Re: Adult membership in Scouting
Byron Hynes (bph@INTERNORTH.COM)
Mon, 11 Sep 1995 21:06:00 MDT
>( What keeps running through my mind is a question - Shouldn't spousal abuse
>be just as UNACCEPTABLE as child abuse in this organization? If an unproven
>accusation of the latter gets you removed, shouldn't criminal charges filed
>by the cops have the same effect? )
First of all... let me say that I am *NOT* making comments about his
behavior at camp, his ability to be director, his attitude, his personality,
or anything except your SPECIFIC reference to criminal charges.
My answer: NO! "Charges filed by the cops" should NOT have the same effect.
A CONVICTION probably should.
The whole purpose of the court system is to determine guilt. When people
assume that the laying of the charges is equal to a guilty verdict then they
are really doing a disservice to the people involved. There are at least two
sides to every story... and the "laying of charges", if you like is the
crown's (state's) side of the story. The other side doesn't get heard until
trial, and the judgement should be based on all the evidence.
As to your example: a conviction might well be grounds for being barred from
the organization (certainly for at least a period of time), but the charges
aren't. However, his behaviour as a Camp Director may be grounds to choose
another camp director, his behaviour as SM may be such that the committee
should choose another SM, et cetera...
-- Byron
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Byron Hynes bph@internorth.com
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