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

[Secret Agent Man]

besides this change is not supported by most scout groups, this was a leadership vote, and they did an open vote to pressure people to cave.

[tnlibertarian]

May they wither and die.

[ArrogantBustard]

The Boy Scouts are now the Pervert Scouts .... the organization exists for the sole purpose of facilitating the homosexual rape of boys.

Burn It To The Ground.

[SandRat]

Like we didn’t know that was coming.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

French gay marriage opponents stage big Paris march (Several hundreds of thousands)

Al Reuters | 05/27/2013 | Tom Heneghan

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/27/us-france-gaymarriage-idUSBRE94P0A320130527?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

-

Georgia PM condemns violence at gay rights march... 5-17-2013

http://www.neurope.eu/article/georgia-pm-condemns-violence-gay-rights-march

-

Belgrade, Serbia...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr_Inbf9aps

[silverleaf]

um, this is inaccurate
Boy Scouts are not required to recognize “God”
Their oath does require that they recognize a “higher power” whatever or whoever that may be

Baden-Powell himself was ambivalent on this concept of the judeao-Christian “God”, having spent years in other cultures and developing Boy Scouts as an international organization to develop core values among youth in all cultures, including islam and hindu among others

Fron what I have read it seems Baden-Powell was more into “the God of Spinoza” a spiritual connection with a natural order and an undefined creator of that order

The worldwide organization probably has more non Christians and agnostics than Christians

[elcid1970]

Heck, when I was a Boy Scout fifty years ago we thought the Girl Scouts were being led by some very mannish looking women. The camp counselors depicted on their calendars looked especially butch.

I wish a breakaway Scout group would form nationwide that is completely devoted to the classic virtues & tells the gaytheists to bleep off. It may succeed only at the state level.

Or maybe a gay BSA infiltrator will die at the hands of enraged fathers while on campout. A `Deliverance’ style weighted burial in the rapids might send a warning.

[greene66]

The BSA might as well let the atheists in now. They’ve already betrayed everything they once stood for. Caved in to the deviants, spitting in the face of God and country. They are a disgrace. Caved in like abject cowards. That’s what the Scout uniform now represents... cowardice and sodomy. I’ll curse these bastards til my dying breath for this.

[Mamzelle]

Put me down as demanding that the BSA and the GSA disband.

[savagesusie]

The Girls Scouts allowed Lesbians in decades ago—and ruined it years ago. They removed “God” and allow in Earth Worshipers and pro-homosexual groups and PP to influence the worldview of young girls. I never buy their cookies for a decade now. They warp little girls into the man-hating, communist, pagan, Feminist worldview.

[HiTech RedNeck]

“UNBELIEVE-ABLE” (pun intended as sardonic statement about these atheists)

[HiTech RedNeck]

I can put a plug in for Dollar General’s store brand (Clover Valley) of thin mint cookies. They might not be trefoil shaped but they are dead ringers or even superior in taste to the old Girl Scout cookies.

[LibLieSlayer]

“GIVE AN INCH AND DIE BY THEIR MEASURE”

This is a message that republicans in DC should heed. NEVER GIVE IN AN INCH TO THE LEFT... MAKE THEM FALL ON THEIR SWORDS!

LLS

[reaganaut]

One thing that helps, is if you understand Mormon history. When the going gets tough, the LDS cave. They have a very strong sense of preservation and hate lawsuits and fear bad PR. If you want them to do (or not do) something, even like have your name removed or avoid excommunication, (we saw this with the editor of Mormonthink.com when he wrote against Romney during the election)go to the media or file a lawsuit (which is why they let blacks have the priesthood). I have predicted for years they will eventually cave to the Homosexual agenda and the first signs are there (like their new website and refusal to excommunicate).

[LibLieSlayer]

Boy Scout Oath

“On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to GOD and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.”

Boy Scout Law

“A Scout is:
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,
Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty,
Brave, Clean, Reverent”

My source: Boy Scouts of America

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/scoutparents/scouting%20basics/what%20scouting%20is/scout%20oath%20and%20law.aspx

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Sorry but I deleted my two posts.

Thanks for your feedback.

:D

[CaspersGh0sts]

The correct answer is that the Boy Scouts should pray for the diseased souls of the Freedom From Religion Crowd and that their organization needs to take its diseased plague upon the continent elsewhere.

A life of eternal damnation and a breach in truth and the natural order are no way to guide a boy through life.

[reaganaut]

You aren’t wrong on this though.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Yeah.

I know. I was a boy scout, and still have (very) strong feelings about the organization.

I am extremely bummed about what has happened.

That said, I am not currently active.

So I think I will limit my criticisms to what I have made so far.

Let those active in scouting now, worry about what to do about this now.

I said my peace.

Out.

[M Kehoe]

If you are being attacked by atheists, know that G-d is pleased.

5.56mm