Posted on 08/14/2012 7:56:57 PM PDT by Graybeard58
IRVING, Texas (BP) -- With 100-plus degree temperatures outside the Boy Scouts of America Museum, the sweating, 7-year-old Cruz Burns couldn't come up with an answer as to why his mom was holding a press conference.
"Is all this stuff the adults are talking about just weird?" the journalist asked the Tiger Cub Scout, while 32-year-old Jennifer Tyrrell continued to make her case for allowing homosexuals to serve in Boy Scouts leadership.
Staring at the ground, tugging at the scarf of his uniform, the little boy nodded, "Yeah."
Burns' participation in an Ohio Cub Scout pack was short-lived. His mother, a lesbian, pulled him from the unit after she was dismissed as its den mother after seven months of service. The local leader who enlisted Tyrrell ignored the long-standing policy that prohibits homosexuals from official roles, telling her instead that it would be fine, Tyrrell said.
But after someone complained to the next level of leadership, the pack was asked to comply with Boy Scouts of America (BSA) standards and removed Tyrrell from her post. Homosexual parents may accompany their kids to scout meetings or show support, but the leadership limitation stands, the BSA said, recognizing that many parents do not want their children led by homosexuals in an organization that promotes character qualities often associated with Judeo-Christian principles.
"The Boy Scouts of America treats everyone with courtesy and respect," BSA spokesperson Deron Smith said, after giving Tyrrell about half an hour to speak with scout officials in the July meeting.
"Today, representatives from the BSA accepted an online petition from Jennifer Tyrrell and her family," he said, noting it was the second time the Ohio woman had delivered petitions to the 102-year-old organization. "The BSA values the freedom of everyone to express their opinion and believes to disagree does not mean to disrespect."
A few protesters standing on the edge of BSA property argued for Christian family values. Long-time Southern Baptist Scout R. Chip Turner of Fort Worth, Texas, wasn't surprised by the small show of support for the BSA. He serves as chairman of BSA religious relationships.
"Opponents to these policies are relentless and highly vocal," Turner said. "Unfortunately, the silent majority remains largely unheard."
The U.S. Supreme Court in June 2000 upheld the Scouts' membership policy as constitutional.
Tyrrell praised BSA as "a huge cultural institution in America.
"It just has this one policy that is outdated and needs to be changed," she said. "... Really, as a parent, we just want to be involved in our kids' lives. He shouldn't have to live with this."
Independent Baptists from Mansfield, Texas, hoisted signs applauding the BSA decision as "a stand for biblical morality" and "that which is normal." Joined by three laymen from his church, pastor Joey Faust spoke of another organization with Christian roots, recalling the influence of the YMCA on his own life as he received "a good, moral foundation" as a camper and later as a counselor.
Whether the YMCA remains as committed to those foundational principles as do the scouts Faust couldn't say. For now, his concern is for the Boy Scouts of America to remain true to its convictions.
Turner, past national president of the Association of Baptists for Scouting, hopes Southern Baptist churches and members will send statements to BSA affirming the group's moral and ethical commitments.
"The Boy Scouts of America remain committed to the moral and ethical standards which have been affirmed several times in Southern Baptist Convention resolutions," he said. "Scouting remains one of the finest evangelism, family ministry and religious education tools available for established churches as well as new church plants. Scouts and their families involved in the religious emblems program are often reached for Christ and it is not uncommon for youth participants to clarify their calling to vocational ministry."
Probably more worried about federal government defaulting at this point.
The Boy Scouts of America should not become a recruitment tool for the homosexual community. The fairies should stick to their “gay bars” and let America’s boys have the forests. Didn’t we learn a damn thing from the Sandusky fiasco?
No father and a lesbian mother who is willing to use him as a prop for political points.
All the counseling in the world isn't going to give him his childhood back.
What authority does he have over the Boy Scouts?
The POTUS is the titular head of the Boy Scouts.
I'd like to know what Romney thinks on the matter of queers serving as scout leaders.
“Probably more worried about federal government defaulting at this point.”
They’ll just print more rubles - I mean dollars - to make up the lack. Quantitative glasnost or something.
An “online petition”. ROTFL! “Online petitions” are way overrated.
I went to facebook to post my support for the Boyscouts standing up for what is right. The pro-homosexuals have taken over. It is so sad to see them do this to the BOY SCOUTS. Here is three postings:
Seth Deanposted toBoyscouts of America
July 19 near Denver, CO
“The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
Can someone please explain to me how discriminating and hating is a ethically and morally right decision? If that’s what the BSA truly believes in, then I am shocked. You’ve fooled soooo many people for such a long time. Discimination is not ok. Hate is not ok. And there is no “GOD” that will ever tell you that it is.
Scott Rainwaterposted toBoyscouts of America
July 19 near Seattle, WA
Is bigotry a core value for a scout to develop character? You can never change the true nature of an individual. Most are simply trying to participate in society as equals without malice. Excluding fellow human beings for being different is an elitist, bigoted, and self riotous act. By choosing to behave this way you are labeling yourself as such. Either you are a bigot, elitist and intolerant person or you are not. There’s no conditional argument to justify such behavior.
Sarah Lundquistposted toBoyscouts of America
July 19
I’m really getting tired of all these biblical explanations as to why homosexuality and gay marriage is wrong. The bible was created and written by man, not god, marriage was created before christianity and was for the sole purpose of property exchange, and how on earth does a gay marriage effect straight marriages and divorce rates? I’m perfectly fine with people not accepting or believing that a...See More
About as meaningful as on line polls.
Yup!
Can someone give me an answer to my question at #2?
give me a mo
You are correct, titular - in title only. The Boy Scouts will tell him to pound sand.
What's Romney's position on queer boy scout leaders? Anybody know?A campaign assistant for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney confirmed that the former Massachusetts governor's opposition to the Boy Scouts' ban on homosexual leaders, which he publicly expressed in 1994, still stands. According to the Deseret News, Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul told the Associated Press that Romney is still holding to the political stand he adopted nearly 20 years ago when he said during an unsuccessful run for Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate that while he supported “the right of the Boy Scouts of America to decide what it wants to do on that issue,” he also felt that “all people should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation.” --Link
I thought that was probably the case but wasn't certain. Thanks for the info.
In 1994 Willard was on the board of the Boy Scouts of America...
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