Not just 1 bishop, but the bishop in the U.S. who has the authority over the church's National Catholic Committee on Scouting. And the lay chairman of that said same committee has been non-committal also. Don't you find it interesting that letter from Scouts for Equality to Cardinal Dolan was forwarded to the Bishop of Charleston for him to handle. I understand that is the proper administrative channel. But still, I had hoped for more of a declarative position. And I realize that it may still come once the church hierarchy realizes that the homosexualists are continuing with the push to approve open homosexual adult leaders.
... I find it interesting that you seem more interested in attacking the Catholic church and making sure we know that Catholics are the enemy.
Your thin skin is showing. I am not attacking, just pointing out what has transpired. Most of the Christian denominations in the U.S. have not covered themselves with honor in this affair. The 6 denominations which charter units with the most scouts have been meek to MIA.
1. LDS - I, and others have chronicled over the last 4 days the sad chain of events in that denomination which led to their acceptance of the BSA membership rule change.
2. UMC - Same thing. They're Scouting committee, the United Methodist Men, has said essentially the same thing as the LDS and RCC, i.e., we can live with it. That denomination may well be heading to schism over the issue of homosexuality.
3. RCC - Not much else to add except to wonder aloud whether the church is still admitting celibate homosexuals into seminary or not. I read an RCC account from Poland last year where they were very critical of the Jesuit colleges/universities in the U.S. for this very reason. I have no idea what is happening on the ground.
4. Lutheran - Includes several flavors of Lutherans. The largest, ELCA, ordains homosexual pastors and is probably not that far from approving marriage rites for homosexuals. I haven't seen a statement from the ELCA about the BSA rule, yet. The other 2 smaller flavors, LC-Missouri Synod and the LC-Wisconsin Synod do not ordain homosexual pastors. The LC-MS has been vocal against BSA's decision.
5. Presbyterian - Also includes several flavors. The largest, PC-USA, ordains homosexual pastors and is probably not that far from approving homosexual marriage rites. I haven't seen a statement from the PC-USA about the BSA decision, yet. Smaller sects, like the PCA, have come out strongly against BSA's decision.
6. Baptists - Also includes several flavors. The largest, the Southern Baptist Convention, has been the most vocal of all Christian denominations in the U.S. against the BSA since 1/28/2013.
“Not just 1 bishop, but the bishop in the U.S. who has the authority over the church’s National Catholic Committee on Scouting.”
This issue is much larger than just him. He is not going to be making the final decision here especially not when it concerns the relationship between scouting and the Catholic church around the world. Neither scouting nor the Catholic church is a national body. The national body actually have very little say when the matter concerns fundamental Catholic doctrine.
“Don’t you find it interesting”
Nope.
“I understand that is the proper administrative channel.”
Well, as we are roundly criticized for our bureaucracy and administration we do have ways of doing things like this. This will go all the way up to Francis. I expect that the Church will spend time going over the options from here on and to see what, if anything can be done to ensure:
1, that the essential Catholic doctrine that homosexuality is sinful is not compromised.
2, that the Catholic boys themselves are not compromised by this association.
Remember, the Catholic church has very little institutional connection with the organization of the Boy Scouts. Cutting the Boy scouts for us isn’t really going to impact the organization as a whole and will have a much smaller effect than it will in other denominations. Once again - something like this has much broader effects than just the USCCB - so this decision isn’t going to stay there.
“But still, I had hoped for more of a declarative position. And I realize that it may still come once the church hierarchy realizes that the homosexualists are continuing with the push to approve open homosexual adult leaders.”
Give it time.
“Most of the Christian denominations in the U.S. have not covered themselves with honor in this affair.”
Most of the formerly Christian denominations have already capitulated on this issue in their pulpit. They have been leading the charge not the other way around.
“The 6 denominations which charter units with the most scouts have been meek to MIA.”
Yes, this hasn’t gone unnoticed either. I don’t believe we can regard the Mormons as reliable allies (if they ever were reliable allies with us).
“1. LDS - I, and others have chronicled over the last 4 days the sad chain of events in that denomination which led to their acceptance of the BSA membership rule change.”
Disappointing. But - it’s really the Mitt Romney direction. Sad, but not compromising to Christian faith or doctrine as the Mormons are most certainly not our brothers and sisters as our protestant friends are.
“2. UMC - Same thing. They’re Scouting committee, the United Methodist Men, has said essentially the same thing as the LDS and RCC, i.e., we can live with it. That denomination may well be heading to schism over the issue of homosexuality.”
It’s already there in the UMC - there’s been an active push to have gay pastors recognized, and to do gay marriages.
“3. RCC - Not much else to add except to wonder aloud whether the church is still admitting celibate homosexuals into seminary or not.”
My experience has been just the opposite that they will not ordain gay men.
“I read an RCC account from Poland last year where they were very critical of the Jesuit colleges/universities in the U.S. for this very reason. I have no idea what is happening on the ground.”
Well, it’s been a problem. I have heard plenty of criticism from all fronts over the USCCB. They’ve been taking plenty of fire and the recent events from Francis is really a rebuke to the USCCB. Francis had to deal with plenty of American nonsense in Argentina so he knows the players and what they are after.
Once again - the tail does not wag the dog. The USCCB may complain, but they don’t get to make this decision.
“4. Lutheran - Includes several flavors of Lutherans. The largest, ELCA, ordains homosexual pastors and is probably not that far from approving marriage rites for homosexuals. I haven’t seen a statement from the ELCA about the BSA rule, yet. The other 2 smaller flavors, LC-Missouri Synod and the LC-Wisconsin Synod do not ordain homosexual pastors. The LC-MS has been vocal against BSA’s decision.”
Yes, the LC and Missouri synod have been good friends to us on this issue. When friends are in short supply - we must hold fast to those who will stand with us.
5. Presbyterian - Also includes several flavors. The largest, PC-USA, ordains homosexual pastors and is probably not that far from approving homosexual marriage rites. I haven’t seen a statement from the PC-USA about the BSA decision, yet. Smaller sects, like the PCA, have come out strongly against BSA’s decision.
6. Baptists - Also includes several flavors. The largest, the Southern Baptist Convention, has been the most vocal of all Christian denominations in the U.S. against the BSA since 1/28/2013.