fgoodwin

As ACLU persecution of BSA continues unabated, public schools are now revoking their charters of BSA units. Private sponsors like churches and VFW posts are being asked to take up the slack. I wonder if ACLU has really thought through the results of this strategy? They want governement entities like schools and military bases to distance themselves from Scouting; yet the private entities that BSA is being forced to embrace as a result, are the very same entities (in many cases) that hold views about gays and atheists that are diametrically opposed to the views that ACLU wants to imp

Cherie: part of doing one's "duty to God" is to respect the beliefs of others (even if you don't agree with them). Discriminating against them on the basis of that belief hardly seems in line with the Scout Oath & Law. My experience in several non-church-sponsored Cub Packs (I was never a Boy Scout, although my son will cross over this month, and I will experience a Troop for the first time, albeit as a parent), is that most boys have no clue which faith they are, let alone which faith the other boys are. Usually, all you see is the purple knot (and most boys, especially Cubs, d

NJ, I have a theoretical question for you (theoretical insofar as I cannot imagine a scenario in which ACLU would ever stop its attacks on BSA): Assuming BSA moves all its charters out of public schools, military bases, and every other gov't agency, would that satisfy ACLU? Do you honestly believe ACLU will call off its attack dogs after BSA caves on these demands? You and I both know the answer -- ACLU will continue to attack BSA until BSA changes its membership policies. And that tells me its not about the First Amendment -- its about ACLU forcing its will upon the BSA.

Trevorum: I didn't meant to steal your thunder, but I was so excited when I read the PRAY bulletin, I had to post it ASAP. I am part of a new group, the "National Episcopal Scouters Association" and we are also an independent organization of Scouters, not formally associated with ECUSA. Please write me offline -- if you don't mind, it sounds like we might be able to learn from your experience with UUSO. Thanx fgoodwin@sbcglobal.net

Just received my 1Q05 newsletter from P.R.A.Y., and it says BSA has just approved "a Unitarian" religious emblems program: =================== Updates on Religious Emblems A Unitarian program has been approved by BSA Religious Relationships. For more information, contact the Unitarian Universalist Scouting Organization, 847 Washington Street, Holliston, MA 01746 or call 508-429-7700. =================== So far, no confirmation on the UUA webpage: http://www.uua.org/news/scouts/

It was my understanding that the gov't routinely gives money to private religious organizations in the form of research grants to both public & private universities. I was not aware that the First Amendment prohibited such grants.

The Boy Scouts of America Presents Annual Report to Nation Celebrating 2004 Achievements http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-10-2005/0003161144 WASHINGTON, DC USA 03/10/2005 Youth Delegates Highlight Good Turn for America Initiatives, Past Year's Accomplishments, and Future Goals IRVING, Texas, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Through the efforts of nearly 1.2 million dedicated volunteers and the support of religious and community organizations in every neighborhood across the United States, the Boy Scouts of America positively affected mo

NLD: thanx -- that's exactly what I was looking for!

My son and I want to go to the 2007 World Jamboree in the UK, celebrating the Centennial of Scouting. I've asked our SE about it but haven't heard back yet. How do Councils decide who will go?

ITD says: The problem here is under budget cuts the schools may charge access to all groups not sponsored by them. ======== And I wouldn't have a problem with that, as long as BSA is treated the same. When my son's old Cub Scout Pack met at a public school in Maryland, we paid the same room fee as every other non-profit group that met there, and we had no problem with that policy, as long as the policy was applied fairly to all. (that particular pack was sponsored by the local Lions Club, not the school, in case anyone was wondering)

NJ, I agree with most of what you say. What's not clear to me is why its OK to sing religious songs at a school musical, planned and conducted by a public school teacher, but a prayer at a football game isn't -- can you help me understand the difference?

I don't have a problem with the First Amendment. What I have a problem with is how ACLU and its ilk focus on the first part of the establishment clause (respecting an "establishment of religion") and totally ignore the second ("or the free exercise thereof"), as if the "wall of separation" were meant only to keep religion out of government. In fact the First Amendment was meant to keep government out of religion, but you'll never get the ACLU to admit that. The Supreme Court has ruled that BSA, as a private organization, has the right to set its membership standards. So what BS

I don't know how successful a a boycott would be, or even if ACLU donor lists are public record. I think the better approach would be to prepare for the inevitable court decision in ACLU's favor, and start looking now for alternative sponsorship, like a nearby church, or the school PTA, etc., as was done when the military caved to ACLU's demands.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_63754.asp Frist, Alexander Sponsor "Support Our Scouts Act" posted March 9, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will introduce legislation in the next few days "to ensure that the Boy Scouts of America are treated fairly by guaranteeing their right to equal access to public facilities, forums, and programs." This legislation addresses attempts to exclude the Boy Scouts from such facilities at the federal, state, and local levels, and legal moves by groups to proscribe longstanding

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=20306 ACLU threat causes Boy Scouts to drop public school ties; churches urged to fill void Mar 9, 2005 By Jeff Robinson NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The Boy Scouts of America is removing the charters of thousands of scouting units from public schools after an American Civil Liberties Union threat to sue taxpayer-funded institutions that charter BSA units. The ACLU sent a letter to the Boy Scouts of America in February threatening legal action against public schools and other governmental agencies that charter Boy Scout groups on gr

When I started a new pack at my son's school in 2003, I was faced with choosing a number. All the single and two-digit numbers were taken. There were too many three-digit numbers available to make a reasoned choice, so I asked for 2003 (based on the year the pack was formed) and Council agreed to give it to us!

http://www.christianpost.com/article/editorial/295/section/there.is.a.lad.here/1.htm http://tinyurl.com/7ywy2 'There is a Lad Here' Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2005 Posted: 8:35:48PM EST Long before Dr. James Dobson started talking about bringing up boys, British Lord Robert Baden-Powell was already doing something about it. Baden Powell, a war hero, founded the Boy Scout movement. He derived the idea, in part, from using boys for responsible jobs during the siege of Mafeking -- a battle during the South African war with the Dutch Boers in 1899. There "B.P.," as he was called, learn

Torveaux: Yes the Webelos book was reissued for the 2003-2004 program year. But many of the boys in my son's den (including my son) were awarded their Webelos books when they "graduated" from Bears back in the spring of 2003, and so they had the old book (the same one you are looking at). Because they had started working out of the old book beginning with the Webelos Summer Camp in 2003, they were allowed to keep using it until now. I think my son's Webelos "class" (this spring's Webelos IIs) are the last group that can use the old book. Its kind of ironic because this yea

Unfortunately, there is no single guide that lists all available awards. Many Councils and Districts have specialized awards, so no single national publication could ever hope to catalog them all. You can ask your local Scout shop about about local, non-rank awards; you can search the Internet and participate in various Scouting discussion groups to find out about awards like 75th anniversary, Outdoor Program, etc. Some Pow-Wows do a class on special awards & patches. I wish it were easier. Fred Goodwin Alamo Area Council

Trevorum writes:Thanks for sharing this with us. One thing I did not know was that BSA heroism medals are awarded not by National, but by the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) in Washington, DC The reason NCAC approved the medal is because that was his Council when he performed his act of bravery. I doubt if NCAC approves applications from other Councils, but I could be mistaken.Fred Goodwin

ON THE WINGS OF EAGLES: CALLING EPISCOPALIAN SCOUTS IN CIRCLE TEN St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Dallas, is proud to announce ON THE WINGS OF EAGLES, a retreat program for Episcopalian Scouts wanting to learn more about our faith and traditions and to complete work towards the God and Church or God and Life religious awards in an overnight program of fun and fellowship, worship, and activities with other Scouts from across the Diocese. ON THE WINGS OF EAGLES will be held at the new All Saints Camp & Conference Center at Lake Texoma (right next door to Camp James Ray) on Friday and S

acco40 writes:I'm confused. If Mr. Scalise refused to abide the declaration of religious principle on his BSA application he should not have become a member. How can membership be "pulled" from someone who is not a member? If he was a member, who at the council office or at the national office screwed up by allowing membership to this man?Does it really make any difference? Either Mr. Scalise signed the document without fully reading it and understanding its implications, then later changed his mind, or he sent in an unsigned application that was processed by the Council.Either way, the resul

Here's a link to the actual opinion: http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20050120_C244883_45_244883.OPN.PDF http://tinyurl.com/6h644

This appears to be your article? http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/1200347.html http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2840380 Here's another: http://www.detnews.com/2005/politics/0501/21/politics-66652.htm http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw110441_20050121.htm Michigan appeals court rejects religious discrimination suit against Boy Scouts January 21, 2005, 12:52 PM LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- An atheist who sued a school district for letting the Boy Scouts recruit in his son's school lost an appeal Friday when a court ruled there was no religious discriminat

I just saw the last hour or so of "Mars Attacks". In the scene where the Martians attack the Washington Monument, a Cub Scout den (or Pack) can be seen runing to and fro trying to avoid the falling Monument.