Boy Scouts and Fairness

Mary, I have been involved with BSA as both a scout and a scouter for 25 years. Yes, the LDS church uses BSA's programs (Tiger Cubs, Cubs, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Ventures) as its official youth program. That they do so is their business. The LDS chaurch and BSA have a rather unsusal relationship: They pay cash for all uniforms, materials, etc., and BSA lets them use the program. The LDS church hierarchy puts some unusual constraints on their youngsters concerning the program. First, every LDS youngster is registered as a member of one of BSA's programs and his dues paid by the local congregation whether or not the youngster is an active member or not(!). LDS boys are in a boy scout troop between the ages of 11 and 13. Between 14 and 16 they are in a Varsity Team (where they boys can be members of a sports team and continue working on the Eagle rank). Between 17 and 18 they are in a Venture crew. Ventures is a co-ed program for younsters 14 - 20. But . . . LDS girls are not allowed to join an LDS-sponsored Crew. LDS boys between the ages of 18 and 20 are not in LDS-sponsored Crews because they are out on their 2-year missions ( where they ride about on bicycles wearing white shirts and ties - in the summer - spreading the word. Further, adult leaders and advisors are appointed by congregation's pastor ("bishop")whether they have the training or inclination to be adult volunteer leaders. Turn-over is high among these adult leaders, and it is rare to see LDS leaders at adult training programs. Further, LDS-sponsored units do not take advantage of BSA's high-adventure bases in the Florida Keys, northern Minnesota lakes, and Rocky Mountains of New Mexico because LDS-ers cannot labor on the Sabbath, and using muscle power to provide tranportation is laboring. And they pretty much keep to themselves. Summer before last, I was a a national training program for adults where the LDS scouters had their own versions of the programs that the rest of us were taking. Did they socialize with us? No. Did they want to compare notes about what was being presented in their classes? No. They run their program the way that they want to and leave everybody else alone. Do they try to influence the BSA's program? No; they want to be left alone to do it their way. And . . . any LDS boy who is finishing up his Eagle rank? He has to go before a board of review approved by the local BSA district, not the LDS chrch.
Were you to run into an LDS-er in a scout uniform, you would'nt know it unless you asked.

It's private but it's got a lot of gov't support. Last year, I ran into the "Equal Access to Public School Facilities for the Boy Scouts of America and Other Designated Youth Groups" proposed rule in the Federal Register. It was proposed by the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights to implements the Boy Scouts Act of the No Child Left Behind Law (probably too much detail...sorry...I'm prone to that.) It basically requires public schools to provide equal access to meeting facilities to patriotic and national organizations listed under title 36 of the US Code. While rule applies to lots of youth groups (Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, etc.), it was promulgated primarily for the purpose of protecting the Boy Scouts...thus the name.

http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=54095489131+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Bill, the Boy Scouts are the official youth organization of the Church of Modern Day Policial Action Committees, I mean Latter Day Saints. The Mormon Church sponsors more scouting troops than any other institution. The BSA headquarters in Dallas is nothing more than a front for the Mormon Church where all the real decisions are made.. The ban on gays is opposed by the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Unitatrian Universalist Association and the Reform Jews as evidenced by the fact all of the above filed friend of the Court briefs opposing the policy when the Supreme Court heard the case.

Mary,

I wasn't aware about the ties the Boy Scouts had to the Mormon Church. Maybe in your area the Mormon Church is more involved in the Boy Scouts?

The primary reason my son isn't in boy scouts is because I associate it with the Mormon church, and don't want him exposed. It's nice to have a secondary reason, though, that makes me feel more justified, and less prejudiced.