Priest: Boy Scouts should keep gays out; Killer Carhart kills mom, baby

Regarding the brouhaha over the Boy Scouts possibly accepting leaders who identify as gay or lesbian, I've asked Father Richard Perozich, a priest of the Diocese of San Diego, for his take on the matter. Father's comments are as follows. (For those who might be wondering, I fully agree with his analysis.)


 



The Boy Scouts of America is an organization that trains boys to become mature adult men. It is open only to boys who wish to live by its oath and law, which respects God and country and assists others. In this process, it must not only lead boys toward manhood, but also protect them from immoral ideas, philosophies and people. It requires, then, leaders who subscribe to its oath and law and who are mature men and women.The Boy Scouts are under attack by immature people with immoral ideas and behaviors that have gained a foothold in law, education and the culture. One fierce attack comes from practicing or promoting homosexuals. These ideas and behaviors are against God's law. Giving in to the ideas and behaviors will not change them from bad actions to good ones.

It must be acknowledged that boys will struggle against lust in its many forms, but a good scout will not identify himself with his temptations simply to end the struggle and justify immoral behavior. With the help of moral leaders, he will be brought to embrace a struggle as one of the many growth issues in life.

Sexuality is a great and sacred gift. A man needs to learn how to relate to men at all times as a man in chaste behavior, and to women in the same way. The expression of physical love belongs only in marriage between a man and a woman. Pornography, fornication, prostitution, masturbation, homosexuality and adultery have no place in religion nor in society – and certainly not in scouting.
I believe there is room in scouting for any boy committed to personal growth in all aspects of his life according to the scout oath and law. Yet if a scout identifies himself by his temptations, he is not engaging the program. He scandalizes other scouts and encourages them to abandon the moral life. Such a scout would need special guidance, and the other scouts would need protection from him, particularly if he sees other boys as potential sex partners.

Adults who reject chastity and who self-identify as gay or lesbian should not be Boy Scout leaders.

Leaders in politics, business and science need to stand up to the radical homosexuals who are attempting to undermine scouting and tell them to keep their passions in check; to 'come out' – not to identify as gay or lesbian, mind you, but to come out of homosexuality. Leaders should not give in to the demands of the homosexual lobby and its sympathizers.

By Matt C. Abbott