Posted on 06/17/2010 6:36:51 AM PDT by NYer
PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 16, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On Tuesday opening arguments were heard in a case involving the Cradle of Liberty Scout Council, which is challenging the city of Philadelphia's decision to evict the Council from a building that it built and has maintained since 1929. The city said it would carry through with the eviction unless the Council rejected the Boy Scouts of America's policy banning open homosexuals from membership.
In the Boy Scouts of America v. Dale case of 2000, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5-4 that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) were constitutionally permitted to prohibit open homosexuals from being members or troop leaders.
The city argues, however, that while the Council is free to exercise its First Amendment right to create its own policies, it is not free to benefit from the city while violating city anti-discrimination policy.
The city had told the Scouts that unless they cough up $200,000 a year in rent for the land, they must either leave or change their rules.
The Cradle of Liberty Council says that the city council is being "selective" in its application of the anti-discrimination ordinance.
They argue that other private groups that discriminate in their membership, such as a Roman Catholic parish and the Colonial Dames of America, also enjoy subsidized leases and have not been threatened with the end of their lease agreements.
The Colonial Dames, for instance, limit membership to Americans with a direct descendent who lived in a colony before 1750 and who served his country before July 4, 1776.
The building in question was constructed with money raised by the Scouts 80 years ago. Since that time, the Council has paid all costs associated with the maintenance, repair, and improvement of the building. The land on which the building sits had been turned over to the city by the Scouts with the understanding that the Scouts would be able to stay in the Beaux Arts style building "in perpetuity."
Cradle of Liberty officials have since renovated the building for over $2 million. The Cradle of Liberty Council serves over 87,000 youths in the area; the Philadelphia building is one of its two headquarters.
The Boy Scouts call for members to be "morally straight" and "clean in thought, word, and deed," which a 1991 BSA statement says excludes homosexual conduct.
Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter will oversee the trial. Buckwalter issued an injunction in 2009 banning the scouts from being evicted before the trial.
See related stories on LifeSiteNews.com:
Philadelphia Boy Scouts to Lose Historic Building for Not Accepting Homosexuality
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07121107.html
Philly City Council Ends 79-Year Boy Scout Lease Over Refusal to Accept Homosexual Leaders
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/07060104.html
Exactly.
Boy Scout Motto:
We do our duty,
To do our best,
To help the
Girl Scouts get undressed
Oh man, you better get your flame suit on. You know, Be Prepared?
And I better as well for laughing at that, it was classic!
Well, I have my flame suit on for this one, but women tend to be a bit more accommodating to homo’s don’t they?
This could portend a bad outcome for the BSA if true.
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boy motto
Have they claimed the term, “The City of Brotherly Love,” is the charter for the city?
This could portend a bad outcome for the BSA if true.
Women tend to be very protective of their sons. Mama bear syndrome. Any good lawyer just needs to get it across that they are protecting the boys from harm and the women should fall in line.
And I don't know that women are more "accommodating".
I tend to agree that mothers should have the “mama bear syndrome”, but we don’t know that any of the women on this jury are mothers or if they are, good mothers.
I’m just saying, and I should have been a bit more clear, if these are more “liberal” type women, my experience has been that they don’t really see a problem with homos and may see the homos as the victim here as opposed to protecting the boys.
Especially as that practice almost brought down the Catholic church!
But of course, the GOP won't do that. Remember, fiscal issues are what the 2010 elections are about! Pay no attention to the destruction of your culture! Silence equals success!
Prayers up for the Scouts.
“Especially as that practice almost brought down the Catholic church!”
It damaged the Church’s reputation, impaired its ability to do good, and sent (is sending) many souls to Hell, but nothing can “bring down” the Catholic Church.
Amen!
In my experience in churches and on FR, many if not most women fall into the “I know a gay fella and he’s real nice, so he should be able to get married if he wants” category. They have no idea what that nice gay fella does down at the bath house lashed to the spanking table.
Sadly,I fear you are right.
I just heard that the verdict came in FOR the boy scouts against the city. The boy scouts are talking about another suit to get the city to pay their 800k legal bills.
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