www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Canadian "Boy" Scouts gone bankrupt

The Boy Scouts, though not necessarily a Christian organization, did at least teach boys to become responsible men. In 1999 the Boy Scouts of Canada suffered a "hostile" takeover. They've now gone backrupt. Similar pressures that the Canadian Scouts suffered are also being suffered by the BSA. What do you think?

Given that the Church has nothing with which to replace what the Scouts do I find what has happened to the Scouts deplorable.

Dan L

The following is an editorial from a Canadian newspaper I saw on
Free Republic today. Very sad, and instructive for we Americans.
Stand and FIGHT the intrusions that those who promote
the "tolerance" agenda for homosexuals, atheists, and communists
keep trying to make into BSA.

Joe Wooten


Big Canadian real estate is on the market. A rather sizable chunk of
Lord Robert Baden-Powell's Empire is available for investors,
homebuilders, fishing resort prospectors, or blacktop barons. Scouts
Canada is pounding in "for sale" signs at the entrances of a number
of Scout camps across the country, including at least twenty camps
in Ontario. But don't worry. No Boy Scouts will mourn the loss of
their summer camps, for the Boy Scouts of Canada no longer exist.

Thinking they could become more inclusive, the Boy Scouts of Canada
Board of Governors decided in November 1998 to admit females,
atheists, agnostics, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals
into troops. Despite that established troops were not even allowed
to remain all-male groups, Scouts Canada approved the establishment
of the world's first all-homosexual troop in 1999. The troop marches
in homosexual pride parades and loudly symbolizes what Scouts Canada
calls its commitment to diversity.

Scouts Canada's new non-discrimination code reads: "Scouting is a
worldwide, multicultural movement. We welcome people to membership
regardless of gender, race, culture, religious belief, sexual
orientation or economic circumstances. Youth members are strongly
influenced by the behaviour of adults. We need to be sensitive to
the traditions and beliefs of all people and to avoid words or
actions which "put down" anybody."

And so, in its attempt to include everybody and everything, Scouts
Canada is effectively dead.

Budgets have run dry. Troop halls and old campsites sit vacant.
Professional staff salaries are severed. Membership is mostly
decimated. In the past, membership roles consistently exceeded
300,000. Around the peak in 1965, there were 320,000 Boy Scouts.
Today, despite a one third population increase in Canada over four
decades and a doubling of the demographic possibilities (with female
members), Scouts Canada has dwindled to a puny 130,000 and it is
rapidly declining.

Open to all, there is a certain liability that accompanies the
mixture of sexes and sexual preferences at Scout Camp. It is no
coincidence that Scouts Canada's costs for liability insurance
against sexual molestation claims increased dramatically by 2002
when, lacking adequate finances, Scouts Canada canceled its sex
abuse insurance, and with it many "high risk" activities. Without
the insurance, a single pedophile could potentially annihilate
Scouts Canada forever.

Esprit de corps has evaporated. Last year, wearing a uniform at
official Scout events became optional. Scoutmasters were deprived of
the authority to demand the wearing of uniforms. "It's time to stop
bickering about the clothes we wear," said Ms. Bonita Brick, chair
of the National Scouts Youth Committee that handed down the uniform
decision. "Accept the reality of change."

It seems that change is not so attractive to the traditional core of
Scouts Canada. "It is disheartening. Everything seems to be going
down and down," laments veteran Scouter Bill Stauttener who manages
Union Marsh Scout Camp which is set to go on the chopping block.

Eastern Ontario's Camp Apple Hill is expected to sell for just
$30,000, a bargain considering that it is 300 acres. "It's very
heartbreaking and very distressing," says three-decade Scout leader
Pat Tugwood.

It may be a sad affair for some who've been around Canadian Scouting
for a while, but I say good riddance to Scouts Canada. They ceased
to serve any useful purpose the day they became all-inclusive, all-
sensitive, and all-tolerant. The Scout Oath and Scout Law are
obliterated in the land of the red maple leaf north of Parallel 49.

It is doubtful that this organization can be resuscitated. Political
correctness, having infected whole institutions, does not easily
reverse. But we Americans might well consider this malady and
contain it at the border.

"In meeting the challenges of a multi-faith society which is
increasingly gay-positive, the [Boy Scouts of America] might follow
the lead of Scouts Canada," urges a writer at
ReligiousTolerance.org. And thus the far Left attacks the Boy Scouts
of America, relentlessly for the past two decades.

There are prices to be paid by the BSA for standing on traditional
moral values, but none so severe as this eulogy of Scouts Canada. In
America, United Way funding may be cut, cities and school districts
may abandon the Scouts, courts may order the Scouts to leave public
property. But so long as the Scout Oath and Law remain intact, the
Boy Scouts of America can survive.

Goodbye, Scouts Canada. Political correctness is sure grand, eh?

Dan,

Fortunately the BSA has won every court case it has been involved in. The Supreme Court has declared the BSA a private organization with the right to decide its membership criteria. The Homosexual/Atheist lobby wanted it declared a public accomodation so taht they could do to it what they did to Scouts Canada. We have lost some funding and support but in large private donations through the annual Friends of Scouting campaign have replaced what was lost form other sources. I encourage everyone to support Scouting in your parishes and kids. Search out your local council on the web and contribute to Friends of Scouting:
http://www.give2bsa.org

Fr. Deacon Lance, Eagle Scout and Assistant Den Leader of his son's den

National Catholic Committee on Scouting:
http://www.nccs-bsa.org

Parma Eparchial Committee on Scouting:
http://www.parma.org/scouting.htm

International Catholic Conference of Scouting:
http://www.cics.org/html/index.php?newlang=english

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Father Deacon Lance,

That is wonderful news and you have offered some very helpful ways for us to support the Boy Scouts. Some of my happiest memories was as a Scout and as a Scout leader. I never made Eagle Scout. I couldn't get the hang of swimming. But God granted me the privilege of being a Webelos leader and the Pack Administrator for six years.

Dan L

I think I'd rather have my kids in the Canadian Scouts!

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=4&u=/ap/boy_scouts_child_porn&sid=84439559

"A former high-ranking Boy Scouts of America official who ran a task force that worked to protect children from sexual abuse pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal child pornography charge. "

"The Boy Scouts have had other problems with their personnel, including volunteers. A California court case in the early 1990s revealed about 2,000 cases of sexual abuse of scouts and other boys that Boy Scouts officials in Irving had documented privately for two decades without telling law enforcement officials."

Sounds like the American Scouting officials have been taking notes from Catholic bishops.

Dear Moe,

Thank you for complimenting Canada, Sir!

We don't always agree, as you know . . .

But you are someone with strong conviction, sincere piety, Catholic loyalty and also great class.

And I say that not just because you complimented the Canadian scouts!

Alex

Moe,

Scouts Canada is not without its failures in the area of child abuse.
http://www.scoutscan.com/national/sexabupdate.html

I suspect there are others reasons you would want your kids in Scouts Canada, unfortunately it appears it will not be around for them to join.

Fr. Deacon Lance

All of my experiences with Scouting have been very positive. I know that there are evil people that creep into the program from time to time. It is clear that evil people creep into every group on earth. They even get into families.

Nevertheless, there are few organizations that have had as positive an influence upon young men as has the Boy Scouts of America. I plan to continue my support of that organization and to remind them to always be diligent in keeping the sexual perverts out.

The Catholic Church should have followed its own directives from the early 1960s to ban all homosexualists from the priesthood. But the American Bishops are known for "occassional" rebellion. A consequence of rebellion is often that the least and smallest are placed in harms way. That is the way evil works in the world.

Dan L

I too, have positive memories of Scouting. Sad what has been happening in Canada.

I am proud to say we are parents of two Eagle Scouts! I thank God for scouting and what it does for boys and young men. They learn life experiences that would be very hard to learn elsewhere. One built a mid-evil castle for a library to introduce their summer theme, he had the Society for Ancient Anackronims(sp) there fighting in full regailia, food, period clothing, the works for his Eagle Project the other raised $1,000 and placed a chain-swag barrier fence around a Catholic Church in low income houseing area. They took 36 foot catamarans to the Florida Keys, and canoed and portage 60+ miles across the Canadian wilderness. I can't beging to tell you all the marvelous time spent camping in the woods with their dad - just being boys. Thank God for scouting and teaching boys to become strong young men.

Dan,

Christ is Risen!

As an Eagle Scout, I find this news sad indeed.

As a scout, I spend countless hours camping in God's glorious creation. I had time to swim, fish and hike. I always looked forward to summer camp.

Why must such a good program be attacked?

When I earned the rank of Eagle Scout, I received a nice note and autographed picture from the Holy Father ... and one of his great addresses to youth.

In Christ,

John

I am proud of the fact that I was a Boy Scout in my youth, oh, it was a troop sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints(Mormon), and I wouldn't swap those days for anything. I was Troop Scribe, then later on, a Patrol Leader. I guarantee you that the Mormons, as strict as they are, brook no nonsense, and unlike a number of denominations, have a control over adults who work with young folk, always had, and always will. Anyways,I am saddened to see that there are dirt bags who prey on young people, but Scouting is not to blame, and I would heartily recommend Scouting to any young person. Recently, I was asked to come aboard as a moderator for a site primarily visited by young people, and after three requests, I finally did. what made up my mind was that there was a pedo who asked to see webcam shots of boys, as young as eight. We figured him out, and sent him packing. the administrator of the site (fifteen years old) and I have kept an eagle eye on the site ever since. I am sorry to hear of the situation in Canada, and hope and pray that such a fine program as Scouting will survive, and that young men can have the same enjoyable experience as I had. I have absolutely no sympathy for pedos or ephebos, and I don't have to understand their disgusting sickness, and no one can change my mind on the subject, why? because when I was seven or eight, one of these creatures try to pull me into his car. my friends looked on in shock as I successfully pulled my arm from its grasp, so that's where I am at on the subject. While I don't think that they should be used for target practice, I do feel, that they have no place in decent society, and should be kept far away from young people. period. if any one has aproblem with what I just posted, well,it's your problem, not mine, you deal with it.
Much Love,
Jonn

Jonn,

As long as a person does not act upon their temptations it doesn't bother me. All of us are tempted by one thing or another. But I have no use for an active pedophile or homosexual who tries to justify their behavior. Though we have no evidence that he ever participated in any sexual sin Origen set a good example for those who can seem to resist sexual temptations. When Billy Graham several years ago recommended that solution I gave the usual expression of disapproval. However, given all of the options available I now believe both Origen and Graham were right. Jesus even gave a similar judgment if your "eye", "hand" offend then "pluck out" or "cut off".

Dan L

Far be it from me to start throwing people out of the Church. But we might do well to note that Origen's behavior was, ah, deprecated by the ecclesiastical authority both then and since. Besides, there's no particular reason to believe that removing the equipment to accomplish one's desires will stop one from having desires and seeking to do something to satisfy them - anyone who has ever had an adult dog neutered will be aware of this!

Incognitus