Bishop responds to Boy Scouts’ decision on admission of homosexual members
May 27, 2013
Bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, the episcopal liaison of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, has responded to the Boy Scouts of America’s approval of a resolution stating that “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”
The Boy Scouts of America’s approved resolution also stated that “while the BSA does not proactively inquire about sexual orientation of employees, volunteers or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.” “I kind of expected that this is the way the vote would go,” said Bishop Guglielmone. “I’m not particularly encouraged by it, but I knew it would happen eventually. As the policy change is right now promoted, we can live with it. Unfortunately, there are many people who are interpreting this policy to go much further than it actually does, particularly in the secular press.”
“Church teaching is very clear that the homosexual inclination is not sinful and that same-sex attraction is not immoral,” added Bishop Guglielmone, “but that what we’re dealing with here is the distinction between the inclination and the conduct. The standards remain the same as they always have for scouts. Homosexual activity will not be condoned.”
“The leadership of the BSA has made it very clear that they intend to hold the line on adult leaders, but they also said they would hold the line on this issue, so where this could go, I don’t know,” he continued. “That’s why I feel it’s imperative for the Church to continue to be involved. And if it gets to the point where some of our basic issues our threatened — such as being able to pick leaders for Catholic chartered groups or in diminishing the role of religion and God — then we will have to re-evaluate our participation in the program at that time.”
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Posted by: chady -
May. 29, 2013 11:36 AM ET USA
'No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every scout should have a religion'. Part 1V 'Scouting for Boys' by Baden Powell.
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Posted by: nix898049 -
May. 28, 2013 2:22 PM ET USA
What worries me is that same-sex attraction/activity must not be equated with opposite-sex attraction/activity. They are not the same! And while the latter MAY be an occasion of Lust, the former ALWAYS is because it goes against the dignity of the human person. I don't buy the bishop's 'attraction isn't immoral' rationale.
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Posted by: -
May. 28, 2013 11:29 AM ET USA
Have our bishops lost the ability to reason? Will it be 12 months or less before the first BSA Gay Day? And how long til there's a phallic shaped merit badge? And does the USCCB do anything of value any more?
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Posted by: FredC -
May. 28, 2013 11:00 AM ET USA
The Catholic groups should welcome gay boys -- so they can change them to being straight or, at least, to teach them to remain chaste. The priest who founded Courage said that homosexuals under the age of 30 can be changed. Homosexuality is not innate.
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Posted by: florentine -
May. 27, 2013 8:03 PM ET USA
There are already new groups forming that will serve as a new Boy Scouts with a new name and specifically Christian based agenda. I can't imagine ANY parent, or authentic Christian Church who would support or allow their sons to join any group seeking to normalize (promote) sodomy. Very sad to see the demise of BSA.
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
May. 27, 2013 7:18 PM ET USA
Here's the problem. Scouts are supposed to be moral and clean. That means no sexual conduct outside marriage--of any kind. This is a sea change that cannot be condoned. They are telling boys that it's ok to become part of sexual abuse. Wrong.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
May. 27, 2013 9:16 AM ET USA
These days when we hear "they are going to hold the line on any issue" we can immediately assume it won't be long before "the line" moves....in the direction of endorsing sinful behavior. It's hard to understand why the bishop harbors even the tiniest doubt concerning this tried and true tactic of the sodomite "community" and other "progressives".
