Morality, homosexuality not mutually exclusive
I write in regard to the recent columns on the Boy Scouts of America. As an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member in the Order of the Arrow and six-year Boy Scout camp staff member, I would point out that, according to the 1911 Scout handbook, “a Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.”
The current policy forces some troops hosted by churches to deny membership and leadership opportunities to people (including some pastors and bishops) who satisfy being “morally straight” according to their denomination, even though they are not sexually straight. Examples include the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Church of Christ, whose churches are homes to over 7,000 troops, packs and crews. All four of these churches have Scouting religious emblems, which are used to recognize Boy Scouts who show exceptional reverence.
The proposed policy to get rid of the discriminatory ban of gay members would respect the beliefs of those denominations. It also would not force denominations disagreeing with that view to admit such members. Regarding arguments about forcing some troops to interact with those they don’t approve of, they already do so unless they ban their members from attending the World Scout Jamboree or any event open to the general public.
While there may be many adjectives to describe favoring the current discriminatory policy over the proposed one, “reverent” is not one of them.
— Brian Habing, associate professor of statistics
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