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A Scout's Duty to God
Adam R. Servatius, Eagle Scout, BSA Crew 355
Participation in Government
13 June 2002
A Scout’s Duty to God
Despite never-ending attempts by politically correct liberals, one
organization has remained true to its core values by not allowing homosexual members.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have upheld their principles and beliefs of
maintaining morally straight members who strive to serve God and their country.
The Scout Oath and Law clearly state that Scouts must be clean and reverent.
Homosexuals have tried to make excuses for their choice to be gay by claiming
that BSA must accept what homosexuals think they cannot change. In upholding
their duty to God, homosexual behavior is unacceptable for the members of the
Boy Scouts of America.
Homosexuality is someone’s choice, not a genetic condition that someone has
no control over. Studies simply state that there may be a genetic cause
for homosexuality. This has not been proven, and researchers fail to acknowledge
other factors causing someone’s homosexuality. In fact, several studies are
unable to replicate findings and some researchers are even homosexual activists
(Born Gay? Fact or Fiction?). Dr. Charles W. Socarides, author in American
Handbook of Psychiatry, taught and served as attending psychiatrist at the
Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He states on homosexuality,
"The major challenge in treating homosexuality, from the point of view of
the patient's resistance, has, of course, been the misconception that the
disorder is innate or inborn" (Can Homosexuals Change?). Socarides clearly
explains how sexual orientation is based on social learning rather than
hormones or genes. In addition, one psychiatrist noted, "Homosexuals
consistently describe their fathers as a weak, shadowy and distant figure, or
an angry, cold or brutalizing one" (Can Homosexuals Change?). This shows
that homosexuals are influenced in their childhood by their surroundings rather
than being born with the behavior.
Since homosexuality is not a genetic trait, homosexuals have the ability to
change once they realize the importance of fighting their problem rather than
accepting it. John DeCecco, editor of the Journal of Homosexuality and
professor of psychology at San Francisco University states, "The idea that
people are born into one type of behavior is foolish. Homosexuality is a
behavior, not a condition, and something that people can and do change"
(Born Gay? Fact or Fiction?). Dr. Socarides has proved this, stating, "My
success rate is as good as, or better than, my profession’s efforts to treat
any other psychological disorders. By success, I mean I’ve been able to help a
homosexual become heterosexual" (Born Gay? Fact or Fiction?). As evidence,
The American Psychiatric Association reports that through psychiatric
evaluation and help, homosexuals have "changed" to heterosexuals.
Edmund Bergler, author of Homosexuality: Disease or Way of Life?,
states, "The homosexual’s real enemy is the ignorance of the possibility
that he can be helped" (Can Homosexuals Change?). Bergler makes it clear
that transformation is a genuine possibility for those who are willing to make
the effort.
Homosexuals need to realize that change is possible and necessary. Religions
consistently do not view homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. Islamic
teaching outright condemns homosexuality, stating, "Both the one who does
this and the one to whom it is done must repent sincerely to Allaah"
(Al-Munajjid). Islamic teaching describes strict punishment for homosexuals,
including loss of eyesight, torment, houses turned upside down, and clay rain
killing them. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of this sodomy is to be killed.
This is clear based on the Prophet’s teaching, where he stated, "Whoever
you find committing the sin of the people of Lut, kill them, both the one who
does it and the one to whom it is done" (Al-Munajjid). Muslims do not
accept homosexual behavior in any regard.
In addition, Jewish teaching does not support homosexual families. Judaism
places great emphasis on family, children, and the future. Logically,
homosexuals cannot bear children and do not make up the traditional family.
"We cannot accommodate the relationship of two homosexuals as a ‘marriage’
within the context of Judaism, for none of the elements of kiddushin (sanctification)
normally associated with marriage can be invoked for this relationship"
(Judaism). This quote shows that the Jewish faith cannot accept homosexual
relations, since the relations are in direct conflict with Jewish faith
beliefs.
Christianity speaks of homosexuality as not worthy of heaven. Homosexuality
is seen as a sin that provokes God’s wrath. Under Mosaic Law, homosexuality is
considered punishable by death. In the Bible, the books of Genesis, Isaiah,
Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, 1 Corinthians, and Romans all have
passages relating to homosexuality as a sin. Homosexuals will not enter the
kingdom of God (Catholic). Clearly, man and woman were intended to be united in
marriage, supporting one another spiritually and emotionally, and to raise the
family.
Based on a Scout’s religious background, homosexuality is not acceptable
behavior for a Scout. "An avowed homosexual is not a role model for the
values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law" (Cozza). Homosexuals are not
morally straight, clean, and reverent, as the Scout Oath and Law requires
members to be. Matthew Juba, an Eagle Scout, pointed this out during an
interview, stating, "A gay Scout cannot live up to the Scout Oath and
Law." Juba explained that those who are openly gay should not be allowed
to serve in Scouting. This is because any individual who tries to change the
organization’s stance should not be allowed to serve. Scouting ideals include
the sanctity of the heterosexual marriage partnership, with abstinence outside
of the bonds of marriage. Homosexual Scout leaders cannot support the ideals of
Scouting when they do not meet the ideals themselves. An August 2001 edition of
Newsweek states, "It would be hypocritical of Scouting to ignore its core
beliefs to appease the ever-fluctuating values of society." Homosexuals
cannot expect Scouting to give in easily to outside influence against its core
beliefs. The same Newsweek points out that BSA is brave to refuse to abandon
its principles in order to be politically correct. BSA is an example of not
giving in to "peer pressure," something young boys can look up to and
be like.
Despite a solid stand, BSA is not a "hate-group." BSA programs
promote leadership, civic responsibility, religious growth, and ethical
behavior. BSA even created an educational program to fight sexual abuse. It
would be a step backwards to allow open homosexuals into Scouting, since they
may be attracted to Scouting to gain access to boys for sexual activity.
Homosexual leaders are inappropriate in positions of supervision over and
closeness with boys.
Furthermore, it is illegal to require BSA to admit homosexuals as members.
BSA is a private association with the right to set its own standards for
membership and leadership. "BSA has a First Amendment right to decline to
appointing openly gay people if making such appointments would run counter to
their moral beliefs and organizational principles" (Williams). In order to
instill the values of the Scout Oath and Law, BSA must be able to establish
membership standards. In 2000, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that BSA had
the right to refuse homosexuals for membership (Williams). The Supreme Court
ruling supports BSA’s purpose in building the character of young men. The
ruling was based on a similar case, Hurley v. Irish-Amencan Gay, Lesbian, and
Bisexual Group of Boston, Inc. The Court ruled that Boston’s St. Patrick Day
parade had the right to exclude a gay rights contingent because the
participation of the group would have interfered with the parade organizers’
right to support the Catholic Church’s teachings. Likewise, BSA has the right
to exclude homosexuals, since they do not support what BSA stands for.
Scouting has every right to stand for what it believes in. "The ongoing
attack on the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) by the gay and lesbian lobby and
liberal media is only the latest salvo from the armies of the politically
correct" (Wilson). Businesses across America not supporting BSA are afraid
of the liberal media, thinking any homosexual exclusion will "offend"
too many people. "Politicians and U.S. businesses equally need to grow up
and remove themselves from the hands of the politically correct" (Wilson).
Politicians and U.S. businesses must take their own stand by supporting the BSA
stand. They have "lost sight of what is true and just in America"
(Wilson). Despite what homosexuals want, corporate America must understand that
the only true and just solution is to allow BSA to maintain standards set in
1910, when BSA was founded.
Homosexuals must understand that their choice to be gay renders them
inappropriate as members of BSA, as it is against the ideals of the Scout Oath
and Law. BSA is asking society to accept the stand against homosexuals in
Scouting. "BSA respects other people’s right to hold differing opinions,
and asks that they respect theirs" (Cozza). The idea that BSA can be
forced to hold the opinion of the politically correct liberals is absurd.
Furthermore, the Constitution does not allow society to force BSA into
admitting homosexuals as members. Despite the ongoing attack against an
organization remaining true to its word, BSA still remains in service to
homosexuals, as one Eagle Scout states, "I realize it is still my duty to
help elderly lesbians across the street."
Works Cited
Al-Munajjid, Muhammad Salih. "I Want to Repent, But ..." Online.
Available: http://islamicweb.com/resources/want_repent_but.htm. 12 April 2002.
"Born Gay? Fact or Fiction?" Online. Available:
http://www.ewm.org/essay_born.htm. 12 April 2002.
"Can Homosexuals Change?" Online. Available:
http://members.aol.com/HAwebpage/change/change.html. 13 April 2002.
Cozza, Steven. "Should the Boy Scouts admit gays?" New York
Times Upfront 2 October 2000. Proquest. 14 April 2002.
Juba, Matthew W. Personal Interview. 10 May 2002.
"Letters." Newsweek 27 August 2001. Proquest. 14 April
2002.
"Letters." Newsweek 4 December 2000. Proquest. 14 April
2002.
"The Catholic FAQ." Online. Available:
http://www.newadvent.org/faq/faq042.htm. 13 April 2002.
"The Tenets of Reform Judaism." Online. Available:
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/reform_practices.html. 14 April 2002.
Williams, Charles F., Michelle Parrini, and Jennifer Kittlaus. "U.S.
Supreme Court trends." Social Education October 2000. Proquest. 14
April 2002.
Wilson, Michael A. "Corporate America must rise in support of
Scouts." Insight on the News 30 October 2000. Proquest. 14 April
2002.
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