The Grand Rapids Press

Federal friends for the Boy Scouts

Friday, May 06, 2005

The Boy Scouts of America, accustomed to teaching boys to support others, is itself in need of a helping hand. Congress ought to provide it, soon and wholeheartedly.

The alternative is to see the Boy Scouts become increasingly confined and marginalized by the attacks of the American Civil Liberties Union and similar organizations. For countless boys, that means lost opportunities for the teaching, character building and clean enjoyment that the Boy Scouts has provided for a century.

The main challenge to the Boy Scouts is in the form of an ACLU lawsuit aimed at the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. The suit contends that government support for the Boy Scouts is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, citing the Boy Scout Oath's reference to God: "On my honor, I will do my best, To do my duty to God and country . . ."

The objection is despite well over two centuries of similar or greater recognitions of God in official American life, ranging from the Declaration of Independence to the present-day openings of Supreme Court sessions and those of Congress. The Boy Scouts' part in that tradition is hardly unAmerican.

The suit, nevertheless, is achieving at least part of its purpose. The Pentagon last fall agreed to end military posts' direct sponsorship of Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops. Still uncertain is whether the Scouts will be able to continue their 25-year tradition of using the Army's Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia for national Boy Scout Jamborees.

More broadly, the ACLU suit and similar anti-Boy Scout legal actions have frightened government bodies at all levels and emboldened Scout opponents. In Michigan, the Mount Pleasant Board of Education is in its fifth year of fighting a lawsuit brought by an atheist parent and ACLU leader who objects to the Boy Scouts hanging posters and giving presentations in the schools. Elsewhere in the country, Scouts have been excluded from municipal parks, marinas, buildings and other facilities by lawsuits or the fear of them.

The legal attack in Mount Pleasant so far has been turned back, through two court decisions. But the costs and controversy surrounding these battles and threats of them are intimidating on their own.

In defense of the Boy Scouts, each house of Congress now has a bill affirming that no federal law limits access of the Boy Scouts and other youth organizations to federal facilities. Scout groups would be protected against discrimination by local and state governments as well.

The Senate bill has 31 bipartisan co-sponsors; the House's has 69. Neither of Michigan's senators, Democrats Carl Levin or Debbie Stabenow, is a co-sponsor. Only one Michigan House member, Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, so far has signed on. The others should join Mr. Upton and should do all they can to support the Boy Scouts and the Scout tradition of helping boys to mature as citizens and as young men of good character. The country needs the Boy Scouts, likely more these days than in times past. But right now, boys and the Boy Scouts need the aid of the country and, very specifically, of the Congress.

© 2005 Grand Rapids Press. Used with permission

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