No, but clearly it does take direction from its corporate funders. This isn’t a knock on the BSA since ostensibly more powerful organizations (the government of the State of Indiana, for instance, which capitulated without a fight to the CEOs who wanted Indiana’s RFRA revoked) have been brought to heel.This may be surprising but the BSA does not take direction from the NY Times.
DELTA LIFE OPTIONS FOR CATHOLICS
The National Catholic Committee of Trail Life USA is working to provide robustly Catholic options within the Delta Life program that Trail Life USA offers to troops that want a “spiritual overlay” to their rugged outdoor adventures. We anticipate tailoring the existing “Manhood Journey” option to increase the appeal of that program for middle school aged Catholics who are “Navigator” Trailmen.
Meanwhile, we are pleased to announce the current availability of a robustly Catholic option within the “Band of Brothers” program for high school aged Catholics who are “Adventurer” Trailmen. The National Catholic Committee has collaborated with the Augustine Institute and Lighthouse Catholic Media to make available the “Y Disciple” program to Catholics participating in Trail Life.
For those familiar with the That Man Is You program, the Y Disciple program might strike you as remarkably akin, albeit aimed at teenage boys rather than adult men, to that effort of Paradisus Dei. Y Disciple encourages a patrol-sized group of Catholic boys to grow in their faith and to support one another fraternally amidst the shared challenges of remaining faithful in face of secularist modernity.
They have a Catholic Religious Emblem Program: faithfultroops.org/Life/resources.cfm?type=emblemsWith the support of the Augustine Institute and Lighthouse Media, as well as a generous benefactor, this program is being made available at no cost to the Catholic boys, troops, or chartering organizations who wish to utilize it.
CATHOLICS IN TRAIL LIFE
Sadly, the Church has been divided for centuries, but God did not divide us. He wants us to ask for His grace to heal the divisions and restore all His sheep to full communion. Trail Life USA includes many like-minded Christian faith communities who remain divided in important questions regarding theology and authority, but – Thanks be to God – this does not prevent us from working together on the vast areas in which we agree.
Many Catholics rightly approach with caution an effort that is infused with the energy and passion of our Christian brethren in the evangelical protestant traditions, but which does not necessarily include dogmatic formation and an emphasis on the sacraments. Yet, nothing in the Trail Life Statement of Faith and Values is inconsistent with Church Teaching. Rather, it is a minimalist statement expressing that with which Catholics and their evangelical protestant brethren agree. Significantly, the language adopted by Trail Life USA is identical to the language adopted by the American Heritage Girls, and Catholic participation in AHG is the single largest source of growth in AHG in recent years.
A ROBUST CATHOLIC CULTURE
Some folks prefer to work exclusively with other Catholics in forming an alternative adventuring program for boys. Rest assured, if we had any doubts as to the ability of a troop to build an authentic Catholic culture that permeates its Trail Life program, we would likewise seek a separate path. However, faced with no obstacles to robust Catholic participation in Trail Life, and recalling our mandate to be goo stewards with our resources, we have chosen to encourage strong Catholic participation in Trail Life, working alongside our like-minded Christian brethren in other Trail Life units to build a truly attractive alternative to what the BSA is now offering. To learn more about the National Catholic Committee of Trail Life USA, visit us here.
Keep in mind that nothing in the Statement of Faith and Values is inconsistent with Church Teaching. Rather, it is a minimalist statement expressing that with which Catholics and their evangelical protestant brethren agree. Significantly, the language adopted by Trail Life USA is identical to the language adopted by the American Heritage Girls, and Catholic participation in AHG is the single largest source of growth in AHG in recent years.
Moreover, if the Statement can be described as a “floor”, there is no “ceiling” within Trail Life on how robust the Catholic faith may be lived. Indeed, the entire reason for the National Catholic Committee for Trail Life is to encourage the growth of strong Catholic identity troops within Trail Life USA, where the faith can be practiced to the fullest in troops that embrace the Catholic faith and wish to develop a robust Catholic culture.
THE NEW EVANGELISM AND UNITY WITHIN THE CHURCH
Our prayer is that our involvement in a Christian program that preserves the best of the movement initiated by Robert Baden Powell might promote evangelization and greater unity in the Church while instilling the character, leadership, and love for adventure that we impart to our young boys striving to become good Catholic men.
While we cannot pretend there is unity where it does not yet exist, the National Catholic Committee views Trail Life as a fertile soil from which great healing and discovery may – by the grace of God – occur among lapsed Catholics and devout evangelical protestants. After all, what sort of Catholics would we be if we were not confident that the evidence supports our “case” for the notion that the Catholic Church has, pursuant to Christ’s promise never to abandon her, best preserved the faith in its fullness?
Although in numbers, Evangelicals dominate the program, it sounds like they are welcoming to Catholics and their numbers within Trail Life are likely to grow.As we work together with those who are not yet in full communion with the Church, but whose hearts and minds are so open to Christ, the Holy Spirit undoubtedly will work to lead all Christians home.
I honestly don’t know the answer to this question, but based on the large number of Mormons and LDS units in Arizona (Mesa, Gilbert, Heber, and other small towns with large Mormon representation), how much of that growth was in LDS units?I have a lot of visibility in Scouting in AZ and after the last change there was very little membership change. Last year the council actually grew.
Again, the real issue with membership in Scouting has to do with the fact that the family structure in the US has dramatically changed.
(1) I assume, a Catholic group would still be able to keep out the “openly gay man” in a “relationship with another man.”Single mothers do seek BSA as a way for their boys to have healthy male role models.(This is the single most common reason single mothers have expressed to me for having their son in scouts.) If they are Catholic or otherwise religious, an openly gay man is either in a marriage or committed relationship with another man, which may not be the model of male bahavior they wish to see their son emulate; or he is single and has no children and was never in scouting before, but still wants to be involved in a group that mentors teenage boys - which will make the hair on most mother’s necks instinctually rise, as I said.
One quick comment:
(1) I assume, a Catholic group would still be able to keep out the “openly gay man” in a “relationship with another man.”
(2) The other person you describe (single, no children, no scouting experience), I’d be willing to bet, would be weeded out and not accepted as a leader.
This addresses some of my concerns. Even if a troop is chartered by a Church and does not tolerate homosexual leaders, won’t some of the events held with multiple troops still be problematic? I am facing a cross-over this year and I have some pretty tough questions for those in charge.
I’m not sure why events held with other units would be problematic. Sexual activity and political advocacy don’t belong in Scouting events. When they surface, which is rare, the people responsible are removed. This, frankly, is the least of my concerns.This addresses some of my concerns. Even if a troop is chartered by a Church and does not tolerate homosexual leaders, won’t some of the events held with multiple troops still be problematic? I am facing a cross-over this year and I have some pretty tough questions for those in charge.
I don’t know what the term “Catholic group” means. Here is the new BSA policy:One quick comment:
(1) I assume, a Catholic group would still be able to keep out the “openly gay man” in a “relationship with another man.”
It would be hard for an unknown person to be allowed into any unit as an adult leader under the current adult membership policy. Simply not knowing them is enough grounds to keep them out of the position.(2) The other person you describe (single, no children, no scouting experience), I’d be willing to bet, would be weeded out and not accepted as a leader.
Growth was mainly from growing Phoenix metro areas.I honestly don’t know the answer to this question, but based on the large number of Mormons and LDS units in Arizona (Mesa, Gilbert, Heber, and other small towns with large Mormon representation), how much of that growth was in LDS units?
What kind of idiot parent would risk his or her young son by sending him on a camping trip with a homosexual scout leader? Hey, all in the name of political correctness is good! Right? :bigyikes:The difference, again, is between gay and openly gay.
This goes back to BSA v. Dale in the late 1900s, a case in the USSC where a young scoutmaster, having “come out” in college, was fired, and sued under a state nondiscrimination law. In the end, the USSC ruled in favor of the BSA, but it was a narrow decision. No doubt since then, the BSA have seen the writing on the wall. Sad, really.
ICXC NIKA
Your equation of homosexuality to pedophilia is complete and utter, fear-mongering, nonsense.What kind of idiot parent would risk his or her young son by sending him on a camping trip with a homosexual scout leader? Hey, all in the name of political correctness is good! Right? :bigyikes:
Male heterosexual leaders have been allowed in Girl Scouting for eons, with the stipulation that a female leader must also be present (this ensures that a focus on female-centered activities and empowerment will be maintained). Should we assume that all male heterosexual leaders are there simply to prey on girls?What kind of idiot parent would risk his or her young son by sending him on a camping trip with a homosexual scout leader? Hey, all in the name of political correctness is good! Right? :bigyikes:
Indeed.Your equation of homosexuality to pedophilia is complete and utter, fear-mongering, nonsense.
But having two men present themselves are being ‘married’ is an case of objective immorality.I’m not sure why events held with other units would be problematic. Sexual activity and political advocacy don’t belong in Scouting events. When they surface, which is rare, the people responsible are removed. This, frankly, is the least of my concerns.
It is my concern because the BSA had a history once of child sexual abuse. If policies make this more likely once again, then I predict that the incidence of child sexual abuse will rise. Finally, I believe this policy will make child sexual assault more likely based on data from the John Jay Report, as well the common connections between the various sins of lust. Realistically, if we were discussing pornography and the link to child sexual abuse, no one would blink an eye. Imply a link with homosexuality and the same link seems hard to believe.I’m not sure why events held with other units would be problematic. Sexual activity and political advocacy don’t belong in Scouting events. When they surface, which is rare, the people responsible are removed. This, frankly, is the least of my concerns.
It is correlation, not equation. You may not agree there is any correlation, but it is not nonsense.Your equation of homosexuality to pedophilia is complete and utter, fear-mongering, nonsense.
Can you present solid, scientific data, linking homosexuality and pedophilia?It is my concern because the BSA had a history once of child sexual abuse. If policies make this more likely once again, then I predict that the incidence of child sexual abuse will rise. Finally, I believe this policy will make child sexual assault more likely based on data from the John Jay Report, as well the common connections between the various sins of lust. Realistically, if we were discussing pornography and the link to child sexual abuse, no one would blink an eye. Imply a link with homosexuality and the same link seems hard to believe.
It is correlation, not equation. You may not agree there is any correlation, but it is not nonsense.
That’s a shame I think it will continue to exist though. Times are changing and I don’t mind if the world does so with it. To each their own though. Can I ask how it is ruining our society?I raised 7 boys and they all belonged to the Boy Scouts. They are all very unhappy the way the BSA is going. I am afraid the BSA will be fading into the sunset. So instead of standing up for what is right, we just sink under the very few that threaten us. It is ruining our society rapidly. God Bless, Memaw
Don’t bet the ranch on that. Most of the priests involved in the various “pedophilia” scandals in the Catholic Church were actually ephebophile homosexuals, attracted to adolescent boys. So Boy Scouts would be in more danger than Cub Scouts!Your equation of homosexuality to pedophilia is complete and utter, fear-mongering, nonsense.