Posted on 05/27/2008 11:00:52 AM PDT by Dawnsblood
The Boy Scouts of America's Philadelphia chapter has sued the City of Philadelphia in federal court to block the city's May 31 deadline for the scouts to open membership to gays and atheists, or vacate their historic 1928 headquarters off Logan Square. The civil rights lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Center City, contends that the city's ultimatum violates the scouts' rights under the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions.
"The City has imposed an unconstitutional condition upon Cradle of Liberty's receipt of a benefit that Cradle of Liberty has enjoyed for nearly eight decades, and that many other organizations that limit members or services to members of a particular group continue to enjoy without punishment or the threat of punishment," the scouts' lawsuit reads.
City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith said the city would respond to the federal lawsuit and would likely file an eviction motion next week.
In the meantime, Smith added, the beginning of litigation would preserve the status quo pending a court ruling. Until that ruling occurs, Smith said, the scouts will be able to continue using the headquarters building.
The suit asks the court to permanently block city officials from attempting to evict the Scouts from their building, which sits on a half-acre of city land at 22d and Winter Streets.
The Cradle of Liberty Council's predicament is one that has faced local scouting councils nationwide since a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court case the scouts won.
The national organization appealed the ruling in a suit filed by an openly gay New Jersey scout barred from serving as a troop leader.
Scouts must swear an oath "to God and my country" and to "obey the Scout Law" that includes keeping oneself "physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
The Boy Scouts ought to have young members in full uniform near City Hall. Every time the Mayor or Solicitor (etc) step outside the office, the Boy Scout should ask “Mr. Mayor, why do you hate Boy Scouts? Are you going to do this to Girl Scouts too???”
The Boy Scouts ought to pass the hat ‘round for their legal bills. I bet there are alot of ex-Scouts like me with ten bucks for a good cause.
“I bet there are alot of ex-Scouts like me with ten bucks for a good cause.”
Exactly my first thought. Anybody have an address?
I would like to see the Scouts up the ante and ask for punitive damages. Philadelphia is violating the Scout’s constitutional right to association which the SOTUS already established. Philly officials should go to jail.
Boy Scouts of America et al. v. Dale, 530 U.S. 640 (2000), was a case of the Supreme Court of the United States overturning the New Jersey Supreme Court’s application of the New Jersey public accommodations law, which had forced the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to readmit assistant Scoutmaster James Dale. When he was a student at Rutgers University, Dale became copresident of the Lesbian/Gay student alliance. Then, in July 1990, he attended a seminar on the health needs of lesbian and gay teenagers. During the seminar he was interviewed, and the work was subsequently published.[1] He was expelled from Scouting after BSA officials read the interview in a local newspaper and Dale was quoted as stating he was gay. [2] The Supreme Court held that the lower court’s decision unconstitutionally violated the rights of BSA, specifically the freedom of association, which allows a private organization to exclude whomever it wishes. The case was argued on April 26, 2000 and was decided on June 28, 2000.
Shazam! Are we not surprised that the author of the hit piece didn’t bother to mention the circumstances and terms under which the city agreed to rent IN PERPETUITY the location for a dollar per year? Ya, right. What’s a contract to a Democrat?
Hey Enquierer - run your web poll listing why they Scouts are at this location and then see how many people vote to force them out.
Damn putzes.
The building belongs to the city. The organization needs a private donor to step up and donate a place for them to use.
No local official who takes such an action should ever win re-election outside of certain, select, extremely liberal quarters. The voters of Philadelphia should turn these idiots out on their ears
Other mainstream supporters, such as United Way, also dropped them.
Not one thin dime for the United Way! Not Today! Not Tomorrow! Not EVER!!!
I thought I remembered that the Scouts built the building.
I thought I remembered that the Scouts built the building.
In one of the final steps of a long-running attack on the Boy Scouts' Cradle of Liberty Council in Philadelphia, the city council has voted to renege on a 1928 ordinance allowing the Scouts to have their headquarters in a building on a parcel of public land "in perpetuity." Link Here, here or here if you like.
The ONLY reason it belongs to the city to begin with is because the scouts gave it to the city in return for the $1 a year rent in perpetuity.
Only the dirt belongs to the city.The building was built the Boy Scouts.
I’m guessing that there is a little more to this story. Since they are renting the building, they dont pay property taxes. I’m wondering what the surrounding property values are and how much those buildings generate in taxes each year. This sounds to me like a classic case of politicians and businessmen attempting to evict a tenant in order to generate more money. But hey, I’m a cynic and tend to think that when you peel away the layers most things are ultimately about money.
The building was built by the Boy Scouts.
Please take the time to learn the subject BEFORE you post.
The Boy Scouts built and PAID for this Building, totally 100%. They then deeded it over to the City in an agreement where they were granted a Lease in Perpetuity of the Entire Building for their Exclusive use for $1.00 per year. The Cit y is trying to steal it back under the guise of gay rights. Let me know where I can Donate! and shove Mayor NUTCASE into the Philly Zoo!
To go a step further, the Liberals will find that it is fine to have Serial Rapists become Girl Scout Leaders and lead the Campouts. Why shouldn’t the Rapists be gien another chance is the Liberal mindset.GOD BLESS THE BOY SCOUTS and The GIRL SCOUTS and KEEP THEM CLEAN AND MORAL! something Liberals CANT STAND OR DIGEST!
You are partly right, the City is sing a Fair Rent argumen of $200,000 per year, but that is a cover for their gay rights agenda. Put a convicted gay pedophile on the Roster, and the City will be “Happy.”
i for one am damn glad to see people fighting back against this PC crap that has been going on for decades now, in all aspects of life.......do not sit idly by and take the crap, throw it back in their faces
The first thing these scouts need to be taught is how to move out of Fast Eddies whorehouse, otherwise known as Philthadelphia, and move to a town where at least the sports teams don’t suck quite so bad.
Even better they should persue a judgement that forces the city of Philadelphia to reimburse them for all legal expenses. The city reneged on their contract with the Boy Scouts.
My total Apologies and Your Statement should be Published for Its Understanding and Forsight.
Unfortunately, the Girl Scouts are now an “inclusive” group, meaning they are happy to have lesbians on their national staff and as troop leaders. That’s why you won’t see them persecuted as the Boy Scouts have been.
What is the Fair Market Value of this Beautiful landmark Building?? If tthe City wants to opt out of its agreement with the Boy Scouts, then the City must pay the Boy Scouts the full value of the property today as opposed to forcing the full rental lease the gay liberals demand.
Ever notice that this is another continuing problem that the GOP never talks about?
My understanding is that it is up to the local counsels whether they go along with that or not, that it is not mandatory. I could be wrong, but that has been my understand for the 3 years my daughter has been in GS.
“...the fact remains that the city currently owns the building.”
Good for the Scouts. I hope they kick the city’s ass in court.
As an organization the Girl Scouts have chosen not to exclude people from membership or leadership based on sexual orientation.
Not at all. The Scouts are free to continue restricting their membership. Philly is saying that they just need to do it in another building.
There is no contract and no lease, otherwise the Scouts could be fighting that out in court and probably winning. There was a verbal agreement, which is unenforceable.
The idea is to make the Mayor or whoever shrink in front of the cameras, as liberals do to Republican politicians.
I was going to suggest Kansas City, seeing as how we're in America's heartland and all. But then you threw in that requirement about the sports teams
......As an organization the Girl Scouts have chosen not to exclude people from membership or leadership based on sexual orientation.....
Lesbians for lesbians
“Not at all. The Scouts are free to continue restricting their membership. Philly is saying that they just need to do it in another building”
Ok. I guess with a little research we could find another private organization with restrictive membership using a public building in Philly...say the girl scouts?
A Democratic politician...supporting a gay cause...shrinking in front of cameras? Are we thinking about the same Democratic party?
“......As an organization the Girl Scouts have chosen not to exclude people from membership or leadership based on sexual orientation.”
Can heterosexual boys join the GS? Transexuals? Can released pedophiles be den moms?
How about the Red Cross who exclude HIV positive blood donors?
Girls Scouts don't exclude people based on sexual orientation. But if the Scouts could locate a group with restrictive membership that does use public facilities then that would go a long way towards knocking the legs out from under the city's case. If I were them I'd check out any country clubs or private clubs in the city,or the rowing clubs along the Schuylkill River.
The BSA should just move the entire building out of the city. Here’s an outfit that can do that for them:
Regards,
Fine. No contract, no lease, the original agreement should be null and void. They city should “give” the bldg back to the Scouts to do with as they see fit.
A link to COLBSA’s page on it:
http://www.colbsa.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=12731&orgkey=1853
actually I get the implression that Girl Scouts have gone way over to the dark side and are prety much endorsing homesexual conduct.
no the city of philly is saying that the scouts first amendment freedom of association must comply with teh religions and “conscience” precepts of the government religion.
You must believe as the government mandates or you may not have the benefits of a governemtn that honors its contracts.
Only if the Scouts want to use city property. It's their choice.
You must believe as the government mandates or you may not have the benefits of a governemtn that honors its contracts.
You would be wrong.
I wouldn't know.
Please ping your Scouting list.
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