Thursday January 31, 2013, 12:04 am
Thanks Cal for the link to the article by Katie McDonough. Read and noted.

Thursday January 31, 2013, 12:19 am
It's hard to believe they are so out of touch with the real world.

Thursday January 31, 2013, 12:30 am
what about pulling the "free from tax" for all the churches that do this

Thursday January 31, 2013, 4:43 am
Organizations make decisions all the time, the question is whether the support they received from sponsors that have left is worth more than that of the churches, and will those sponsors return?

Thursday January 31, 2013, 5:07 am
noted, still shaking my head in disbelief!!

Thursday January 31, 2013, 10:25 am
“Churches of all faiths and denominations, including Southern Baptist churches, will be forced to reevaluate whether they can, in good conscience, continue to host Scout troops given that the Scouts appear poised to turn their backs on this clear biblical and moral issue,” Roger Oldham, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention, said."

Amusing that the Southern Baptists presume to speak for all faiths. They are, of course, among the most conservative of all, right up there with the Catholics, but they certainly overstep their bounds with this ridiculous statement. Some will, some won't, so what? Any gap in funding lost from bigots will certainly be made up by organizations who do not now support the Boy Scouts because of their long standing bigotry. I think it is a wash. And I wish the Southern Baptists would fall of the planet, I don't think there is a more bigoted or hateful group in the country than them. They've gotten way more than their 15 minutes and ought be ignored from here on out. We all know they oppose everything that IS truly moral in their deluded idea that only their interpretation of morality is allowed and in their incessant desire to impose it on the rest of us. No go, Roger. Just go away please.

Thursday January 31, 2013, 12:50 pm
These "churches" are filled with haters and discriminators. They are without any spiritual connection of any kind. Boycott them!

Thursday January 31, 2013, 1:24 pm
I attend catholic churches and I never heard a word said about abortion or gays. Then I'll read about some Cardinal in the church who will make a statement concerning either. So, there is a disconnect.
The only contact I had with the southern Baptists was when I lived in Atlanta for 10 years and they hate anyone who isn't part of their church and you don't have to be gay.

Thursday January 31, 2013, 1:31 pm
And none of there priests or clergy have never been gay

Thursday January 31, 2013, 2:43 pm
..they in a big muddle and a big mess hey..

Thursday January 31, 2013, 4:18 pm
Unless there is grassroots overhaul of the Boy Scouts, WITH a contribution, the scouts will have a difficult time in order to survive.
I would love to see the Church lose this battle. Growing up, it was clear that Jewish kids were not in the Scouts. With all the prestige becoming an Eagle Scout brought, it was only for the select. I hate to admit it, but, it's true. At about 15 years old, when I was old enough to understand, I saw the Scouts similar to Nazi Youth. Not in action, but in being able to sign on.

Thursday January 31, 2013, 6:26 pm
Allan Yorkowitz,

Jewish kids were not in the scouts? WOW! What an amazing revelation. MY BROTHER WASN'T JEWISH! I wonder how he grew up to be a reverent Jew.

Thursday January 31, 2013, 7:47 pm
So homophobic that it is sickening

Thursday January 31, 2013, 8:56 pm
Bloody wrong

Friday February 1, 2013, 5:01 am
ty

Friday February 1, 2013, 1:46 pm
Time to get new sponsors and veer away..far far away from the hypocrites..

Friday February 1, 2013, 2:28 pm
Wow... I knew that churches were conservative hypocrites, but this takes the cake.

Friday February 1, 2013, 7:29 pm
I would say....good....and the churches need to stop having tax-exempt status when they can't treat everyone in our country as equals and demand such political power.......

Friday February 1, 2013, 9:55 pm
They have a right to their beliefs and to stand behind those beliefs. It would be hypocritical not to.

Friday February 1, 2013, 10:38 pm
Yes jo, they do have a right to their beliefs. But their BELIEFS are hypocritical. As far as I know, Jesus NEVER turned away or ignored or banned ANYONE from participating in activities with him based on their beliefs or job or way of life (and I'm sure there were "outcasts" back then, too).

Friday February 1, 2013, 11:47 pm
Yes, Deanna, Jesus was willing to accept all ( though He did have a particular distaste for religious hypocrites) and to give His life for all. I don't think that extended to leadership roles for people actively engaged in unacceptable behavior. So the church would be remiss in supporting anyone, straight or not, who persisted in engaging in immoral behavior. Now that might be where their beliefs might be hypocritical, if they assumed only homosexuals to be immoral and paid no attention to any immorality by straights.

Saturday February 2, 2013, 12:04 am
"...many conservative and religious leaders are angry about what they see as the organization abandoning its long-standing commitment to biblical principles. ..."

Well if banning gays is a Christian principle, then I'll eat my shorts! Christian principles embrace compassion, love, inclusiveness, not hote and exclusiveness. These rightwing fanatical Christians, or pseudo Christians, are about as far away from Christian teaching as a hawk is from the moon.

"...It wont be because of ‘fear’ as some ridiculously suggest. I simply don’t approve of the lifestyle,” wrote one parent ..."

And when will people get it through their thick skulls that this is not a lifestyle choice. Being LGBT is the way the Creator made some paople. It is not a learned behaviour. Further, it is an emotional orientation, not a sexual orientation, no different than being heterosexual is an emotional orientation. I have to tell you, this fanatical rightwing Christian BS has me piqued this evening.

Saturday February 2, 2013, 12:53 pm
Big surprise to see churches aligning with hate. I'm 100% with those comments above who want churches to be taxed. How do these people call themselves "Christian"?!

Saturday February 2, 2013, 6:50 pm
doesn't the bible say "not to judge others". Sad

Saturday February 2, 2013, 8:27 pm
Jo, You present an interesting case. Far too complicated to debate here, I'm afraid (or maybe I'm just not up to it right now). But it's a different angle than I think I've heard before.

Sunday February 3, 2013, 9:23 am
Jo? "Now that might be where their beliefs might be hypocritical, if they assumed only homosexuals to be immoral and paid no attention to any immorality by straights."

Jesus did tell each, well, according to words written by others at the earliest a century after he died and after those words had been further manipulated by the Council of Nicea, those who came to him, to go and sin no more (we have a personal understanding of that, he and I as under some ideas of creation sin is not possible, only choices are) and condemned no one. I don't know that he put anyone in charge of anything other than the 12 disciples he chose, and there is considerable debate about at least one of them having been a woman, but he did not create christianity, nor ANY church, nor any rules for any church. He simply spoke his own truth as he understood it. That I agree with. The southern baptists aren't just against gays, they were the main reason for the Civil Rights movement led by Dr. King, the main driving force behind institutional racism, separate but equal and Jim Crow laws. For these, and other transgressions against humanity, I personally hold them responsible in my moral system they are not nice people. This just is further evidence of that, for me.

Sunday February 3, 2013, 4:37 pm
The Boy Scouts is associated with a certain sector of the population, it is a private organization. I think they should be left alone. If you want an openly gay scouting organization, go start one of your own! If you have a problem with them, too bad, it is none of your business! Stop trying to make everyone be like what you want. What is next, the thought police?

Sunday February 3, 2013, 7:16 pm
Cris, Nobody is advocating for an openly gay scouting organization. We are advocating for equal access for all. Period. It''s such a shame that people like you, who object to equality, still exist.

Sunday February 3, 2013, 10:38 pm
The ultimate hypocrisy would be the Catholic church supporting this effort...

Monday February 4, 2013, 3:55 am
The scouting movement should demand that the American Boy Scouts drop the words boy scouts from their name.They are a disgrace to Baden Powell and the ethos of the Scouts.

Tuesday February 5, 2013, 11:25 am
Well, if that's how the churches feel, I'll start making donations myself!

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 5:02 am
In the middle ages we had the witches, nowadays we have gays. There's always someone to hate. persecute and kill. So so sad, and so shameful to see we haven't learned anything in centuries.

Wednesday May 1, 2013, 1:04 pm
Personally, I oppose the new proposal that the Boy Scouts of America should revoke the longstanding policy on homosexuality. An organization that teaches character, courage, and conviction shouldn't be exploited as a laboratory for sexualized political correctness. For decades, the BSA has kept the interest of the boys it serves as the focus of all its actions. No matter what, the Boy Scouts of America could be counted upon to do the right thing and not yield to any social or corporate pressure, and has thus far stood strong.

Parents should be able to entrust their sons to the organization with the confidence that they will not be exposed to inappropriate sexual topics such as homosexuality. The BSA should retain the current long-held and time-tested policy regarding homosexual leadership and membership.

Jesus does not want this to happen to our nation! Why do you call this "hatred" and "homophobia" when it is really standing strong in faith? It's like kids at school. If you don't do wrong stuff at all the time they call you a "teacher's pet" or a "goody two-shoes". It's the same principle, except on a larger scale.