Philadelphia Boy Scouts to Lose Historic Building for Not Accepting Homosexuality

[Pro_Life_News]

By Hilary WhitePHILADELPHIA, December 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Philadelphia council of the Boy Scouts of America will lose the lease on its historic premises for its refusal to bow to pressure from the homosexual lobby to accept homosexual members and leaders. The city has told the…

Full article…

 

[KathleenElsie]

The Boy Scouts built and paid for the building The Supreme Court said they did not have to admit homosexuals or those with SSA. Philadelphia is wrong to do this.

 

[Wolseley]

So much for freedom of speech, eh?

The solution is simple. Wait until the building is empty, put a fertilizer bomb in the middle of it, and blow it to smithereens.

Then you tell the city, “Okay, it’s all yours. Now you can have it.”

 

[KathleenElsie]

So much for freedom of speech, eh?

The solution is simple. Wait until the building is empty, put a fertilizer bomb in the middle of it, and blow it to smithereens.

Then you tell the city, “Okay, it’s all yours. Now you can have it.”

A little drastic won’t you say? I think that the fire department should use it for practice. This way the city gets some good from its destruction.

 

[Wolseley]

Well, maybe a little drastic.

Okay, so move in 50,000 drums of toxic waste and use it for a storage facility. I’m sure the city wouldn’t mind.

 

[Dale_M]

The Boy Scouts built and paid for the building

Yes, the article doesn’t say why the Scouts gave ownership to the city. Perhaps it was badly in need of restoration and the Scouts didn’t have the money to pay for it?

I am also wondering if the Scouts permission to remain in the building rent-free is in writing or if it is just a handshake agreement.

Edit:
Here is a bit more on the topic, although it doesn’t make sense… if the lease is for 100 years, then it should be good for another 20 years.

The Cradle of Liberty Council—Philadelphia’s Boy Scout chapter—has been housed in an historic building in downtown Philly for almost 80 years, paying almost nothing for the prime piece of proprety under the terms of a 100-year sweetheart lease it inked with the city in 1928. But that lease is set to expire

foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314570,00.html

 

[KarenNC]

Yes, the Boy Scouts have the right as a private group to bar admittance to anyone they desire. They do not have the right to government subsidies if they are not willing to abide by government rules, just as any other group is so required.

If a group that routinely denied access to Catholics as a national policy was being given essentially rent free space in public buildings and refused to change their policies to come into line with all the other nonprofit groups in the city, would the outcry be the same?

nytimes.com/2007/12/06/us/06scouts.html?em&ex=1197090000&en=f0d392a99da7e6b9&ei=5087%0A

“*Ms. Sobel said the city required that any organization that rented property from it agree to nondiscriminatory language in its lease. The Boy Scouts skirted the requirement by never having had to sign a lease because they were given use of the building by city ordinance in the 1920s. *”

The above is interesting in light of folks talking about a “100-year-lease”, which would not seem to be supported by the above. It would be interesting to see the wording of the particular ordinance, in order to see what exactly were the terms stipulated.

It would seem to me that if it is the National Council’s policy desires rather than the local chapter’s policy desires that is causing the inability to comply with the requirements, then the chapter ought to be looking to the National Council to provide the subsidy that it is giving up or assistance in finding and affording another location.

 

[rlg94086]

Sad and pathetic.

The Scouts built the building and turned it over to the city in a good faith agreement. Nothing has changed in the Scouts policies, but the political correctness of today is breaking the promise of the past. Philadelphians should be ashamed.

 

[lizaanne]

Quote:
The Cradle of Liberty Council—Philadelphia’s Boy Scout chapter—has been housed in an historic building in downtown Philly for almost 80 years, paying almost nothing for the prime piece of proprety under the terms of a 100-year sweetheart lease it inked with the city in 1928. But that lease is set to expire

Ah ha!!! There is your reason - “prime piece of property”. The city can make money off that property if they kick out the Boy Scouts and put some massively wealthy law firm or something else in there. It all comes down to money I’m sure.

~Liza

 

[Leeta]

I received a letter form a legal firm representing the Boy Scouts of America who said that the BSA rented the building for a $1 a year. Now the city raised the rent to $200,000 because of the Scouts’ refusal to have homosexual leaders.

It makes no sense. There have been cases of molestation of boys by homosexual leaders who hid their proclivity. The BSA has been sued for such negligence many times. Homosexuals are very deceptive people.
Yet, the political establishment says that if the BSA doesn’t allow homosexuals to be leaders that they are ‘discriminating’ .The establishment is not at all concerned about the safety of the boys, and yet if they are molested then the Scout leadership is negligent, not the homosexuals.
The BSA has been to the Supreme Court many, many times defending its right to have male. heterosexual believers as leaders and to have every boy pledge “to do his duty to God”.
And that costs a lot of money!!!
Everyone should support the BSA by buying the popcorn or making a donation even if you don’t want the ham or the popcorn or whatever. My Cub Scout sold popcorn. Because of increased costs such as the above, the boys have to sell more and more donations must be solicited.
Don’t buy the Girl Scout cookies. Many Girl Scout councils have a direct relationship with Planned Parenthood. Also, a portion of each box funds the national organization which is feminist, pro-abortion, atheistic and a promoter of homosexuality. They also lobby for such laws. PP is ensconced in the national leadership.

My husband, my brother-in-law, and three sons are Eagle Scouts. There are more on the way. Scouting is very Catholic in its principles. Future leaders are trained and the Lord knows we need men who are good leaders. .

 

[KarenNC]

I received a letter form a legal firm representing the Boy Scouts of America who said that the BSA rented the building for a $1 a year. Now the city raised the rent to $200,000 because of the Scouts’ refusal to have homosexual leaders.

And let’s add based on the evidence: that the Boy Scouts in question are occupying a public building under terms that are not available to any other private nonprofit group in the city, ie that they allow discrimination based on sexual orientation. The city is not demanding that they change their policy, simply that if they choose to continue, they do not fall within the existing rules on renting public space to nonprofits using subsidies—the same rule that applies to everyone else. If the city allows such they are discriminating in favor of the Boy Scouts in this case.

Based on the reports, it does not look like the Philadelphia chapter is opposed to making the change, but that they cannot do so because of the BSA national organization.

The only real issue I see is whether there does indeed exist an original agreement guaranteeing that the Boy Scouts will have access to that building for $1 a year for a specified period that is not, in fact, expiring. Having not seen the original information, I can’t say—reports seem conflicting.

It makes no sense. There have been cases of molestation of boys by homosexual leaders who hid their proclivity. The BSA has been sued for such negligence many times. Homosexuals are very deceptive people.

False stereotyping.

psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html
"The empirical research does not show that gay or bisexual men are any more likely than heterosexual men to molest children. "

The BSA has been to the Supreme Court many, many times defending its right to have male. heterosexual believers as leaders and to have every boy pledge “to do his duty to God”.

Yes, they have a right to whatever policy they choose, but that does not give them the right to receive government subsidies if they do not follow the same government rules for such that apply to every other group.

 

[KathleenElsie]

And let’s add based on the evidence: that the Boy Scouts in question are occupying a public building under terms that are not available to any other private nonprofit group in the city, ie that they allow discrimination based on sexual orientation. The city is not demanding that they change their policy, simply that if they choose to continue, they do not fall within the existing rules on renting public space to nonprofits using subsidies—the same rule that applies to everyone else. If the city allows such they are discriminating in favor of the Boy Scouts in this case.

Based on the reports, it does not look like the Philadelphia chapter is opposed to making the change, but that they cannot do so because of the BSA national organization.

The only real issue I see is whether there does indeed exist an original agreement guaranteeing that the Boy Scouts will have access to that building for $1 a year for a specified period that is not, in fact, expiring. Having not seen the original information, I can’t say—reports seem conflicting.

False stereotyping.

psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html
"The empirical research does not show that gay or bisexual men are any more likely than heterosexual men to molest children. "

Yes, they have a right to whatever policy they choose, but that does not give them the right to receive government subsidies if they do not follow the same government rules for such that apply to every other group.

Then you would be fine allowing your son to sleep on a camp out with all bisexual or homosexual leaders. Or your daughter to do the same. Many of us just do not feel we want to experiment with our children to prove a point.

 

[KarenNC]

Then you would be fine allowing your son to sleep on a camp out with all bisexual or homosexual leaders. Or your daughter to do the same. Many of us just do not feel we want to experiment with our children to prove a point.

What does your willingness to have your child be part of a particular private organization have to do with whether that particular private organization is expected to adhere to the same laws as all other private organizations of its type?

 

[KathleenElsie]

What does your willingness to have your child be part of a particular private organization have to do with whether that particular private organization is expected to adhere to the same laws as all other private organizations of its type?

Everything, when the law that is being enforced is putting children in danger. We made it a law for a child to be places in booster seats and child restraints to keep them safe and the odd are that they will not be harmed. So why place them into the hands of people that have disordered sexual desires even if they keep them under control. I keep my car under control after all so then am I allowed to not strap in the children.

 

[KarenNC]

Everything, when the law that is being enforced is putting children in danger. We made it a law for a child to be places in booster seats and child restraints to keep them safe and the odd are that they will not be harmed. So why place them into the hands of people that have disordered sexual desires even if they keep them under control. I keep my car under control after all so then am I allowed to not strap in the children.

Refusing to give a private organization preferential subsidies in renting government buildings is not “putting children in danger”.

 

[Newbie2]

I received a letter form a legal firm representing the Boy Scouts of America who said that the BSA rented the building for a $1 a year. Now the city raised the rent to $200,000 because of the Scouts’ refusal to have homosexual leaders.

It makes no sense. There have been cases of molestation of boys by homosexual leaders who hid their proclivity. The BSA has been sued for such negligence many times. Homosexuals are very deceptive people.

My husband, my brother-in-law, and three sons are Eagle Scouts. There are more on the way. Scouting is very Catholic in its principles. Future leaders are trained and the Lord knows we need men who are good leaders. .

It makes perfect sense; follow the money, and be “PC”.

I wouldn’t paint with too broad a brush; it’d be better to say many homosexual pedophiles are quite clever and deceptive in their practices.

Good point about your relatives being Eagle Scouts. I am also one; for those who don’t know, one never ceases to be an Eagle Scout, even when they leave Scouting.

The best response to this would be for someone in the area to donate space for the Scouts, and to support Scouting in our own areas.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Refusing to give a private organization preferential subsidies in renting government buildings is not “putting children in danger”.

Trying to enforce a law that potentially endangers the children should not be public policy.

The rent was negotiated 80 years ago and was approved by all parties involved. If at the end of the lease 20 more years they want to renegotiate the lease then so be it. But right now the city is the one breaking the rules not the Boy Scouts.

 

[KarenNC]

Trying to enforce a law that potentially endangers the children should not be public policy.

The rent was negotiated 80 years ago and was approved by all parties involved. If at the end of the lease 20 more years they want to renegotiate the lease then so be it. But right now the city is the one breaking the rules not the Boy Scouts.

I have seen nothing that substantiates that they do indeed have an actual lease, much less one that specifies that rent for 100 years. The newspaper reports I have seen have been conflicting.
Without that information, there is no way to know what the original terms were.

 

[Wolseley]

Originally Posted by KathleenElsie:

Then you would be fine allowing your son to sleep on a camp out with all bisexual or homosexual leaders. Or your daughter to do the same. Many of us just do not feel we want to experiment with our children to prove a point.

What does your willingness to have your child be part of a particular private organization have to do with whether that particular private organization is expected to adhere to the same laws as all other private organizations of its type?

I do believe that KathleenElsie’s question above was not only not answered in this post, but dodged…

 

[KarenNC]

I do believe that KathleenElsie’s question above was not only not answered in this post, but dodged…

Nope, not dodged, simply identified as an attempt at misdirection from the topic at hand, which is whether the Boy Scouts are in fact entitled to preferential subsidies in the use of a government building in Philadelphia when they steadfastly refuse to follow the rules that all the other nonprofit groups must abide by in order to receive subsidies. Whether either KathleenElsie or I are interested in having our children be members of the group in question is irrelevant.