REACTION TO POLICY CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS FOR THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
National Catholic Committee on Scouting
Thursday, May 23, 2014@ 5:48 PM
For over 100 years, thousands of children in Catholic parishes, schools and fraternal organizations have benefited from chartering Scouting units. The Catholic Church has maintained a strong relationship with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) through the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) for many years and we hope to maintain that relationship.
Today, the voting members of the BSA voted to change the membership standards for its youth members. The BSA proposed in its resolution that "no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone." Its membership standards for adult leaders remain unchanged.
The Catholic Church teaches that people who experience a homosexual inclination or a same sex attraction are to be treated with respect recognizing the dignity of all persons. The Church's teaching is clear that engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage is immoral. Individuals who are open and avowed homosexuals promoting and engaging in homosexual conduct are not living lives consistent with Catholic teaching.
Since the change in policy will not take effect until January 1, 2014, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting has adequate time to study its effects. The NCCS will determine how it may impact Catholic chartered Scout units and activities. In doing so, we will work within the teachings of our Catholic Faith and with the various local bishops and their diocesan scouting committees.
Ed Martin- National Chair
Father Michael Hanifin-National Chaplain
< If this "new" BSA policy were just about quietly undstanding that some boys suffer from a certain amount of sexual/gender confusion, not "announcing" or "celebrating" or "affirming" their difficulty but helping them to develop morally straight and psychosexually normal, --- it wouldn't be a new policy, because all youth organizations have been doing that forever--- I hope. It's part of their mission.
But that's not what this "new policy" is. It's "new" precisely because it's caving to the LGBT lobby and making gay part of the new normal. It's fraudulent from the git-go.
Is the NCCS really that naive??
My head hurts.
So, in other words, they have seven months to figure out how they can rationalize continuing support of the butt scouts. Yes, I'm Catholic but not a contemporary, progressive Catholic. I give no benefit of the doubt to these guys. If they were sincere the statement would have read like the Assembly of God statement. No need for additional analysis. The BSA butt crack is there staring you in the face.