Boy Scouts to allow gay youths to join

  • Thread starter Thread starter EmperorNapoleon
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
wynnejj said:
I agree. I am disappointed with the decision, but there is nothing that is spelled out in the proposal that should be a reason to abandon scouting today. It is more what is not spelled out and will have to be deliberated that may be the end of the scouting relationship with Catholic teaching. If one ascribes no further agenda to the proposal than what is actually stated, there is indeed nothing that would be against Catholic teaching and much that would be supported. But there are complications. If individuals promote gay values within a Catholic troop, and BSA National disallows scoutmasters from taking action, there will be a conflict with a Catholic teaching. But we haven’t hit that bridge yet.
Click to expand...
And that’s what worries me, too – where this might lead. It’s hard for me to disagree with the policy change as stated without feeling like I’m being discriminatory. And yet the fear that this is just phase one is a very real fear.

It comforts me to see that the NCCS is taking the reflective course. The policy change doesn’t take effect till next year. So lets take the opportunity to reflect on the ramifications. We don’t have to make any snap decisions. Let us gather more information and tackle this from a position of knowledge and strength rather than simply being reactionary.
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
So no more football, baseball, honors society? No more Student Government Association, no more softball, cheerleading, music lessons, uhhh basically no more extacurricular activities for your children?

All of that just because a child could have a disorder?
Click to expand...
A disorder that’s increasingly being normalized, destroying souls in the process.

And you make homeschooling look even more attractive.
 
wynnejj said:
I agree. I am disappointed with the decision, but there is nothing that is spelled out in the proposal that should be a reason to abandon scouting today. It is more what is not spelled out and will have to be deliberated that may be the end of the scouting relationship with Catholic teaching. If one ascribes no further agenda to the proposal than what is actually stated, there is indeed nothing that would be against Catholic teaching and much that would be supported. But there are complications. If individuals promote gay values within a Catholic troop, and BSA National disallows scoutmasters from taking action, there will be a conflict with a Catholic teaching. But we haven’t hit that bridge yet.
Click to expand...
You mark my words, the homosexualist lobby will push hard to allow open homosexuals into the Scouts as leaders. The snowball is picking up momentum.
 
Joe_5859 said:
I’m having a really tough time with this one. Many Catholics I know and respect greatly are treating this decision as though it is the worst thing that could have possibly happened. …

But I just don’t see this as being a scenario that requires all Catholics to disavow from Scouting. **Our Catholic faith asks us to avoid any unjust discrimination towards those with a homosexual inclination. I want to take that seriously. I don’t want to ostracize them as “other”. **But I also don’t want to see Catholic moral teaching trampled under foot.

I think the worst thing we can do is pull the plug on our ties with scouting. Then who will be left in the organization to fight for our values? In reading the change in policy, it seems to me quite easy to interpret it in accordance with our beliefs. I don’t think we need to accept the behavior or whitewash sexual morality. We can still insist on staying true to Catholic values. But we can still accept those who have the inclination at the same time. Isn’t that what our faith demands? If a chaste homosexual can receive Jesus in the Eucharist, why can he not be a Boy Scout?
Click to expand...
👍
 
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
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Code: 
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.
Click to expand...
Code: 
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.
Click to expand...
Code: 
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
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

nccs-bsa.org/comment/NCCSComment52313.php
 
zab said:
The Resolution did not say “openly gay” youth will be allowed to join the Boy Scouts. There is a big difference between one who has a same sex attraction and one who is “open” to the practice of homosexuality. Here is what the resolution did say:

"Today, following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting’s history the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also 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. A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place."
Click to expand...
People who reject this change in the Boy Scouts’ policy are basing it on their mistaken notion that gay sexual orientation immediately translates to gay sexual behavior, and further, gay sexual abuse which gay boys will likely inflict on straight boys. It’s as though the mere presence of gay boy scouts will somehow contaminate the rest of the troop. Their judgment is based on fear of what they think will probably happen. They evidently have an underlying prejudice (pre-judgment) toward people who have same-sex attraction, whether or not they want to admit it. The other fear these people have is that this is really all part of a conspiratorial gay agenda, which consists of normalizing same-sex attraction by teaching straight boys there is nothing wrong with it. Where does it all end? We know that fear is a powerful motivator, as are ignorance and hatred.
 
Mormon officials on Thursday night said the church would stay involved with Scouting “based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior.” Bishop Paul Loverde, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, issued a statement saying the vote would likely force the diocese to reconsider sponsoring troops in about 50 of its parishes, while the Rev. William Byrne, secretary for pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Washington, said the new policy is not in conflict with Catholic teaching.
Click to expand...
washingtonpost.com/local/boy-scouts-vote-to-allow-openly-gay-scouts-maintain-ban-on-gay-adult-leaders/2013/05/23/dcb7ee08-c359-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html
 
torch621 said:
A disorder that’s increasingly being normalized, destroying souls in the process.

And you make homeschooling look even more attractive.
Click to expand...
Having homeschooled my children, I find it very sad to think someone would homeschool their children so that they never were around a child who might claim he is “gay”.

We teach our children that God calls us to love everyone and having homosexual attraction is not sinful. Homosexual acts are sinful. We teach that sexual activities for anyone outside of marriage is sinful. (Marriage is between a man and a woman.)
 
torch621 said:
A disorder that’s increasingly being normalized, destroying souls in the process.

And you make homeschooling look even more attractive.
Click to expand...
Having same-sex attraction isn’t destroying souls because it isn’t a sin. I find it appalling that just because someone says they are gay people think they are damned.
 
RoseMary131 said:
Having homeschooled my children, I find it very sad to think someone would homeschool their children so that they never were around a child who might claim he is “gay”.

We teach our children that God calls us to love everyone and having homosexual attraction is not sinful. Homosexual acts are sinful. We teach that sexual activities for anyone outside of marriage is sinful. (Marriage is between a man and a woman.)
Click to expand...
👍 Exactly!
 
RoseMary131 said:
Having homeschooled my children, I find it very sad to think someone would homeschool their children so that they never were around a child who might claim he is “gay”.

We teach our children that God calls us to love everyone and having homosexual attraction is not sinful. Homosexual acts are sinful. We teach that sexual activities for anyone outside of marriage is sinful. (Marriage is between a man and a woman.)
Click to expand...
Sexual activity is private and should never be discussed. I know my parents had sex but they never talked about it. I knew there were gay people growing up but I didn’t give it a second thought. And when I started working with gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, whatever they did was not brought up. Today, everyone who is not heterosexual is giving everyone a 24/7 speech about what should remain private.

Peace,
Ed
 
meltzerboy said:
People who reject this change in the Boy Scouts’ policy are basing it on their mistaken notion that gay sexual orientation immediately translates to gay sexual behavior, and further, gay sexual abuse which gay boys will likely inflict on straight boys. It’s as though the mere presence of gay boy scouts will somehow contaminate the rest of the troop. Their judgment is based on fear of what they think will probably happen. They evidently have an underlying prejudice (pre-judgment) toward people who have same-sex attraction, whether or not they want to admit it. The other fear these people have is that this is really all part of a conspiratorial gay agenda, which consists of normalizing same-sex attraction by teaching straight boys there is nothing wrong with it. Where does it all end? We know that fear is a powerful motivator, as are ignorance and hatred.
Click to expand...
You know everyone’s mind, even if you are assuming? It appears you live in a world where you can predict the future of this. No one can predict the future, unless you believe, without knowing, that this will all end badly.

Logic.

Peace,
Ed
 
I’m a former scout (rank of Life), and a longtime BSA supporter and contributor, and I have two boys currently in scouting. I announced an intent to withdraw them tonight, and it has caused some problems. The boys love scouting, don’t want to quit. My wife is supportive of them, not me on this, simply because they don’t want to quit (she takes a neutral stance on the morality issues).

But for me, the BSA has done worse than merely forfeit its rare haven of moral rectitude for young boys. It has bought into a lie, and it has been bullied into this lie. And I understand clearly how this will affect BSA pedagogy. The lesson of ceding moral ground to appease aggressors is not one I want my young men to take to heart. What the BSA has done here is put forth bad lessons in conduct, bad lessons in morality, all particularly bad for young men today beseiged in our cultural gay/femme ghettos.

It is a profoundly sad day for me today. A fight I never picked, never wanted. See ya, BSA. Been great to know ya, once, when you were grand.
 
meltzerboy said:
People who reject this change in the Boy Scouts’ policy are basing it on their mistaken notion that gay sexual orientation immediately translates to gay sexual behavior, and further, gay sexual abuse which gay boys will likely inflict on straight boys. It’s as though the mere presence of gay boy scouts will somehow contaminate the rest of the troop. Their judgment is based on fear of what they think will probably happen. They evidently have an underlying prejudice (pre-judgment) toward people who have same-sex attraction, whether or not they want to admit it. The other fear these people have is that this is really all part of a conspiratorial gay agenda, which consists of normalizing same-sex attraction by teaching straight boys there is nothing wrong with it. Where does it all end? We know that fear is a powerful motivator, as are ignorance and hatred.
Click to expand...
And you learned to read minds where? It must be really nice to know what a whole slew of people are thinking and that they are all thinking the same thing, and that all those who took the time to explain their disagreement with the change in BSA policy were just covering up their ignorant fear.
 
mystagogia said:
I’m a former scout (rank of Life), and a longtime BSA supporter and contributor, and I have two boys currently in scouting. I announced an intent to withdraw them tonight, and it has caused some problems. The boys love scouting, don’t want to quit. My wife is supportive of them, not me on this, simply because they don’t want to quit (she takes a neutral stance on the morality issues).

But for me, the BSA has done worse than merely forfeit its rare haven of moral rectitude for young boys. It has bought into a lie, and it has been bullied into this lie. And I understand clearly how this will affect BSA pedagogy. The lesson of ceding moral ground to appease aggressors is not one I want my young men to take to heart. What the BSA has done here is put forth bad lessons in conduct, bad lessons in morality, all particularly bad for young men today beseiged in our cultural gay/femme ghettos.

It is a profoundly sad day for me today. A fight I never picked, never wanted. See ya, BSA. Been great to know ya, once, when you were grand.
Click to expand...
Good role models are harder and harder to find.

God bless,
Ed
 
RoseMary131 said:
Having homeschooled my children, I find it very sad to think someone would homeschool their children so that they never were around a child who might claim he is “gay”.

We teach our children that God calls us to love everyone and having homosexual attraction is not sinful. Homosexual acts are sinful. We teach that sexual activities for anyone outside of marriage is sinful. (Marriage is between a man and a woman.)
Click to expand...
KendraDZ1902 said:
Having same-sex attraction isn’t destroying souls because it isn’t a sin. I find it appalling that just because someone says they are gay people think they are damned.
Click to expand...
You both seem to misunderstand that the point is *not *about merely having sexual attractions towards one’s own sex, but in *normalizing *that attraction and activity, which is what the poster to whom you responded was talking about.
 
Joe_5859 said:
I’m having a really tough time with this one. Many Catholics I know and respect greatly are treating this decision as though it is the worst thing that could have possibly happened. I want to be on their side. I really do.

But I just don’t see this as being a scenario that requires all Catholics to disavow from Scouting. Our Catholic faith asks us to avoid any unjust discrimination towards those with a homosexual inclination. I want to take that seriously. I don’t want to ostracize them as “other”. But I also don’t want to see Catholic moral teaching trampled under foot.

I think the worst thing we can do is pull the plug on our ties with scouting. Then who will be left in the organization to fight for our values? In reading the change in policy, it seems to me quite easy to interpret it in accordance with our beliefs. I don’t think we need to accept the behavior or whitewash sexual morality. We can still insist on staying true to Catholic values. But we can still accept those who have the inclination at the same time. Isn’t that what our faith demands? If a chaste homosexual can receive Jesus in the Eucharist, why can he not be a Boy Scout?
Click to expand...
👍👍👍
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top