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SCOUTING: ACLU stumbles
Waterbury Republican-American ^ | April 12, 2007 | Editorial

Posted on 04/12/2007 9:58:21 AM PDT by Graybeard58

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals deserves the gratitude of every upright American for dismissing vindictive litigation that sought to force the Boy Scouts of America on religious grounds to find a new home for its quadrennial national jamboree.

In 1999, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Pentagon to prevent it from hosting the 10-day jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., and providing about $7 million in supplies and services. The 2005 event attracted more than 40,000 Scouts and 300,000 visitors from around the country and pumped $17 million into the Virginia economy. The ACLU claimed the Pentagon is violating the principle of separation of church and state because Scouting is a religious organization. That's utter nonsense. At the heart of the ACLU's complaint is Scouting's constitutionally protected right to exclude the ACLU's core constituents: atheists and homosexuals.

The court, however, agreed with a petition from 90 congressmen who said the Pentagon's involvement is "clearly 'neutral and nonideological.' The only possible message that the military's aid can be viewed as conveying is that patriotism, self-reliance, physical fitness and support of the military are positive things." In reversing a lower-court ruling, the 7th Circuit said: "Even assuming that it is correct to characterize (Scouting) as a 'religious' organization, this statute is for the purpose of assisting the military in persuading a new generation to join its ranks and in building good will. This is a secular and valid purpose."

ACLU extremists won't rest until they destroy Scouting, which has help mold generations of moral, patriotic young men. Despite being rebuked by the U.S. Supreme Court and many lower courts, expect the ACLU to continue to try to force Scouting to admit homosexuals and atheists and disavow belief in God.

The 7th Circuit is to be commended for defending America's children from the ACLU by rejecting, as Bruce Hausknecht of the Focus on the Family put it, "the notion that any taxpayer with a generalized grievance over the federal government's support of Scouting can use the federal courts as a personal veto tool."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: bsa; scouting

1 posted on 04/12/2007 9:58:22 AM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets; Ricebug; gardencatz; GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer); rabscuttle385; ...

Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.

If you want on or off this ping list, let me know.


2 posted on 04/12/2007 9:59:17 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: dirtboy; nutmeg; NavVet; Leisler; nmh; elkfersupper; DCPatriot; traviskicks; Gene Eric; ...

Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.

If you want on or off this ping list, let me know.


3 posted on 04/12/2007 9:59:49 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: Graybeard58

I thought the grounds for reversing the previous ruling was that the plaintiff lacked standing. It appears there may be more in the ruling than just that.


4 posted on 04/12/2007 10:02:32 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: Graybeard58
The pentagon should just say that the Scouts are helping them prepare for a natural disaster like Katrina. They are simulating the housing and feeding of thousands of civilians. Then tell the ACLU to take a flying leap.

After all “Be prepared “

5 posted on 04/12/2007 10:17:36 AM PDT by lonerepubinma
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To: Graybeard58

How can we get the 7th Circuit to oust the 9th Circus?


6 posted on 04/12/2007 10:35:14 AM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: Graybeard58

“core constituents: atheists and homosexuals.”

Please note the two groups have different goals, one wishes to remove God from public view and put him in the closet while the other group wants to have children come out of the closet with no clothes on. Which group is filled with more deviants?


7 posted on 04/12/2007 10:36:33 AM PDT by Neoliberalnot
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To: SandRat

Ping.


8 posted on 04/12/2007 11:05:12 AM PDT by RonF
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To: RonF; AppauledAtAppeasementConservat; Looking for Diogenes; Congressman Billybob; Pan_Yans Wife; ...

9 posted on 04/12/2007 4:19:08 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Always Right
You are correct. There is no such language in either of the 7th Circuit decisions. I have written on this subject. The newspaper account, though heart-warming, is not accurate.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "From Seventy Springs a Score"

10 posted on 04/12/2007 4:23:26 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob (Please get involved: www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: Graybeard58
this statute is for the purpose of assisting the military in persuading a new generation to join its ranks and in building good will.

Yep, of my two sons, both scouts, one is currently serving and the other one is planning on joining.

11 posted on 04/12/2007 8:49:39 PM PDT by notpoliticallycorewrecked (California : home of the fruits, nuts and flakes.)
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To: Graybeard58
At the heart of the ACLU's complaint is Scouting's constitutionally protected right to exclude the ACLU's core constituents: atheists and homosexuals.

The Democrats just don't know when to give up.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals deserves the gratitude of every decent American.

12 posted on 04/12/2007 8:53:16 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: lonerepubinma
Loved your comment about preparing for Katrina. My understanding from my attendance at the BSA National Scout Jamboree has been that the Army uses the Jamboree as a training exercise to set up the necessary infrastructure to handle an "overnight city" of 40,000. There's no better practice to prepare to set up an overnight city in a disaster than actually doing it.

I missed the 2005 Jamboree for personal reasons, but understand that the Army did not provide a lot of the services that they traditionally do, as a result of this lawsuit.

And . . . what happened? Katrina hits about two months later. The Army would have been fresh off an exercise that would have helped its service to the Gulf Coast.

Thanks, ACLU.

13 posted on 04/23/2007 2:04:55 PM PDT by Scoutmaster (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.)
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