Boy Scouts' Woes Continue With Assault by Atheists

The New American ^ | 27 May 2013 | Dave Bohon

[VitacoreVision]

The Boy Scouts’ woes continue as two atheist organizations have attacked their policy of requiring participants and leaders to acknowledge faith in God.

Boy Scouts' Woes Continue With Assault by Atheists

The New American
27 May 2013

On the heels of the news that they caved in to pressure from the homosexual lobby and will allow participation by boys who identify as “gay,” the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) are facing a new assault, this time from the nation's organized atheists. On May 24 the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) fired a warning shot over the bow of the BSA concerning the group's requirement that both participants and leaders express faith in God. The godless group applauded the BSA's initial surrender to the demands of homosexual activists, but challenged the scouting organization on its decision to retain a policy that “bars atheist and freethinking members.”

The BSA's stated policy concerning faith comes in the form of a declaration that the “recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship.”

Claiming that one in three teens identifies as non-religious, the FFRF complained that “there’s a long trail of boys and leaders who have been kicked out [of the Boy Scouts] simply because they don’t believe in a God. They range from a six-year-old in suburban Chicago whose nonreligious father, Elliott Welsh, lost a suit against the BSA for violating the Civil Rights Act, to exemplary Eagle Scout Darrell Lambert, expelled from a Washington troop in a high-profile case.”

The FFRF claimed that the Boy Scout ranks “have always been full of nonbelievers,” and chided the BSA for lagging “20 years behind the Girl Scouts of America, which announced in 1993 that it would protect the freedom of conscience of all members.” The atheist complainers recalled that the Girl Scouts “adopted a resolution that any of its members may substitute another word or phrase for 'God' in its official pledge, a measure enacted to show ‘strength in diversity and that we are an inclusive organization.’ ”

Charging that “no one can grow into the best citizen who discriminates against the nonreligious,” the FFRF encouraged its members to hector the BSA with phone calls demanding that it cave in on its foundational conviction that connects faith in God with its mission of raising up boys into responsible men.

The FFRF was apparently riding the coattails of another atheist group, the Secular Coalition for America, which released its own statement affirming the Boy Scouts for their moral collapse, while criticizing them for retaining faith in God as a key value for participation in their ranks. Edwina Rogers, a spokesperson for the secular group, said she was pleased with the BSA's cave-in on the issue of homosexuality, but considered it insufficient. “Discrimination is wrong — whether it’s directed at children or adults, atheists or the religious,” Rogers said.

She noted that the while the BSA is a private organization, it receives federal funding through the use of supplies, space, and equipment. “No organization that discriminates on the basis of religion or religious beliefs should receive federal support,” Rogers said, adding in a tone suggestive of ramped up legal pressure: “We look forward to a time when the Boy Scouts will be a completely inclusive organization that does not discriminate at all based on religious belief or sexual orientation.”

Meanwhile, homosexual activist groups reacted to the Boy Scouts' announcement that they would open their doors to gay-identifying boys, while continuing their ban on homosexual Scout leaders. “They're not on our good list yet,” said the Human Rights Campaign's Paul Guequierre of the BSA's partial policy change on gays, adding that “the new policy doesn’t go far enough. Parents and adults of good moral character, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to volunteer their time to mentor the next generation of Americans.”

Zach Wahls of the pro-homosexual Scouts for Equality, said that his group would continue to pressure the Boy Scouts to allow homosexual adults access to vulnerable boys, while also looking for opportunities to target the Boy Scouts for discrimination against supposedly gay youth. “We'll act as a watchdog,” Wahls warned. “If any gay youth feel they're experiencing harassment or discrimination, we want to be there for them.”

Rich Ferraro of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said his group would continue to pressure corporate donors to stop giving to the Boy Scouts, and predicted that homosexual teens participating in the Boy Scouts would help to undermine the BSA's remaining moral barriers to homosexuality. “The BSA now will have to look gay teens in the eye,” he said, “boys who've been involved in Scouting for years, and tell them they're not going to be able to grow into adult leaders.”

Christian leaders and organizations continue to express their sorrow over the BSA's decision to allow participation by boys who identify as homosexual. In a statement, the Assemblies of God denomination noted that a majority of scout groups throughout the nation “are sponsored by churches or other religious entities, which have as their foundation a belief in biblical teachings that identify homosexual behavior as outside of God's plan for sexuality. While we agree that youths who experience confusion or same-sex attraction need to be welcomed, in our churches they are confronted with this biblical teaching and will be counseled and prayed with that God will help them to align their lives in conformity to that teaching. We agree with the BSA that we need to demonstrate compassion and welcome those who are struggling with sexuality issues, but not in a way that condones such behavior, which is what the new BSA policy does.”

As have many other Christian and conservative leaders, Randy Sharp of the American Family Association said that the decision made by a vote of 61 percent of the BSA's voting leaders does not bode well for the future of the storied organization. “I think what we're going to see in the next year or so is a mass exodus of adults and boys from the Boy Scouts of America program,” Sharp told OneNewsNow.com. “Some of the estimates that I've heard are up to 400,000 to 500,000 boys and adults will resign their positions with the Boy Scouts of America.”

Rob Schwarzwalder of the Family Research Council pointed out that such a mass exodus will not be based on a personal hatred or animosity toward people who identify as homosexuals. This isn't about fear or homophobia, and this isn't about bigotry,” he said. “This is about the moral values of our Judeo-Christian heritage, which teaches that the only appropriate sexually intimate activity that exists [is] between a man and a woman within marriage. That's always been the affirmation of Scouts. It is no longer.”

David Cortman of Alliance Defending Freedom emphasized that “those promoting the agenda to change what the Boy Scouts have always been won't rest until there is complete acceptance of any sexual preference for both leaders and members. With its decision the BSA has rejected its freedom to promote and practice the values that have served to shape our nation's boys into leaders for the last century.”


Related Articles:

Pro-Family Groups Warn of Mass Exodus If Boy Scouts Cave to Homosexuals

Strong Reaction Follows Boy Scouts' Decision to Allow Homosexual Members

[HiTech RedNeck]

Christianity is a faith which sprang out of Old Testament Judaism. Different followings of Christians sometimes follow various practices, and the New Testament allows that this will happen. Anyhow in theory one might print it out on paper and wad it up and throw it away, and it might bother someone’s conscience if that included a print out of the name “God.” Or, it will be erased from a screen. If you disagree that’s a needful precaution, then be charitable to the people who think it is, and understand what they mean and continue on with what you are doing.

[cradle of freedom]

We have seen cases of 9 year old boys who claim that they are really girls but the Girl Scouts is already run by a group of lefty types so they shouldn’t have any problems accomodating that.

[cradle of freedom]

I read a book titled: “The Money and the Power, The Making of Las Vegas and It’s Hold on America” which is written by Sally Denton and Roger Morris. This is an excellant and very well researched book which explores the history of Las Vegas and it’s interaction with politics, organized crime and business. One of the surprising facts revealed by this book is the role of the Mormon church in the development of Los Vegas. Some of the top bankers who built up Las Vegas were Mormons. I don’t want to pick on the Mormons, and I know that there is corruption in every church, but what I read about Vegas gave me the impression that business was a big part of the Mormon religion. Maybe this isn’t fair to say, but I wonder if they maybe were compromised by their perhaps too close connections with the business community.

[M Kehoe]

Good evening.

Slightly off-topic, but why do I see “God” as “G-d” around here so much?

I do it in deference to my Jewish relatives and friends. For more information regarding the printing, or speaking the Lord's name consult the Torah (Exodus). Falls under the "craven image," and "taking the Lord's name," sections of the Ten Commandments (numbers one and two).

Hope that helps.

5.56mm

[berdie]

The one case I read about...when he/she was allowed to join the GS, he/she didn’t follow thru.

Follow the money. That is what this all boils down to.

[berdie]

I had to think about your post before I answered.

We can control our own behavior. We can talk to others.

But the ulitmate decision will be theirs. And God’s, as we pray for their salvation.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It’s a good thing to be concerned about the Scouts of course. But the best thing is to be concerned about the Lord. Was Jesus a big egotist when he said that the pardoned prostitute Mary had done a grand thing by pouring her alabaster container of rare expensive perfume all over him? Nope. She had gone to God and that was exactly the right person to lavish her everything upon. Because this was almighty God, albeit dressed in a small piece of flesh for that moment. Let’s lavish our all upon God. Then let what God gives back to us (and He will do it generously) be shared with everyone who is willing to receive it.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I never heard of a craven image, I believe you mean a graven one.

[berdie]

To me, the Scouts just represent where we are headed. I feel you are pretty “in touch” with what is happening so I won’t go into detail.

If I read the news..it is down right scary.

There will have to be devine intervention to save us.

I pray for that help daily.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Prayer is a wonderful start.

I’d like to exhort and suggest devotions next... any small-o orthodox Christian worship congregation where worship takes place in spirit and in truth. Or if doing it already, keep it up.

Praise of the Lord is a big weapon. Not only does it open up views of the Lord to you that Satan would like you to forget about, but it reaps good spiritual energy (and I’m not going all la-la new age here, this is straight out of the bible). God isn’t an egotist, He just loves to share, but He can only share what He is and when you’re praising you are just stating the truth. You want a wonderful God? You got one. Treat Him that way. Don’t be going into the gold mine to just get mud.

[M Kehoe]

Good morning.

I never heard of a craven image,...

It was the Spelling Gnomes that did that. They swap out letters all the time, and then the Spelling Nazis come in and get you. They remind me of Langolears.

Well, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

5.56mm

[glennaro]

But of course you know that God’s name isn’t “God”(it’s Jehovah or Yahweh), so there should be no offense taken by referring to God as “God”.

[ejonesie22]

The LDS has always been about money and sex. Their founding “prophet” was a con man who liked buggering teen girls. Their “Quorum of the 12” sit in the LDS palaces laughing all the way to the bank while looking out over their followers who have been intrigued with stories of LDS superiority, Jesus and the Indians and how the men will become gods and get their own planet full of “wives” to bugger all they want. There is no surprise in this.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Picking on the “G-d” people is about as pointless a thing as I’ve ever heard of. Why can’t we all get along, as Rodney King said. Wait till they start picking on the “God” people before complaining, at least???

[cradle of freedom]

How history repeats itself, picture Joseph Smith as the Waco cult leader David Koresh. Same motives.