Boy Scouts Slams Church For Supporting Gay Troop Leader Because That’s What Honorable Religious Orgs Do

166120_10150374402260298_4559905_nMy child will not be a Boy Scout. I just flat-out refuse. It will be a sad day if all of his friends join, but I just can’t bend on this issue. My child will not belong to an organization that seems to take pride in its ignorance. The organization severed ties with a Seattle church this week after hearing of its support for one of the openly gay troop leaders they fired earlier this month. This is ignorance. This is bullying. This is unacceptable.

Frankly, I’ve been confused by all of these Boy Scout stories – and if you have been too here is the gist; last year they voted to finally allow openly gay members with 60% majority, but still refuse to allow gay troop leaders. Since a Methodist church in Seattle is standing by openly gay former troop leader Geoffrey McGrath, the BSA revoked their charter:

BSA spokesman Deron Smith told NBC that the organization was “saddened by the development,” but that officials had no other option since the church has chosen to stand by Geoffrey McGrath, who was ousted from the scouting organization for being gay: ”Because the church no longer agrees to the terms of the BSA chartered organization agreement, which includes following BSA policies, it is no longer authorized to offer the Scouting program.”

“No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone,” as per the Scout handbook, but this does not apply to troop leaders. Also, atheists and agnostics are not welcome. How did I now know the Boy Scouts was an inherently religious organization?

They are showing themselves, in 2014, to be an organization rooted in fear and discrimination. I can’t imagine being okay with being a part of an organization so seemingly proud to be bigots. No thanks. One thing I do love though, is when religious organizations show their true colors. I’ll hold them up as an example of what NOT to be when I speak to my children.

(photo: Facebook)

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