Boy Scouts Sue Philly to Stay in HQ
Posted on May 27, 2008
What times we live in when a city government has nothing better to do than to kick the Boy Scouts out of their headquarters for standing by their principles. Nice to see the Boy Scouts continue to fight for their principles, and not let the big, bad government run over them.
The Boy Scouts of America’s Philadelphia chapter has sued the City of Philadelphia in federal court to block the city’s May 31 deadline for the scouts to open membership to gays and atheists, or vacate their historic 1928 headquarters off Logan Square. The civil rights lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Center City, contends that the city’s ultimatum violates the scouts’ rights under the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions.
“The City has imposed an unconstitutional condition upon Cradle of Liberty’s receipt of a benefit that Cradle of Liberty has enjoyed for nearly eight decades, and that many other organizations that limit members or services to members of a particular group continue to enjoy without punishment or the threat of punishment,” the scouts’ lawsuit reads.
City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith said the city would respond to the federal lawsuit and would likely file an eviction motion next week.
In the meantime, Smith added, the beginning of litigation would preserve the status quo pending a court ruling. Until that ruling occurs, Smith said, the scouts will be able to continue using the headquarters building.
The suit asks the court to permanently block city officials from attempting to evict the Scouts from their building, which sits on a half-acre of city land at 22d and Winter Streets.
The Cradle of Liberty Council’s predicament is one that has faced local scouting councils nationwide since a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court case the scouts won.
The national organization appealed the ruling in a suit filed by an openly gay New Jersey scout barred from serving as a troop leader.
Scouts must swear an oath “to God and my country” and to “obey the Scout Law” that includes keeping oneself “physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
So, why doesn’t the city just give the building back to the Boy Scouts instead of make this into a big stink?
Some backstory via Gordon of Six Meat Buffet from the comments:
There is quite a bit of backstory going to the 1930’s. The original deal was that the Boy Scouts would construct the building but it would belong to the City. Philadelphia, in turn would lease it back to the Boy Scouts in perpetuity.
Then, like all good things, the Liberals entered the scene and crapped all over it.
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, ACLU, Boyscouts, News, Stupidity
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13 Responses to “Boy Scouts Sue Philly to Stay in HQ”
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The city of Philadelphia way back when made a deal to rent their headquarters for a dollar a year I believe. From my perspective a deal is a deal. Now Philly wants to back out of the deal. They have added preconditions after the fact. Keep in mind that the Boy Scouts is a private organization. They have had the same rules since they drew their first organizational breath. Now the PC crowd wants to change it.
To bar participation based on religious beliefs means that you should not receive funding from the city, state, or federal government. This city is doing the only moral thing, considering that they are under the umbrella of the Constitution.
Perhaps you are familiar with The Bill of Rights?
Bahhh! The City is backing out of the deal they had before. They made the deal knowing full well the Boy Scouts’ morals. They are not funding the Boy Scouts, but trying to gouge them now.
The city won’t give it back because government doesn’t give ANYTHING away to anyone.
It’s an interesting lawsuit, because if the city does allow other groups to use the building who do not allow every single person to join the group, then they clearly have a legitimate case.
However, the lesson here is clear: government is the enemy and not a friend to anyone.
Indeed, Ogre. You nailed it.
There is quite a bit of backstory going to the 1930’s. The original deal was that the Boy Scouts would construct the building but it would belong to the City. Philadelphia, in turn would lease it back to the Boy Scouts in perpetuity.
Then, like all good things, the Liberals entered the scene and crapped all over it.
Whenever a group or church enters into a “marriage” or union with the state – that group or church will always be made the whore.
The warlords running the City of Philadelphia are corrupt…plain and simple.
Its time to recall them from office.
There are many groups and associations that have limitations on their membership yet enjoy government benefits. There are churches that do not pay property tax but actively ban “sinners” and the NAACP limits its membership and goodwill to people of color. It is not fair the City of Philadelphia is picking on the Scouts. This is a group that works on the blood sweat and tears of volunteers trying hard to instill a moral compass and community activism into the young man of the community. Alcoholic’s Anonymous, a group that gets more than its share of free space from the city, requires its members to believe in a higher authority. In a time when a major news program regularly runs episodes titled “To Catch A Predator,” why is it that the Boy Scouts cannot require its members to be morally straight?
GO SCOUTS!!! Does that leave any doubt as to which way I come down on this? Good!
L,
Actually, Alcoholics Anonymous doesn’t require belief in a God or a spiritual deity. Instead, it says that you have to understand that you are out of control, and release your grasp over to a “higher power”. However, many AA texts note that the higher power could be as simple as a door knob. It doesn’t indicate a God, although many choose to take it that way.
My father is a devote atheist, and has been clean and sober using NA an AA for over twenty-five years.
The larger issue here is the Scout’s insistence that they are allowed to exclude homosexuals and atheists. The only reason for this exclusion is the continuous reliance upon the Bible. Therefore, the government would violate the separation of church and state if it was to give funding to them.
I understand that the city previously decided to enter an agreement with the scouts, but ultimately our Constitution and the evolving moral compass of our society must supersede a business deal made decades ago.
Scientific evidence has shown, time and time again, that homosexuality seems to have innate or prenatal determinates. It is abominable to discriminate against these people based on an intrinsic trait.
If in the 1930s a town had agreed to rent a building to the KKK, I think there would be a public outcry if the city chose NOT to end the lease. The KKK, and every other institution that is entrenched in the oppression of civil rights, has to be disassimilated.
The bottom line is that the government MUST NOT incorporate religion into the funded operations paid for through taxes paid by citizens. Religion is always the last front of the oppression of civil rights. In any given Boy Scouts Troop there are young boys who will grow up to be homosexuals. To preach a message of hate and intolerance, based on an ancient text with little current-day relevance, is in complete contradiction of our countries goals and foundations.
Oh what misconceptions…
The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution states in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” The Boy Scouts (BSA) are not establishing religion…the Scout Oath and Law are not based upon The Bible…They are based upon natural law. Any boy of any religion that believes in a higher power can be a Boy Scout. For a list of religions that sponsor a religious recognition program in the BSA visit http://www.praypub.org/main_frameset.htm You will see plenty of religions that are not founded on The Bible.
Second, BSA’s positions on atheist and homosexuals being members of their organization date back to the beginning of the organization…long before Philadelphia rented the land to the Cradle of Liberty Council.
Third, what we have here, according to my research, is a group of homosexuals in the Philadelphia City Government who are trying to force the BSA to change. This is a matter of public record.
Lastly, because the BSA does not believe sticking your private parts up someone else’s backside is part of the natural order, they believe, apparently, that the violates the eleventh point of the Scout Law. (Atheist violate the first part of the Scout Oath and the twelfth point of the Scout Law.)
My question is…instead of trying to force the BSA to change, why don’t these people start their own scouting movement?
To force a scout to believe in any religion at all is in violation of the first amendment…
Chip, nor anyone else has said anything about scouts or any person being “forced” to believe in any religion.
As for your gibberish that states that homosexuality is “unnatural”… it is practiced widely in the animal kingdom, which is the very definition of natural.
First,it is not practiced widely, and second, many things are practiced in the animal kingdom that society does not find acceptable for what most of us consider higher, intelligent lifeforms. Society frowns on having sex with your parents and other siblings. Some animals kill and devour their young. We haven’t degenerated to the point of eating the young we kill…yet.
Your way of thinking is logical if you accept the premise that there is no fundamental dividing line between man and animals. Now, I know you progressive/Socialist types are twisted and working overtime to improve on that — but we here, don’t accept or buy it.