Congress's $3.5 million "bake sale" for the Boy Scouts

[ensho]

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3306.shtml


All right, it isn't actually a bake sale, but it might as well be. On May 15, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5872, an act "To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes." The other purposes? The sale of the coins by the Secretary of the Treasury, with a surcharge on each coin sold to "be paid to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation." In other words, this is a congressionally mandated fundraiser for the Boy Scouts.

With the act allowing for up to 350,000 of these coin to be issued and fixing the surcharge at $10 per coin, the Boy Scouts could receive as much as $3.5 million from their sale. Never before, in the long history of U.S. government issued commemorative coins, has this benefit been granted to an organization that promotes religion or discriminates based on religion.

-snip-

The unconstitutionality of issuing a commemorative coin for the Boy Scouts

This should be obvious, but apparently it isn't to the overwhelming majority in our House of Representatives, who just passed H.R. 5872 by a vote of 403 to 8. (Kudos to Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Pete Stark (D-CA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) -- the eight who voted no.)

While much has been written about the disputes and court cases resulting from establishment clause issues raised by government support of the Boy Scouts, the organization's actual statements and policies are usually only vaguely described or briefly quoted. To leave no doubt as to why Congress, without question, should be prohibited from passing legislation to raise money for this organization, here are some of the statements and policies from official Boy Scout publications and websites.

First, there's the "Declaration of Religious Principle," found in the organization's bylaws. This declaration must be subscribed to by every member of the Boy Scouts, from the youngest Scout to the adult leaders, volunteers, and employees.

-snip-

Youth and Adult Volunteers:

"Boy Scouts of America believes that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. Accordingly, youth members and adult volunteer leaders of Boy Scouts of America obligate themselves to do their duty to God and be reverent as embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Leaders also must subscribe to the Declaration of Religious Principle. Because of its views concerning the duty to God, Boy Scouts of America believes that an atheist or agnostic is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law for adolescent boys. Because of Scouting’s methods and beliefs, Scouting does not accept atheists and agnostics as members or adult volunteer leaders."

Employment:

"With respect to positions limited to professional Scouters or, because of their close relationship to the mission of Scouting, positions limited to registered members of the Boy Scouts of America, acceptance of the Declaration of Religious Principle, the Scout Oath, and the Scout Law is required. Accordingly, in the exercise of their constitutional right to bring the values of Scouting to youth members, the Boy Scouts of America will not employ atheists, agnostics, known or avowed homosexuals, or others as professional Scouters or in other capacities in which such employment would tend to interfere with the mission of reinforcing the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in young people."

And, according to BSALegal.org, a website "created on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America to inform the public about the legal issues that confront Scouting," religious beliefs and activities are required for every level of advancement from Cub Scouts through Eagle Scouts.

-snip-

This is absolutely correct. A private organization can have whatever beliefs and religious requirements it chooses to. That's their constitutional right. But Congress can absolutely not financially aid the Boy Scouts in the promotion of their beliefs and enforcement of their religious requirements by legislating a fundraiser for them!
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plus the boy scouts is a pedophiles paradise

[noonwitch]

1. When you have to choose your battles, is this one worth fighting?

I don't have a problem with a coin that commemorates Boy Scouts. I don't agree with all of their policies, especially as pertains to gays, but they have been an important organization to a lot of boys and young men over the years.

I also don't see the "anti-Boy Scout" side winning this one, and you know that's how they will be portrayed. It would be a lot of resources spent in a fruitless battle.

I just hope that Girl Scouts will get a coin. There is absolutely nothing about GS that I object to.

[ensho]

2. that will be a day when the girl scouts get a coin - don't hold your breath

nt

[w4rma]

3. Yes. This is a waste of tax money in addition to being unconstitutional (nt)

[LynneSin]

6. I have to agreen with you noonwitch

For all that is wrong with the Boy Scouts, I know that scouting was a positive affect for both my brother and me when we were growing up. I might even get a coin for my brother for Xmas - he was an eagle scout.

[jaxx]

4. The flip side will read

Bigotry R Us

[ColbertWatcher]

5. "...plus the boy scouts is a pedophiles paradise"

[heidler1]

7. Does the (FLDS) Church membership qualify one to be a Scout?

What if their Father practiced old testament polygamy?