A coalition of Eagle Scouts, Scoutmasters, and parents have launched a new organization vowing to keep sex and politics out of the Boy Scouts of America. Posted on 03/27/2013 4:31:55 PM PDT by Kaslin
A coalition of Eagle Scouts, Scoutmasters, and parents have launched a new organization vowing to keep sex and politics out of the Boy Scouts of America.
“The Boy Scouts are one of the great jewels of American culture,” said John Stemberger, an Eagle Scout and the founder of OnMyHonor.net.
Representatives from more than a dozen states gathered in Florida to announce the opposition to any attempt to allow open homosexuality in the BSA.
The BSA is expected to offer a proposal that would remove the national rule banning open homosexuality -- and replacing it with a local option. That resolution would be voted on by the national council in May.
The announcement came as a shock to scouts and their parents, who overwhelmingly oppose the plan -- but also to a number of religious organizations who sponsor troops. About 70 percent of all troops are sponsored by church groups.
Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, met with Boy Scouts Chief Executive Wayne Brock in early March -- warning him that a change in policy could result in a mass exodus of troops.
Stemberger told Fox News that the new coalition supports the current policy in Scouting. That policy, he said, allows anyone to participate -- regardless of sexual orientation. It does forbid open and aggressive promotion of homosexuality and political agendas.
“When it comes to young boys, parents have the final say on the issues of sex and politics,” Stemberger said.
He said the Boy Scouts are being bullied by gay rights activists who have a much broader agenda for the organization.
“It would be an enormous mistake if they allowed homosexuality in scouting,” he said. “They have no idea what these folks really want to do.”
Stemberger said there are already gays in scouting -- “they are discreet, they are appropriate, they are private and they don’t act out in front of kids.”
“What they want is full-blown gay activism in scouting,” he said, “and that’s what they can’t have under the current policy.”
He predicted any change in the policy would devastate the program.
“We think that sex and politics should stay out of Scouting,” he said. “We think that’s utterly inappropriate where boys as young as six and seven years old are being trained to be men.”
Stemberger said he hopes BSA leadership is listening to parents “rather than Madonna and Bill Gates.”
The possible change in policy has also impacted some Eagle Scouts -- like Malachi Baggett, 20, of Mississippi.
“All of a sudden they are backing away (from the policy),” he said of BSA leadership. “What does that tell me as a young man? Once it’s no longer popular, it’s okay to change your morals? Instead of basing your morals on faith, you should place them in a shifting culture? That’s extremely dangerous.”
Former U.S. Rep. Dick Schulze raised similar concerns.
“What kind of a message are we sending to our young people if the very leaders who are teaching Boy Scouts to be brave, cannot even find the courage to stand firm and avoid caving to peer pressure from Hollywood and political activists,” he asked.
Stemberger said the only answer to the controversy is to embrace the 2000 Supreme Court decision that ruled the BSA had a constitutional right to freedom of association.
“That’s the only way we can protect ourselves,” he said. “Otherwise, every single unit will be subjected to a legal attack. Millions of dollars will be spent on litigation. They will file lawsuits against churches, VFWs and a lot of them will abandon scouting.”
“What does that tell me as a young man? Once it’s no longer popular, it’s okay to change your morals? Instead of basing your morals on faith, you should place them in a shifting culture? That’s extremely dangerous.”
THIS!
You bet your boots it will. Among all the leaders and parents I know who have discussed this issue, I'm the lone "squish," because I'm committed to leading Wolf Cubs next year, if there's still a Pack next year. And I'm so enraged with the people trying to do this to my boys - not just my sons, but all the other boys, too - that it makes me ill.
My family will still have plenty of positive, character-building activities. We're in environmental science competitions. We run and swim. We have a cool new gun and archery range nearby, and if we had the time we're devoting to Scouting, we'd be all over it. It's the most vulnerable boys who will be hurt the most, when the adults who want to put on a safe Scouting program for them find that they can't.
homostapo yet again.
Homosexuals would not have bene at this stage and neither would the homostapo if the likes of Hannity and O.R and others would have shown them on camera and how they behave, how they use NAZI tactics and thuggery.
Boy Scouts you have it right now.
You needn’t “improve” anything.
Nothing needs to change. Don’t mess things up.
We’re being bullied, too. Everyday all we hear is the pleadings of homos to extend their perversion to everyone around them....we must bow to them?? I’m sick of it. They’re sickos.
IMHO they have already destroyed girl scouts, and now they are going after the crown jewel. (Pun not intended, but apt.)
I’m with you, Tax-chick. Can I stand in the corner and scream with you?
It’s very tempting to learn Russian and move there. If the homosexuals tried any of the crap they’re doing here, they’d be in jail.
for ~2% of the population, BigFag has a lot of money/clout
Homosexuality has NEVER been about love. It’s two psychologically damaged individuals sharing misery with each other. The misery has now reached the threshold where they feel the need to organize and share their unhappiness with EVERYONE and force everyone to endure it. There is no escaping a crazy horde on the loose!
If it was about love then they wouldn’t even care if the government recognized them.
Do you feel the need to be financially rewarded for the love you show to your spouse and children?
If they answer is yes then you are a selfish pig.
Poland would be better.
They’re in the EU though.
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Go for it.
Wow! I can’t wait to read this story in the New York Times and the Washington Post, and see it on the network Democrat “mainstream” news broadcasts!
/yeah sure facepalm
Maybe I’ll stick it out a little longer. You never know. Perhaps divine intervention will save our nation before it falls into the chasm of evil.
Rep. Shulze made a really good comment, we tell our kids not to follow peer pressure, yet look at how our “leaders” are acting? They topple over, one by one like dominoes.
Like any one of these “rights” groups, thy go and get militant. The Boy Scouts is a tradition that I do to want to lose.
If gays don’t like it, then don’t effing join...its that simple.
Honest to God, this is one of the reasons I left my job...political correctness like this, shoving religious tolerance, gay tolerance, etc., in the name of freaking diversity, has done as much to create a hostile work environment as sexual harassment..
The BSA is a private organization. If it wants to keep gays out it can. End of discussion.
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