Boy Scouts defeat ACLU

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | April 5, 2007

[Man50D]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit dismissed a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union to stop the Defense Department from allowing the Boy Scouts of America to hold its National Jamboree every four years at Fort A.P. Hill in Fredericksburg, Va.

The ACLU, suing on behalf of individual named taxpayers, had argued allowing the Boy Scouts to hold the event on public property is an unconstitutional establishment of religion, because the organization's membership is limited to those who believe in God.

The ACLU points out the Boy Scouts require members to swear an oath to "do my duty to God and my country."

The court ruled Wednesday, however, the ACLU did not show standing to bring the lawsuit.

Peter Ferrara, general counsel of the American Civil Rights Union explained the ACLU could complain about the policy to Congress or the president, but it "had no business bringing a lawsuit over it and asking the courts to step in."

The ACRU is a non-partisan legal policy organization launched in 1998 that says it is "dedicated to defending all the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment."

The Defense Department, which sees holding the event at the fort as a boon to military recruitment, is expressly authorized to host the event by a federal statute enacted by Congress, Ferrara points out.

Seven Presidents have attended and spoken at the jamboree, beginning with Franklin Roosevelt in 1937. President Bush spoke at the 2005 event, attended by more than 40,000 scouts. The next jamboree is scheduled for 2010 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

As WND reported in 2005, 90 members of Congress filed a federal appeals court brief declaring support for the Defense Department's sponsorship of the jamboree.

The brief asserted the Defense Department's support comes in the form of "non-religious supplies and services."

"The military's rental of forklifts and trucks, transportation and military equipment, restoration of Fort A.P. Hill after the Jamboree, and provision of other secular services is clearly 'neutral and nonideological,'" the brief said. "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."

Also in 2005, then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., introduced legislation to make sure the Boy Scouts can use government facilities for gatherings, meetings and events.

In 2004, the Pentagon settled a lawsuit by telling military bases around the world not to become direct sponsors of Boy Scout troops or Cub Scout dens. Military personnel can now sponsor Boy Scout groups only in their civilian capacity.

As WND reported, the threat of lawsuits by the ACLU has forced the BSA to pull the charters of thousands of scouting units from public schools.

[Beckwith]

... the ACLU has forced the BSA to pull the charters of thousands of scouting units from public schools.

Now there's something you can tell your grandchildren.

"I'm the guy that 86'd the Boy Scouts."

[Cymbaline]

The ACLU, suing on behalf of individual named taxpayers, had argued allowing the Boy Scouts to hold the event on public property is an unconstitutional establishment of religion, because the organization's membership is limited to those who believe in God.

Words fail me. I never cease to be amazed by the absolute stupidity of this argument that liberals make.

[AZRepublican]

Supreme Ignorance: ACLU’s Empty Establishment Claims

[leadpenny]

Also,

[National Boy Scout] Jamboree suit fails on appeal (Ft. A.P. HIll)

[lawdude]

I may be wrong. It has been 15 years since I got my Law license but I seem to recall swearing a similar oath for that. Perhaps they should sue their bar ass’ns.

[olezip]

The ACLU, suing on behalf of individual named taxpayers, had argued allowing the Boy Scouts to hold the event on public property is an unconstitutional establishment of religion, because the organization's membership is limited to those who believe in God.

Why do we permit this seditious, communist scum in our country? It is like having a bowl of sewage on your dinner table every day. We are letting them destroy our family structure, our belief in God, and the very foundation of our culture. They turn my stomach. Where do they get the money and time to undermine our borders, language, and culture? from us? Most of us are busy working for a living.

[kjo]

Good thing this was the 7th and not the 9th circuit...

[Always Right]

The ACLU, suing on behalf of individual named taxpayers, had argued allowing the Boy Scouts to hold the event on public property is an unconstitutional establishment of religion, because the organization's membership is limited to those who believe in God.

Sadly the ACLU is still winning on this arguement. They lost this case on standing. The victory in this case is only that and will not stop the ACLU from their continued attacks on the boy scouts.

[Sender]

Ironically, the ACLU would enthusiastically support a NAMBLA jamboree. Gotta keep those kids away from God and country and on the ACLU path.

[engrpat]

[aimhigh]

I’m curious is the Boy Scouts will be demanding attorney fees from the ACLU.

[Rick.Donaldson]

You know. AP Hill is a military installation, and when I was with White House Communications, we did some training there, which brings me to the point of being in the military. Does this ring any bells for anyone? I, (state your full legal name here), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. That is precisely the SAME oath I swore not once, but six separate times - seven if you count the one I took when I first went down to be tested to see if I was eligible in 1975... So, tell me exactly where the ACLU EVER got off getting away with taking this to court in the first place, and where even the military balked at helping out our Scouts? When this came out a few years ago, I wrote dozens of letters to the bases around here asking them to reconsider their stance on the Scouts. They stopped allowing military members to be in uniform, or use military supplies (like paper or copy machines etc) as they had done in the past when the initial rulings came out. Some commanders ignored me completely, but a couple stood on our side of the issue, but stated their hands were tied because it came from higher up. IF I remember rightly, it was under the Clinton administration this happened. I think the Scouts ought to counter sue these bastards and take them to the mat.

[Rick.Donaldson]

What the HELL happened to the formatting? Did someone steal it?

Sorry about that

[Lee E. Tallent]

Is not the ACLU a government established organization?I understand they receive government monies. Should there not be a separation between ACLU and state?

Why don’t all such like organizations start their own scouts, churches etc. (they have that liberty) and let those that are already established alone.

[Cymbaline]

Why don’t all such like organizations start their own scouts, churches etc. (they have that liberty) and let those that are already established alone. Because that's not what they're about. They're not concerned with starting their own group, they just want to prevent you from having yours. It's all about stamping out religion.