The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the First Amendment protects the Boy Scouts' freedom of association, and as a religious-based organization, to allow homosexual scout members would violate its fundamental charter. The organization founding creed, if not the organization itself, will be destroyed. Of course this is exactly what the left wants, to destroy any and all private associations that don't toe the homo-collectivist agenda. We're moving toward a society bereft of freedom of conscience. Put aside the scandals that have rocked the Boy Scouts. These are reprehensible of themselves and should open up the group to scrutiny, reform, and criminal prosecution. But that should be it. But at a time when the group is facing outside review in any case is just when progressives swoop in for the kill.
See Art Moore, at WND, "Why Scouts are rethinking 'gay' policy. Activists shamed corporate donors that tout diversity, tolerance":
The Boy Scouts of America’s apparent decision to reverse a century-old policy to bar homosexuals from its ranks coincides with a sudden drop in major corporate funding that began last summer after a gay-rights blogger for the Huffington Post published a collaborative report that named the donors and chastised them for violating their own policy of not discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation.Continue reading.
At the same time, two prominent board members – including an adviser to the Obama White House – were carrying out a vow to change the policy from within.
Published in collaboration with The American Independent, the report called out Intel, United Parcel Service, United Way, Merck and others for contributing to an organization with a stated policy of banning homosexuals from membership.
The report came less than two months after the BSA affirmed its policy at the conclusion of a two-year examination of the issue by a committee of volunteers convened by national BSA leaders.
The Boy Scouts’ national headquarters in Texas said it is not granting interviews at the moment but invited questions submitted by email. Questions posed by WND were not answered, however.
At the time of the September report, shipping giant UPS insisted the Scouts’ policy would not impact its donations, which totaled close to $167,000 in 2010, the most recent year for which data was available for most companies.
However, bolstered by a petition drive by the homosexual-rights group Scouts for Equality, Intel – which led the way in 2010 corporate giving with $700,000 – announced that month it would stop funding Scout troops that adhere to the ban.
UPS followed Intel’s lead and also cut off its funding.
In December, Merck issued a statement saying it could not “continue to provide support to an organization with a policy that is contrary to one of our core beliefs.”
“We remain ready and willing to re-consider our funding position in the event that the BSA were to revise its policy,” the statement said.
At the moment, the Verizon Foundation, which donated more than $300,000 in 2010 is facing heat as more than 70,000 people have signed a petition asking the corporation to stop funding the Scouts.
The American Interest report said 23 of the top 50 corporate foundations, ranked by the Foundation Center in terms of total charitable giving, gave at least $10,000 each to the Boy Scouts in 2010.
Combined, they donated about $3.6 million.
Reversal
The Boy Scouts, with more than 2.7 million youth members and more than 1 million adult members, reaffirmed its policy on homosexuals July 17 upon the recommendation of an 11-member committee that had been meeting since 2010.
The policy states: “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.”
But last week, the national office signaled a reversal ahead of its national board meeting next week.
Speaking for the BSA National Council, Director of Public Relations Deron Smith explained the organization is discussing allowing, the local, chartered organizations that oversee Scouting to establish their own requirements.
BSA members and parents “would be able to choose a local unit which best meets the needs of their families,” Smith said.
He said BSA leadership “has always been in an ongoing dialogue with the Scouting family to determine what is in the best interest of the organization and the young people we serve.”
And from Robert Knight, at USA Today, "Boy Scouts shouldn't abandon morality." And more at LAT, "Boy Scouts gay ban generating emotional debate on both sides."
IMAGE CREDIT: Now the End Begins.
