My friend Melvin2 sent me this from the National Catholic Catholic Committee on Scouting regarding the recent attempts at allowing homosexuals to be Scout leaders. He has told me that while he agrees with some of it, he does not believe that the issue of funding did not have a role.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
7 February 2013
Dear Members of the NCCS, Catholic Scouters & Concerned Parents,
I want to thank all those who prayed, attended mass, sent e-mails,
letters and phone calls in regards to the potential policy change by the
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on allowing homosexuals in Scout leadership
positions. I regret that I was not able to respond to each and every
one of you. As I write this, I still have hundreds of unread e-mails. Of
the correspondence I did read, they were well written and very
passionate in support of one side or the other.
You should know
that on February 4th the NCCS key leaders attended the Religious
Relationship Task Force Meeting. At that meeting, the BSA Chief Scout
Executive, National President and National Commissioner addressed those
in attendance. Because of the media and rumors, the perception to most
Scouters and concerned parents is that this policy change was due to
caving in under pressure and selling out for corporate donations. As the
BSA Key 3 explained to us, the reason for this proposed policy change
was that their constitutional lawyers informed them that they would
probably not win the next case on this issue and that the last case was a
5 to 4 decision, which could have gone the other way. They also
informed us that by having this restriction, the BSA has usurped for
many years the Chartered Organizations ability to select and approve
their own leadership as they see fit and not as the BSA sees fit.
We also learned that the BSA started addressing this issue last year,
but did not bring the major users of the program, faith-based
organizations, in on this until a few weeks before the February National
Meeting. It is true that BSA has been pressured for years by outside
influences but there has been a growing pressure from within to make
this change. Even the Task Force, which includes key leaders from the
different faith-based organizations that charter Scout units, were
divided on this issue. Some of the faith-based organizations would
welcome this change. The Task Force did agree on a resolution to ask the
BSA National Executive Board to allow more time for its membership to
provide their issues and concerns to the BSA leadership before taking a
vote on this issue.
Most of you should know by now that the BSA
National Executive Board has postponed making a decision on this issue
until the Annual BSA Meeting in May (22–24). The BSA leadership wants to
gather more input from the Faith-Based Organizations, other chartering
organizations, local Scout Councils and all those who would like to have
their voice heard. The BSA leadership will then present their
recommendation to the voting members who attend the Annual Meeting for
approval or disapproval.
This delay allows us to continue our
efforts in ensuring that the issues and concerns of the NCCS are
properly addressed and that your voice is properly represented. I am
looking at changing part of the format for our Annual Meeting in April
(11-14) to allow working groups to discuss this issue and make
recommendations. This is such an important issue that it needs to be
discussed in as much detail as possible.
Many have asked, how can
they help or what can they do to make a difference. Here are some
suggestions: continue praying on this issue and for us; continue letting
your voice be heard at the NCCS, BSA Council & National levels;
continue sending e-mails, letters and phone calls to the BSA National
leadership and National Executive Board Members. Now that we know it
will be up to the voting membership at the Annual BSA Meeting, get with
your Council voting members, let them know your issues and concerns, and
encourage them to attend the BSA National Meeting. Finally, come to the
NCCS Annual Meeting and join in the decision making process so that the
NCCS leadership can represent you to the best of our ability. Most of
all, be civil in your dealings with those who disagree with your
position on this issue.
Remember that we are in the Scouting
program for the sake of our youth and that our needs and wants should be
secondary. Remember that we should not punish the youth by not
re-chartering or shutting down any Scout units, especially before a
decision has been made. Remember that the youth in Scouting should not
be used as pawns to be sacrificed by those for or against this policy to
try and gain undue leverage in the decision making process. Remember
that all Scout age youth should be encouraged to be part of this
worthwhile program, so continue to recruit and grow our Catholic units
and membership. Remember to let our Catholic faith be our conscience and
our guide in all that we say and do. God Bless.
