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For 113 years, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has mentored and educated young boys to become morally straight and upstanding men in today’s society. However, its definition of “morally straight” has become more of a problem than a learning experience for this generation’s scouts.
Previously, openly gay children or ones with homosexual parents were excluded from joining the BSA, despite their interest in partaking in the activities just like everyone else.
On Jan. 28, 2013, the BSA announced they would allow membership for homosexual children. It is a great victory for the LGBT community, but honestly, what held them up?
The BSA has been accused for years of practicing discrimination against homosexuals, atheists and agnostics. Let us note that there is a major difference between not agreeing with a principle and discriminating against a group due to principle.
Just a few weeks before the BSA announced it would change its policy, an openly gay 18-year-old Ryan Andreson fulfilled all of the necessary tasks to become an Eagle Scout. Despite the fact that he did everything he was supposed to, Andreson was denied his certificate because of his sexual orientation.
There are many other stories like Andreson’s, showing that the Boy Scouts organization has been out of line for many years. They claim they are teaching these children how to work together and become better men. However, telling a child that they will not be accepted in society because of how they feel on the inside is completely hypocritical.
Often, the Bible has been used as a means to advance the fight against equal rights for homosexuals. Just like the BSA, the Bible is meant to provide guidance and a basic code of morals for people that want to listen, not a tool to place judgment on others.
For example, young Ryan Andreson was technically denied his Eagle Scout status because his scout leader stated that he did not meet the “duty to God” standard because he “avowed homosexuality.”
It was necessary for the BSA to make a change. Many may defend its hateful actions, stating that it is a private organization which has every right to teach these children whatever they desire. In a way, this is true. But do we really want to tell kids it is not correct to be gay and certain people will always express hatred toward homosexuals no matter what? Before you answer, note that these are just innocent children.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 5 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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This article is incorrect - no final decision has yet been made. BSA merely announced that they were going to hold a vote on the matter.
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I do believe that it is correct to tell kids that homosexuality is wrong and regardless of what others may think or say, God's word is the final say to this matter.
90% of children that were, and are still being abused in the Catholic Church, are abused by homosexual priests.
Our own President is an agent for spiritual destruction after the " Waffler- In - Chief " changed his mind about marriage only between a man and a woman and recently endorsed gays being a part of the BSA organization.
Sodomy is being endorsed and it shows that the heart of this country endorses this " sin ".
A former Boy Scout leader was arrested on Nov. 28 , 2012 in Charlottesville and charged with sodomizing a boy under 13 in 2005.This is just the beginning of what is going to happen if open homosexuality is allowed in the Scouts.
Judgment is coming to America from the Holy God of Israel.
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Jireh you are a sad human being. You may believe in your religion devoutly which is fine, but using your religion as a sword against something that is not as "wrong" as the Bible says is sad.
1. Obama is not out to destroy religion as you have stated, but rather like myself believes in separation of church and state.
2. Sad that you think all homosexuals are pedophiles and sinners. I am a Catholic with gay friends; none of them perform crude acts against young boys.
3. It is people like you that give Christianity a bad name and ammo for Atheists everywhere.
Don't like seeing homosexuals around, go live in a cave.
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Why should the Boy Scouts cave in to your idea of acceptable behavior? Because you like it? If homosexuality is an equal or superior lifestlye to heterosexuality, then you have no need to get upset that some people refuse to include it in their organizations. (It will be their loss, right?)
If homosexuality is an inferior behavior, you have no reason to force it on other people just because you like it. (They arn't missing anything special.)
Don't worry. In this era of bending over for every pathetic interest group under the sun, the Scouts will probably cave in and forget all about the old testament which many of them claim to believe in.
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It's always amusing, and sad, to see the bigots out in force whenever the issue of homosexuality comes up. And hide behind your religion and so-called morals all you want, that's exactly what you all are: bigots.
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the BSA can do what they want just as much as any other person or private organization in this world. it is anybody's right to discriminate however they see fit. we have to discriminate to make decisions. if you don't agree with homosexuality as a lifestyle, then why would you run an organization that allows persons who live homosexual lifestyles within it. nobody HAS to accept other people.
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@ Wow Jireh
Nice try but I think you are wrong on all three fronts.
Give up on the old "separation of church & state" spiel because it's really " not establishing a religion ".
FYI , the Bible says the " sword " is the word of God.
This can be found in Ephesians 5:17.
You my friend , are steeped in rituals , man-made rules and regulations from the Vatican while I follow the inerrant , infallible word of God which explicitly says in 1Corinthians 6:9 that those who participate in homosexuality will not have any share in the kingdom of God.I say homosexuality is wrong but I care about where they will spend eternity and know from God's word we at one time were in the club of cheats , thieves, greedy , drunkards , idolaters , liers , adulterers , fornicators , foul mouthed slanderers and blasphemers and the list goes on and on.But,as God's word continues in verse 11 of 1 Cor. 6 , we can be washed by Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the CROSS if we trust in His name.
I love the GLBTE crowd because they are all sinners like you and me and in need of a redeeming Savior in Jesus Christ.
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What does God say about where internet trolls are going to end up?
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Hey Jireh, I enjoyed your implication that sexual abuse mainly occurs because of homosexuality and not pedophilia because it leaves no doubt of your ignorance. Still, your inability to differentiate between the two causes me to dearly hope you are just a reader and not a student.
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