On this page we will answer the questions most frequently asked about Boy Scouts' legal issues, from its views and policies to individual cases.  In the coming days we will add new sections dealing with current and past cases.

Q.  Can an individual who states that he does not believe in God be a volunteer Scout leader or member?

A.  No. The Scout Oath represents the basic values of Scouting, and it addresses the issue of “duty to God” before duty to country, others, and self.


Q.  Why is duty to God important to Scouting?

A.  Since its founding in the United States in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had an ongoing commitment to encouraging moral, ethical and spiritual growth. The Boy Scouts of America believes that the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to Boy Scouts’ goals.

Q.  What harm would come of admitting young people who are unwilling to do their duty to God?

A.  The Scout Oath and Law have served as the foundation of Scouting for 94 years. It would be a disservice to over five million youth and adult members of Scouting to allow members to pick and choose among the elements of the Oath or Law.

Q.  How does the Boy Scouts of America define religion?

A.  Boy Scouts of America is not a religion; it is a nonsectarian association of persons who believe in God.  The Declaration of Religious Principle describes God in a broadly interfaith way as “the ruling and leading power in the universe” to whom we are grateful for “favors and blessings.” 

Q.  What religions are involved with Scouting?

A.  Virtually every religion is represented in the Boy Scouts of America, from Catholics and Protestants, to the Armenian Church of America and Zoroastrians.  The Religious Relationships Committee, which includes over 30 religious groups represented in Scouting, determines whether a religion is an appropriate partner for Scouting, and reviews any “duty to God” material which is to be used in Scouting for consistency with Boy Scout policies. 

Q.  What allows the Boy Scouts of America to exclude atheists and agnostics from membership?

A.  The Boy Scouts of America is a private membership group. As with any private organization, Boy Scouts’ retains the constitutional right to establish and maintain standards for membership. Anyone who supports the values of Scouting and meets these standards is welcome to join the organization.


Q.  Don't Boy Scouts discriminate against gays and atheists?

A.  No.  The Boy Scouts of America is a private membership organization; leadership in Boy Scouting is a privilege and not a right.  Boy Scouts believes that homosexual conduct is not compatible with the aims and purposes of Scouting and that a known or avowed homosexual does not present a desirable role model for the youth in the Scouting program.  Boy Scouts will continue to select only those who meet Boy Scout standards and qualifications for membership.


Q.  What does “known or avowed” mean?

A.  “Known” is what is known about you. “Avowed” is what you say about yourself.  “Known” focuses on cases where someone has engaged in conduct in the community which makes it clear that he or she engages in homosexual conduct.  The major cases, however, have been those in which open or “avowed” homosexuals have come forward to test the policy. 

Q.  Why is the leadership role so important to Scouting?

A.  The responsibility for instilling Scouting values and beliefs is entrusted to adult volunteer leaders.  One of the most important methods of Scouting is adult association, because association with adults of high character is critical to a boy’s development.  Scouting’s program for instilling values in young people teaches through both principles and concrete examples of adult leaders.  Adult volunteer leaders not only espouse Scouting’s values and beliefs, but more importantly they embody them as role models to Scouting youth.  Through teaching, counseling, and role modeling, adult leaders play a critical role in transmitting Scouting values and beliefs to the boys.  A boy may spend more time with his Scoutmaster, on weekend campouts and other small-group activities away from home, than he spends with his own father.

Q.  Why don’t you allow each individual chartered organization to decide on whether an individual homosexual is a suitable leader or not?

A.  Boy Scouts believes it is important to have national uniformity of values. Troops from all over get together at camporees on a district and council level, and once every four years at the national Jamboree. Few youth organizations can claim that sort of national identity.

Q.  May a group of individuals who openly profess to be homosexuals obtain a unit charter?

A.  No.  The ability to charter a Cub Scout Pack or Boy Scout Troop is a privilege and not a right.  Boy Scouts of America reserves the right to grant or withhold charters upon the basis of the aims and purposes of the Scouting program.

Q.  Is Boy Scouts implying that homosexuals do not have good moral or emotional character? What about other types of sexual immorality?

A.  Boy Scouts regards homosexual conduct as not morally straight as required in the Scout Oath. Morally straight is a broad term which includes all types of moral behavior.  There are many persons who may be unsuitable role models of the Oath and Law for adolescent boys.

Q.  Why can’t girls participate in Cub and Boy Scouting?

A.  The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were designed to meet the emotional, psychological, physical and other needs of boys at various stages of their development. Boys in this age range seek out and enjoy group activities with other boys. These programs were developed after careful professional consideration. The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other female youth organizations have developed programs designed to meet the needs of young girls. The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization, and as such, determines it’s own membership standards.

Q.  Is the Boy Scouts of America discriminating against girls?

A.  Of course not.  Older girls may join Venturing.  In the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs, Boy Scouts of America is simply providing a program designed for young boys, just as the Girl Scout program is designed for young girls.

Q.  Why did the Boy Scouts of America open all of the volunteer ranks to women?

A.  Women have been an essential aspect of Boy Scouts’ leadership for many years.  In order to provide male role models for boys, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster positions had been limited to men, but in 1988 those volunteer positions were opened to women as well.  Today over 400,000 women serve as registered volunteers in all levels of Scouting.

Q.  Why allow women in Scouting and not girls?

A.  Women serve in the full range of leadership positions in the Boy Scouts.  The youth programs of Cub Scout and Boy Scout focus on the needs of boys because that is the most effective way of instilling values in boys, just as other organizations such as the Girl Scouts focus on instilling values in girls.