have you ever heard of a case in which a non-christian child was removed from cub/boy/girl scouts?

Question

simply because of their religion?

if so, please direct me towards any site that can reference the case. this is for a very important document i am preparing.

Answer 1

I am a Cubmaster in the Hiawathaland Council, I have never personally heard of a Scout being removed from any program, but that's not to say it has never happened. If any Unit Leader ever tried such a stunt, one could only hope the Council leadership removed them from their post.

I myself am a Humanitarian Agnostic, but my personal beliefs have never affected the way I run my program, because the program is not for me, it is for the boys.

My most recent Webelos II Den was composed of Catholics, Lutherans, a Wiccan, an atheist, and a Greek Orthodox alter boy. To appease the parents of the atheist, I never forced the oaths of the Cub Scouting program on the boy, I merely had the boy prove that he could remember them. The only religious conflict I have ever had in a meeting was the alter-boy, who at the age of 9 was telling all the 6 year olds that there was no Santa.

We must also remember that Cub Scouts, generally aged 5 to 11, are not really atheists, agnostics, or Wiccan...their parents are. I would kick a parent out of a meeting if they went into preach mode, or if they started denouncing any Cub for their beliefs, but never the child. Cub Scouting is about the child, anybody who forgets that should turn in their uniform

Answer 2

You can start here: http://www.religioustolerance.org/bsa.htm

From what I understood (as an insider in the Scouts) is that the most visible cases were set ups. Most involved atheists, but I believe there may have been one with a Wiccan in there somewhere.

What is odd is that the Scouts do not ask about religious preference, and unless the family makes a big deal of it, there is not really a mechanism for the local unit to do much about it. For that matter, there is no way a unit leader can kick a person out of the Scouts- only out of a unit.

So, what needs to happen is a family or unit needs to make a stink big enough to attract the attention of the local Scout office, and then the local office- who is strongly motivated to keep the membership numbers and moneys high- has to decide that it is in their best interest to discharge the Scout.

I have never seen this even BEGIN to happen in our location- I know our units had members who were actively antagonistic to organized religion but who were allowed to belong as long as they wished with no problems- not even the least harrassment.

One of the big unspoken secrets of the Scouts is that the average family considers itself 'religious' only in a very superficial sense- more 'untheistic' than anything else- no church attendence or Bible study, no real praying other than maybe token graces, etc. Sure, they SAY they are relgious when it is socially appropriate to say such, but otherwise- the average Scout or leader just does not think about this much.

Answer 3

I've been involved with BSA for nearly 10 years and have never known of a child being asked to leave a unit because they weren't "Christian."

The Religious Emblem all Scouts can earn and wear on their uniform forever is available for a large number of religions through Pray.org. BSA readily admits that 12 out of every 100 Scouts will have their first contact with a church via Scouts.

So with that information in mind..... unless the unit is chartered by a specific religious organization and their charter dictates every member must be a member of their religion, then most units will accept any child regardless of their religious afiliation or beliefs. My husband's does.

Answer 4

Be more specific...I have heard of many instances in which Boy Scouts have been removed because of this, and unfortunately the BSUSA has won most court cases.

I have NEVER heard of a Girl Scout being removed for this. There are very specific "Diversity Trainings" within my council that absolutely DO NOT tolerate this and, in fact teach uninformed leaders to be "tolerant".

I am very sorry to hear of your unfortunate encounter with intolerant people keeping you child away from a very valuable lifetime hobby.

Answer 5

The only religion they would be able to be removed for is atheism. because they don't beleive in anything. the only requirement is that they are revrent. So as long as they have faith in something or someone they should be able to be a scout.

Hope you gey it straigtened out.
good luck

Answer 6

What document would that be? A contract with Satan? You look like one creepy little bastard, and I sure as Hell wouldn't want any kids near yours.