Southern Baptists urge continued ban on gay Scouts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The nation’s largest Protestant group is calling on members of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to uphold a ban on gay leaders and Scouts when it votes in May.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee passed the resolution Tuesday. It also calls on like-minded corporate leaders to support the Scouts financially. And it expresses “dismay and disappointment” at any Scout leaders who may have lobbied to remove the ban.
The Scouts announced last month that they would consider a proposal to let the sponsors of each individual troop decide whether to ban gays. The policy was supposed to be settled on Feb. 6 by the Scouts’ 70-member national executive board. Under intense pressure from both sides, the board punted the decision to the 1,400-member National Council.
Comments
It is un-Christian like to ban gays from living life. The Holy Bible says to love thy neighbor, it did not say to love thy neighbor unless he was gay and then you should hate him and ostracize him.
All these people who are treating homosexuals as less than human will have to sit in front of their God one day and explain to Him why they treated his children so poorly when He specifically asked them to love.
Not letting gays be scout masters is not hate.
The bible says other things about homosexuality.
No one is ostracizing anyone.
I am an unmarried heterosexual and I have no business being a scout master, and neither does anyone else who is not a father of a scout. Same goes for little league and other youth activities. This does not make me sub human. I always wondered about people that wanted to get involved in youth activities when they are not a parent of one of the children.
Sum, no where does it state that Southern Baptists hate gays. There are different standards and boundaries for many groups, and they believe the scouts should not allow this. Just because they feel it is wrong doesn't mean they hate gay people. Agree with their lifestyle, certainly not, but that doesn't equate to hate. We all will have to stand there someday, Sum, you too, and you may have the chance to explain why you might hate people that disagree with you. Some of these Southern Baptist may actually love gays as people, they just don't agree with their life, and they don't think they should be scouts. That's ok. But you can't jump to the conclusion of hate. Did you really think Southern Baptist would agree with your view? Different standards, viewpoints, interpretations doesn't mean hate.
I agree with Toycannon, it does nothing to show that they 'hate' gays, it just shows that they are a group of prejudiced individuals who assume to speak for God and know his innermost thoughts. I wonder what makes them feel it is "wrong?" Could it be a handful of bible verses, usually taken out of context.
In that case, instead of haters they would just be elitist's who pick and choose which verses are the most relevant to them. They skip over the over verses that tells what the rest of the 'sins' are. As I see it, as long as you go to church each week and absolve yourself of your sins, then you should be more than afforded the right to live an open and loving homosexual life with your partner. Isn't that what absolves other sins, going to church?
And if that is the ONLY thing that absolves sin, shouldn't the non-church going public be banned from serving in the scouts, or marrying, etc, since i believe I was taught that sin is sin.
People against gays doing anything that the non-gays can do are just bigoted religious zealots, who would be much better served living in a commune of some sorts with their own ilk, (much as a certain pastor said of the gays, to 'fence them in together.'
I don't expect straight people to 'understand' why I am gay, if you could, you are probably gay yourself. I don't 'understand' why others are straight, it just is and I accept them for it. If it wasn't for straight people, us gays would never be born. So thank you, and keep your bigoted opinions to yourself.
So, what would make gays gravitate toward young boys in the Boy Scouts?
most social issues will elicit strong opinions on both sides of the aisle. Those "against" an issue could be considered prejudice by those who are "for" that issue. But those "against" that issue could consider those "for" the issue to also be prejudice for not accepting the opposite opinion. So, prejudice is a two way street. It will never change. Each side sticks to it's viewpoint, relentlessly. And usually, with good arguments, good opinions, and good facts on both sides. So, if there is a prejudice, it is then on both sides of the aisle. I know I am right. You know you are right. I won't bend. You won't bend. If I have a prejudice, well then so do you. Our strong differences will always be there. It's just how one feels with his heart and soul. it's how one believes, for whatever reason.The key is I respect the fact you can have your opinion, however opposite it is from mine. But remember, respect the fact that I feel as strongly about my opinion as you do yours. And when you get right down to it, it may not be a prejudice at all. What I feel is wrong you feel is right. and sometimes what I feel is right, you feel is wrong. simple as that. And we'll just agree that we disagree. And you will never change me, and I will never change you. And I respect that.
My gay friend and his partner of 25 years have 3 sons. Being that he has sons that would be in the scouts he should be allowed to be a scout master... right?
Toycannon has it right, the " Just because they feel it is wrong ... "
Just because THEY feel it is wrong doesn't make it wrong. It is nothing more than their opinion based on THEIR religious teachings. We don't all share the same religious beliefs. I don't force mine upon everyone else and I don't think anyone has the right to force theirs.
Perhaps "hate" was too strong of a word but you have to admit that many religious groups are emphatic about being anti-gay.
Not letting gays participate in their childrens activities and not allowing them to marry the loves of their lives is ostracizing them.
Why do some people think that being gay means they would be attracted to young boys? If you are straight does that mean you are attracted to young girls? Of course not! Pedophilia is a sickness and it has nothing to do with being gay. Lots of straight people molest little girls.
If the church wants to control something then they should focus on their Royal Rangers and Missionettes. That is their version of Boy Scouts/ Girl Scouts.
My opinion is I really do think that being gay should not be a reason to not let a man be a scout leader. Gays have children too.