ANd9GcSLtDuNIpdDoHh4PH4HO3uQ2omTEKiKpg1BUiCqgck3UBkxMDLwGjeTPbE' alt='Free Program American Eagle Employee Handbook' title='Free Program American Eagle Employee Handbook' />Boy Scouts of America membership controversies. The Boy Scouts of America BSA, one of the largest private youth organizations in the United States, has policies which prohibit atheists, agnostics and, until January 2. Scouting program. The ban on adults who are open or avowed homosexuals2 from leadership positions was lifted in July 2. I/51GC%2B8DPdwL.jpg' alt='Free Program American Eagle Employee Handbook' title='Free Program American Eagle Employee Handbook' />Prior to these policy changes, BSA had denied or revoked membership status or leadership positions for violation of these foundational principles. The BSA had contended that its policies were essential in its mission to instill in young people the values of the Scout Promise, or Oath, and Scout Law. The organizations legal right to have these policies has been upheld repeatedly by both state and federal courts. In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the Supreme Court of the United States has affirmed that as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards. The BSAs policies have been legally challenged but have not been found to constitute illegal discrimination because as a private organization in the United States, the BSA has the right to freedom of association,5 as determined in the court case. In recent years, the policy disputes have led to litigation over the terms under which the BSA can access governmental resources, including public lands. These policies have led to various disputes and controversies. In 2. 01. 2, both Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and then President Barack Obama stated that they opposed the ban on gay Scouts. On May 2. BSAs National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone effective January 1, 2. The policy for adult leaders remained in place until July 2. Positions of Boy Scouts of AmericaeditAccording to its mission statement, the Boy Scouts of America seeks to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. All members are required, as a condition of membership, to promise to uphold and obey both of these pledges. The texts of the BSAs Scout Oath and Scout Law for Boy Scouting have remained unchanged since they were approved in 1. The latest travel information, deals, guides and reviews from USA TODAY Travel. Cookies, which are files created by websites youve visited, and your browsers cache, which helps pages load faster, make it easier for you to browse the web. ReEntry And PreRelease Program. This link is intended to provide general information about the Department of Corrections Pre Release and Reentry Program. Scout Oath. On my honor I will do my best. To do my duty to God and my countryand to obey the Scout Law To help other people at all times To keep myself physically strong,mentally awake, and morally straight. Scout Law A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Boy Scouts salute during the playing of the national anthem as part of the Scouts Citizen of the Year award reception and dinner in Washington, D. C., November 1. 5, 2. In reciting the Scout Oath, Scouts promise to do their duty to God and to be morally straight the Scout Law holds that a Scout is clean and reverent. As early as 1. 97. Boy Scouts of America circulated a memorandum among national executive staff stating that it was not appropriate for homosexuals to hold leadership positions in BSA. Similarly, since at least 1. BSA has interpreted the Scout Oath and Law as being incompatible with agnosticism and atheism. In both instances, the organization asserted that it was not a new policy to oppose and disfavor atheism, agnosticism and homosexuality, but rather, it was just enforcing long held policies which had never been published or publicly challenged. Program differenceseditThe Boy Scouts of America makes a division between its Scouting programs and the Learning for Life program. The traditional Scouting programs are Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. Exploring is the worksite based program of Learning for Life. Leadership positions and membership in the Learning for Life programs are open to youth and adults without restriction based on gender, sexual orientation, atheism or agnosticism. The controversial policies which restrict membership apply only to the Scouting programs. Position on religious beliefeditThe Boy Scouts of Americas official position is that atheists and agnostics cannot participate as Scouts or adult Scout Leaders in its traditional Scouting programs. Spirituality has been an integral part of the international Scouting movement since its inception. How To Patch A Pebble Tec Pool'>How To Patch A Pebble Tec Pool. As early as 1. 90. Scouting founder Robert Baden Powell wrote in the first Scout handbook that, No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law. The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. The BSA believes that atheists and agnostics are not appropriate role models of the Scout Oath and Law for boys, and thus will not accept such persons as members or adult leaders. The Bylaws of the BSA contain a non sectarian Declaration of Religious Principle which all Scouts are required to subscribe to as part of the membership application process. The Declaration of Religious Principle was adopted in the first decade of the organization to assuage the Roman Catholic Churchs worries, in light of the work of the YMCA in establishing Scouting in the United States, that Scouting might be a Protestant proselytizing organization. The BSA does not require adherence to any particular religious beliefs or ethos beyond this. The Boy Scout Handbook goes on to explain that A Scout is Reverent simply means that A Scout is reverent towards God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others. Buddhists, followers of Native American religions, Muslims, Jews, Christians of all denominations, and many others, including those who define their own spirituality, can be and are members of the BSA. The BSA recognizes religious awards for over 3. Islam, Judaism, Bahai, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and 2. Christianity. 1. 8 Boy Scouts of Americaapproved religious emblems exist for a number of religions, while other emblems remain unrecognized by National. Frank Marino Strange Universe Rar on this page. The Secular Coalition for America has urged Congress to revoke the federal charter of the BSA, stating Our government must not entangle itself in religious organizations nor should it establish, with government imprimatur, a private religious club. Vairamuthu Books Pdf. Position on gendereditIn 1. Boy Scouts of Americas den mother position was changed to den leader and opened to males and females. In 1. 96. 9, the Boy Scouts of America opened special interest posts to young women to be associate members. Two years later, the Boy Scouts of America decided to allow any Explorer post to accept young women andor young men, based on the desires of the chartered organization, and many Explorer posts became co educational. In 1. 99. 8, the Exploring program was completely reorganized and split into two program categories, which both accept women and men. All the career oriented posts were moved to Learning for Life under the name Exploring, while the rest including outdoor oriented posts became the new Venturing program.