Cue the wrathful Christians. Certain large Christian groups have already announced the end of their affiliation with the BSA. They are cutting funding, and actively encouraging to pull their children out of the Scouts. Apparently these people haven’t got a single clue what a Christian is supposed to be. Christians aren’t dosed to judge, they’re supposed to forgive.
The BSA has made the right call. In an organization which promotes respect and equality, it was becoming increasingly hard to justify a policy of exclusion. Particularly one based on a set of standards which are no longer as widely held as they once were. No matter how strong your belief, it doesn’t give you the right to attempt to coerce others to follow them. That’s exactly what some allegedly Christian organizations tried to do. For years they “encouraged” the Scouts to reject any boy who didn’t live a lie. Now that the BSA has decided to favor inclusiveness over bigotry, the bigots have gone from coercion to punishment. Who knows how many youth will never get to experience the joys of Scouting because some people want to play God and judge when God has reserved that right for His Son.
Frankly, my God is going to be more likely to judge someone who let’s their own petty prejudices hurt a child than they are a gay child. If you or your organization believe that a belief, any belief, is more important than the happiness and social development of a child, you have my pity. If anybody is going to be judged, I bet it’s not the Scouts. I bet it’s the groups that want to exclude and punish kids for not living the way you want them to.
Personally, I’m thrilled the Boy Scouts of America has lifted it’s ban on gay kids. Now let’s work on the ban on gay troop leaders. One step at a time means every step is important.
Cheers, Winston
Brain Bits To Go 