteff
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To: Publius6961

"I always wonder why these "nonreligious Humanists" don't simply start their own youth groups and all six of them can be happy..?"

LOL how true. Well spoken.


47 posted on 05/30/2006 5:35:47 PM PDT by JSteff
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To: tet68
"What is an atheistic humanist anyway?"

One step above a wican or something.....
48 posted on 05/30/2006 5:37:25 PM PDT by JSteff
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To: JSteff
"What is an atheistic humanist anyway?"

Clearly a religion, based on faith that humans are the highest form of being.

49 posted on 05/30/2006 6:26:29 PM PDT by GregoryFul (off with their heads!)
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To: tet68
What is an atheistic humanist anyway?

Someone who's going to Hell?
50 posted on 05/30/2006 6:27:23 PM PDT by horse_doc
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To: SmithL

The future leadership of this country will be comprised of Scouting graduates.


51 posted on 05/30/2006 7:08:55 PM PDT by MarMema
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To: MarMema

I certainly hope you are correct.


52 posted on 05/30/2006 8:01:16 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: CindyDawg

Do more than that. I am an Assistant Scoutmaster at my son's troop. He is getting his Star Rank this Thursday evening and 6 merit badges. He will probably have all of his merit badges for Eagle rank by the end of the year...and he will be 14 in September.


53 posted on 05/30/2006 8:02:20 PM PDT by Redleg Duke (¡Salga de los Estados Unidos de América, invasor!)
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.


54 posted on 05/30/2006 8:03:48 PM PDT by firewalk
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To: maine-iac7

SCOTUS SCOUTS does anyone else see the conspiracy here...

they have the same letters!!! this is blatant favoritism and cronyism and not what a free humanistic society deserves...

as cubmaster and webelos den leader... it is great news to hear...

teeman


55 posted on 05/30/2006 8:05:02 PM PDT by teeman8r
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To: Redleg Duke
Do more than that. ?????
56 posted on 05/30/2006 8:05:40 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: SmithL

Wow. Two wins in a single day.


57 posted on 05/30/2006 8:07:07 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Redleg Duke
He is getting his Star Rank this Thursday evening and 6 merit badges. He will probably have all of his merit badges for Eagle rank by the end of the year...and he will be 14 in September.

Your son is awesome, and please tell him I said so. Congrats to him on making Star!

My oldest will be Eagle by this time next year and is going for six palms, but he is 15. He just laid out his plans for ten merit badges over the summer to bring his non-Eagle total to 30. He will be Life at the end of July.

He still has Personal Management to do for Eagle badges, plus a few requirements left on Communications.

58 posted on 05/30/2006 8:27:47 PM PDT by MarMema
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
One Hundred Scouts

Of the 100 boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that 30 will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but in later life all of these will remember that they had been Scouts and will speak well of the program.

Of the 100, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the 100 will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these 12 and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the 100 will become pastors.

Each of the 100 will learn something from Scouting. Almost all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one half will serve in the military and in varying degrees profit from their scout training. At least one will use it to save another person's life, and many will credit it with saving their own.

Two of the 100 will reach the rank of Eagle, and at least one will later say that he values his Eagle badge above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit-badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the 100 boys will later become Scout leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.

Only one in four boys in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion, and politics, three out of four were Scouts.

59 posted on 05/30/2006 8:32:55 PM PDT by MarMema
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To: lormand

Gee, and I have to spend so much time holding up the fench so's the Illegals to swarm in, too. No wonder I'm tired.


60 posted on 05/30/2006 8:35:56 PM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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