Bishop responds to Boy Scouts' decision on admission of homosexual members [CWN]
- Status
F
FAB
Guest
Like I said he is entitled to his opinion. It is unfortunate that he really never says how to care for young men which an identity crisis on thier sexullity. It sounds more like the sky is falling.
The Church cannot continue to try to ignor these issues, it needs to show how the church can be a place of guidance and pastoral care. Instead of slamming the BSA and how terrible this is and everyone’s agenda, he should have talk about how this is a chance to minister and to show to these young men how there is a place for them in Christ’s Church.
G
gilliam
Guest
G
gilliam
Guest
Boy Scouts policy does not forbid sponsorship by Catholic Church
Bishop Kevin Rhoades
I have received a number of inquiries about the recently approved resolution of the Boy Scouts of America, which states the following: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”
Scouts, Scout leaders and parents, and others have asked me my position on this change and whether or not our parishes will be allowed to continue sponsoring Boy Scout troops.
When it comes to our young people, we must be ever vigilant in their Christian moral formation and upbringing. This is a responsibility primarily of parents. It is also a responsibility of the church, our teachers and our youth leaders. We are responsible for their training in virtue, including the virtue of chastity.
If a young person is experiencing same-sex attraction, we must reach out to him/her with love and support, and help him/her not to feel isolated or alienated. Such young people need special encouragement and guidance so they are not drawn into an immoral lifestyle.
They need family support, good friendships and a strong spiritual life in order to live a healthy, chaste and holy life. Most importantly, they, like all of us, need the support of the church’s sacraments, which heal, strengthen and enable us to live the demands of the Gospel.
The church teaches that men and women who have homosexual inclinations “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (CCC 2358). The church also teaches that “homosexual persons are called to chastity” (CCC 2359).
The Boy Scouts of America has publicly stated that any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.
The change in the Boy Scouts’ membership standard, in itself, does not seem to me to be in conflict with Catholic teaching. However, what is critical is the way in which it is understood and implemented. While the church teaches that homosexual acts are sinful, it distinguishes between engaging in homosexual acts and struggling with homosexual inclinations. The experience of same-sex attraction, having a homosexual tendency, while disordered, is not in itself sinful. Regardless, every human person is called to live chastely; this is true regardless of sexual inclinations or attractions.
The way many in the media, both secular media and some Catholic media, have reported the change in the Boy Scouts policy has been confusing. For example, many have reported that the Boy Scouts are now accepting “openly gay Scouts.” Nowhere have I seen that language used by the Boy Scouts of America. The language, as quoted above, mentions non-denial of membership based on sexual orientation.
The use of the term “openly gay Scouts” gives the impression of a Scout who embraces the experience of same-sex attraction as if it defined his identity and who promotes a gay lifestyle. I don’t think that is what the resolution means.
As the new policy currently stands, I see no reason to prohibit our parishes from sponsoring Boy Scout troops. At the same time, it is critical that we be vigilant on how this new policy is interpreted and implemented.
It is important also that persons with a homosexual inclination know that the church is here to help and support them in living as chaste disciples of Jesus and not feel alienated from the church. That is why our diocese has Courage chapters in both Fort Wayne and South Bend. There are active Catholics in our diocese who experience same-sex attraction and live in accord with Church teaching. They are bearing witness to Christ and living their faith in the midst of a culture that is telling them to forsake the teachings of the church and to act on their homosexual temptations. But they strive to live in chastity and have embraced the call to holiness. With the help of God’s grace, they are living good and holy lives.
I hope that the new Boy Scouts policy does not lead to encouraging young people to define themselves primarily in terms of their sexual inclination. Our young people should be taught to define themselves primarily in terms of their identity as beloved children of God, created in his image and likeness. Our fundamental orientation is toward God and is not reducible to sexual inclinations, however powerful they may seem. They should also see themselves as beloved members of the Body of Christ, the Church.
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting is cooperating with the Bishops of the United States and relates to the USCCB through a bishop liaison, Bishop Robert Guglielmone. They will be studying the details of the application of this new resolution of the Boy Scouts of America over the coming months.
The membership resolution is scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2014. The NCCS and Bishop Guglielmone will keep the bishops informed on this matter.
Kevin Rhoades is bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130619/EDITORIAL/130619593/0/FRONTPAGE
Bishop Kevin Rhoades
I have received a number of inquiries about the recently approved resolution of the Boy Scouts of America, which states the following: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”
Scouts, Scout leaders and parents, and others have asked me my position on this change and whether or not our parishes will be allowed to continue sponsoring Boy Scout troops.
When it comes to our young people, we must be ever vigilant in their Christian moral formation and upbringing. This is a responsibility primarily of parents. It is also a responsibility of the church, our teachers and our youth leaders. We are responsible for their training in virtue, including the virtue of chastity.
If a young person is experiencing same-sex attraction, we must reach out to him/her with love and support, and help him/her not to feel isolated or alienated. Such young people need special encouragement and guidance so they are not drawn into an immoral lifestyle.
They need family support, good friendships and a strong spiritual life in order to live a healthy, chaste and holy life. Most importantly, they, like all of us, need the support of the church’s sacraments, which heal, strengthen and enable us to live the demands of the Gospel.
The church teaches that men and women who have homosexual inclinations “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (CCC 2358). The church also teaches that “homosexual persons are called to chastity” (CCC 2359).
The Boy Scouts of America has publicly stated that any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.
The change in the Boy Scouts’ membership standard, in itself, does not seem to me to be in conflict with Catholic teaching. However, what is critical is the way in which it is understood and implemented. While the church teaches that homosexual acts are sinful, it distinguishes between engaging in homosexual acts and struggling with homosexual inclinations. The experience of same-sex attraction, having a homosexual tendency, while disordered, is not in itself sinful. Regardless, every human person is called to live chastely; this is true regardless of sexual inclinations or attractions.
The way many in the media, both secular media and some Catholic media, have reported the change in the Boy Scouts policy has been confusing. For example, many have reported that the Boy Scouts are now accepting “openly gay Scouts.” Nowhere have I seen that language used by the Boy Scouts of America. The language, as quoted above, mentions non-denial of membership based on sexual orientation.
The use of the term “openly gay Scouts” gives the impression of a Scout who embraces the experience of same-sex attraction as if it defined his identity and who promotes a gay lifestyle. I don’t think that is what the resolution means.
As the new policy currently stands, I see no reason to prohibit our parishes from sponsoring Boy Scout troops. At the same time, it is critical that we be vigilant on how this new policy is interpreted and implemented.
It is important also that persons with a homosexual inclination know that the church is here to help and support them in living as chaste disciples of Jesus and not feel alienated from the church. That is why our diocese has Courage chapters in both Fort Wayne and South Bend. There are active Catholics in our diocese who experience same-sex attraction and live in accord with Church teaching. They are bearing witness to Christ and living their faith in the midst of a culture that is telling them to forsake the teachings of the church and to act on their homosexual temptations. But they strive to live in chastity and have embraced the call to holiness. With the help of God’s grace, they are living good and holy lives.
I hope that the new Boy Scouts policy does not lead to encouraging young people to define themselves primarily in terms of their sexual inclination. Our young people should be taught to define themselves primarily in terms of their identity as beloved children of God, created in his image and likeness. Our fundamental orientation is toward God and is not reducible to sexual inclinations, however powerful they may seem. They should also see themselves as beloved members of the Body of Christ, the Church.
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting is cooperating with the Bishops of the United States and relates to the USCCB through a bishop liaison, Bishop Robert Guglielmone. They will be studying the details of the application of this new resolution of the Boy Scouts of America over the coming months.
The membership resolution is scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2014. The NCCS and Bishop Guglielmone will keep the bishops informed on this matter.
Kevin Rhoades is bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130619/EDITORIAL/130619593/0/FRONTPAGE
Z
zab
Guest
not at all
P
pnewton
Guest
It depends on what is meant by “error”. I notice a statement from this morning where a priest thought a rule change had a greater scope than it does. Now in practice it might work that way somewhere, but if we are referring to what the new rule actually and literally says, that is something in which one may be in error.
G
gilliam
Guest
Letter by Fr. Dennis J.O’Rourke, V.F., Boy Scout chaplain for the Diocese of Phoenix
Two groups of Catholics are directly impacted by the decision of the Boy Scouts of America to not prohibit youth members who profess a same-sex orientation, namely, Catholic sponsoring organizations and Catholic scouts and their families. Please remember, as you read this, I write this with the approval of my bishop, and as Diocese of Phoenix Boy Scout Chaplain.
The Church teaches that of homosexual acts are objectively “disordered.” Second, the Church calls on persons who experience same-sex attraction “to fulfill God’s will in their lives” and to practice chastity which is the same for them as for all unmarried persons. Third, the Church warns society to avoid “every sign of unjust discrimination” against those who experience same-sex attraction.
The policy adopted by the Boy Scouts states: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”
The policy applies only to youth members (aged 11 thru 17), not to adult leaders who, per the Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts v. Dale in 2000 are excluded based a private organization’s right to set its own standards for membership. The new policy applies only to membership in the Boy Scouts. There are some details of participation in certain activities that still need to be addressed.
There is nothing in the new policy or in Boy Scout literature that endorses or advocates the gay life style; in fact all members are prohibited from using the Boy Scouts to promote “any social or political position or agenda”.
The non-discrimination principle is outlined in Catechism of the Catholic Church #2358. If the principle means anything, it means that the burden of proof lies on those who would discriminate against persons experiencing same-sex attraction to justify that discrimination. Discrimination (e.g., refusing to recognize “same-sex marriage”) can and should be defended among Catholics.
That same-sex attraction itself (which is the only factor addressed by the BSA policy) should bar membership in a secular organization seems difficult to argue; to propose further that maintaining such a bar is a litmus test for Catholic sponsorship of an organization is even less sound.
continued…
Two groups of Catholics are directly impacted by the decision of the Boy Scouts of America to not prohibit youth members who profess a same-sex orientation, namely, Catholic sponsoring organizations and Catholic scouts and their families. Please remember, as you read this, I write this with the approval of my bishop, and as Diocese of Phoenix Boy Scout Chaplain.
The Church teaches that of homosexual acts are objectively “disordered.” Second, the Church calls on persons who experience same-sex attraction “to fulfill God’s will in their lives” and to practice chastity which is the same for them as for all unmarried persons. Third, the Church warns society to avoid “every sign of unjust discrimination” against those who experience same-sex attraction.
The policy adopted by the Boy Scouts states: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”
The policy applies only to youth members (aged 11 thru 17), not to adult leaders who, per the Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts v. Dale in 2000 are excluded based a private organization’s right to set its own standards for membership. The new policy applies only to membership in the Boy Scouts. There are some details of participation in certain activities that still need to be addressed.
There is nothing in the new policy or in Boy Scout literature that endorses or advocates the gay life style; in fact all members are prohibited from using the Boy Scouts to promote “any social or political position or agenda”.
The non-discrimination principle is outlined in Catechism of the Catholic Church #2358. If the principle means anything, it means that the burden of proof lies on those who would discriminate against persons experiencing same-sex attraction to justify that discrimination. Discrimination (e.g., refusing to recognize “same-sex marriage”) can and should be defended among Catholics.
That same-sex attraction itself (which is the only factor addressed by the BSA policy) should bar membership in a secular organization seems difficult to argue; to propose further that maintaining such a bar is a litmus test for Catholic sponsorship of an organization is even less sound.
continued…
G
gilliam
Guest
Consider this: same-sex attraction, standing alone, does not prohibit one from being a fully initiated Catholic. To argue, therefore, that, a Catholic parish must hold a sponsored organization to a higher membership standard than it holds itself to is inconsistent.
An official statement accompanying the new policy “reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.” Such a statement seems totally in-line with sound Catholic teaching against sexual activity outside of marriage and stands in contrast to the indifference toward premarital sex shown by some other youth organizations let alone to some group’s partnering with organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Indeed, aside from youth programs expressly oriented toward chastity, I know of no other secular organization that so clearly declares all sexual conduct by its youth members to be contrary to its values as does the Boy Scouts of America.
This is enough to relieve Catholic organizations from concerns that their sponsorship of the Boy Scouts is incompatible with Church teaching on human sexuality. Whether Catholic organizations or individuals may dissociate themselves from Boy Scouts without fear of giving bad example to others is another question. There is no obligation to sponsor or join Boy Scouts in the first place. My 50 plus years of experience in Scouting was and continues to be a healthy and entirely “sex-free” adventure.
Scouting requires serious commitments of time, talent, and treasure. If Catholic sponsoring organizations and/or member families can’t agree that the Boy Scouts are able to deliver a youth program that actually operates within the parameters expressly asserted by the Boy Scouts, then they will likely decide that the challenges of Boy Scout affiliation exceed the benefits. I argue otherwise.
But, unless and until another conclusion is demonstrated on evidence and not largely on predictions or fears, I think that Catholics may, and should, take the Boy Scouts at their word and continue to enjoy the programs offered.
This new standard more closely aligns with Catholic Church teaching. Some had actually been concerned about the old standard for some time, because we have no other youth organizations in the diocese that would exclude youth struggling with same-sex attraction. We don’t kick them out of our Catholic High Schools, Parish Youth Groups, or even our sports teams. We just challenge all unmarried persons of any age to live a life of chastity. We have our work cut out for us to hit this challenge head on, but if we are successful it will “bear good fruit.”
When people have spoken to me about the change, I simply ask three simple questions. The practical question is “where do you send your kid to school? Do you realize that your child’s school would not kick out a young man who claims same-sex attraction?”
The second question is more theological. ”Which children should we throw away?
Don’t all of God’s children deserve the Christian values of Scouting or do only those who are ‘morally straight’ in our eyes deserve this experience? Is it our right to chose who is deserving of Scouting’s values or does God hold that in His hands?”
The third question asks them for an honest reflection. Will this policy make being a Scout leader more difficult? Perhaps, but isn’t helping all of God’s children our ministry? Does it make me uncomfortable? It may, but our job is to figure it out so every kid has a chance.
Jesus said “Feed my lambs.” He didn’t say anything about the lambs themselves, only that they needed to be fed. So it is with us and the Scouts, Scout Leaders, Parents, and even the Parish Leaderships that we care for. They need to be fed by good shepherds that set good examples and display moral discipline in the face of an otherwise amoral society. The sun will come up; the BSA and the Catholic Church will still be around, and then it’ll be time for calmer heads to prevail.
Scouts and parents of this country need us and they need the Scouting movement, especially in light of the ever-increasing lapse of morals in America. Since they need us, let’s keep meeting their needs.
What a wonderful opportunity that has been handed to us at this moment in the history of the Church to broadcast what the Catholic Church teaches on sexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular. How often do we get people calling wondering what the Catholic Church teaches? If we approach this moment in the spirit of the New Evangelization I’m confident we’ll come up with communications that not only allay fears, but will convey the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our mission with the BSA remains unchanged. Our God is much larger than all of this. He is in control, and will make something great out of this to glorify Him.
catholicsun.org/2013/06/24/thoughts-for-catholics-impacted-by-the-boy-scouts-of-america-membership-policies/
An official statement accompanying the new policy “reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.” Such a statement seems totally in-line with sound Catholic teaching against sexual activity outside of marriage and stands in contrast to the indifference toward premarital sex shown by some other youth organizations let alone to some group’s partnering with organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Indeed, aside from youth programs expressly oriented toward chastity, I know of no other secular organization that so clearly declares all sexual conduct by its youth members to be contrary to its values as does the Boy Scouts of America.
This is enough to relieve Catholic organizations from concerns that their sponsorship of the Boy Scouts is incompatible with Church teaching on human sexuality. Whether Catholic organizations or individuals may dissociate themselves from Boy Scouts without fear of giving bad example to others is another question. There is no obligation to sponsor or join Boy Scouts in the first place. My 50 plus years of experience in Scouting was and continues to be a healthy and entirely “sex-free” adventure.
Scouting requires serious commitments of time, talent, and treasure. If Catholic sponsoring organizations and/or member families can’t agree that the Boy Scouts are able to deliver a youth program that actually operates within the parameters expressly asserted by the Boy Scouts, then they will likely decide that the challenges of Boy Scout affiliation exceed the benefits. I argue otherwise.
But, unless and until another conclusion is demonstrated on evidence and not largely on predictions or fears, I think that Catholics may, and should, take the Boy Scouts at their word and continue to enjoy the programs offered.
This new standard more closely aligns with Catholic Church teaching. Some had actually been concerned about the old standard for some time, because we have no other youth organizations in the diocese that would exclude youth struggling with same-sex attraction. We don’t kick them out of our Catholic High Schools, Parish Youth Groups, or even our sports teams. We just challenge all unmarried persons of any age to live a life of chastity. We have our work cut out for us to hit this challenge head on, but if we are successful it will “bear good fruit.”
When people have spoken to me about the change, I simply ask three simple questions. The practical question is “where do you send your kid to school? Do you realize that your child’s school would not kick out a young man who claims same-sex attraction?”
The second question is more theological. ”Which children should we throw away?
Don’t all of God’s children deserve the Christian values of Scouting or do only those who are ‘morally straight’ in our eyes deserve this experience? Is it our right to chose who is deserving of Scouting’s values or does God hold that in His hands?”
The third question asks them for an honest reflection. Will this policy make being a Scout leader more difficult? Perhaps, but isn’t helping all of God’s children our ministry? Does it make me uncomfortable? It may, but our job is to figure it out so every kid has a chance.
Jesus said “Feed my lambs.” He didn’t say anything about the lambs themselves, only that they needed to be fed. So it is with us and the Scouts, Scout Leaders, Parents, and even the Parish Leaderships that we care for. They need to be fed by good shepherds that set good examples and display moral discipline in the face of an otherwise amoral society. The sun will come up; the BSA and the Catholic Church will still be around, and then it’ll be time for calmer heads to prevail.
Scouts and parents of this country need us and they need the Scouting movement, especially in light of the ever-increasing lapse of morals in America. Since they need us, let’s keep meeting their needs.
What a wonderful opportunity that has been handed to us at this moment in the history of the Church to broadcast what the Catholic Church teaches on sexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular. How often do we get people calling wondering what the Catholic Church teaches? If we approach this moment in the spirit of the New Evangelization I’m confident we’ll come up with communications that not only allay fears, but will convey the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our mission with the BSA remains unchanged. Our God is much larger than all of this. He is in control, and will make something great out of this to glorify Him.
catholicsun.org/2013/06/24/thoughts-for-catholics-impacted-by-the-boy-scouts-of-america-membership-policies/
Z
zab
Guest
One or two paragraphs with the link is sufficient. It is just his opinion.
Z
zab
Guest
Right on
G
gilliam
Guest
Statement by the Bishops of the State of Washington
seattlearchdiocese.org/Assets/ARCH/3829_0621203BSA.pdf
seattlearchdiocese.org/Assets/ARCH/3829_0621203BSA.pdf
Z
zab
Guest
The link is blank, even when I went to the Archdiocese webpage. But what I gather from reading news articles is that while the bishops of Washington State have not objected to parishes sponsoring the Boy Scouts, neither have they criticized our pastor for the choice that he has made not to renew sponsorship. Regarding Fr. Lappe’s decision he has also said: “The decision to end our parish affiliation with the BSA was made in consultation with the Scoutmasters from the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, who approved the decision to discontinue the parish relationship with the BSA. The actual sponsoring organization, our local Knights of Columbus Council #1379, also voted to no longer charter Boy Scout Troop 1501. We are making every effort to ensure that those families and youth who would like to continue in Scouting are aware of the other local troops that they can join.”
*P. S. *I got the link to open by clicking on the Adobe Acrobat Professional icon
Z
zab
Guest
…also, while the bishops of Washington State, “do not anticipate any change in their approach to Scouting programs”, but they did expressed some concern by saying that they “will continue to review any developments and updates from the BSA.”
B
Brendan
Guest
The notification we got from our Chancellery office was to 'do what we thought was best"
And I have yet to hear of a bishop who reversed a pastor’s decision on this subject, one way or the other.
Likewise when a parish changed over from GSUSA to AHG. Most bishops don’t bat an eye.
So my impression is that the bishops are content with subsidiary at the parish level, both to start troops or to fold them.
- Status