Comments on: Boy Scouts Lawsuit Opens Secret Files

Released To Attorney Representing Brothers In Sex Abuse Suit Against Scouts & Former Troop Leader

[nhrr43]

BSA''s annual report states that in 2006 there were 1,129,951 registered Scout leaders. According to the plaintiffs'' attorney, from 1991-2005 there were 2,500 people considered unfit to be leaders by BSA, averaging 167 per year. Annually, 167 out of 1,129,951 represent less than 2/10 of 1% of the total adult leadership. No amount of child abuse is acceptable, but for the size of the BSA this is a very small number, and more representative than the comments made in the story. This number also includes leaders who were asked to leave for other reasons.

It would be interesting to know if these files contained both names of leaders removed from the BSA, as well as those who applied to become leaders, but were not allowed to participate. The rise in numbers in more recent years probably results from BSA''s background check program more than an epidemic of abuse by existing leaders. It would make sense to keep applications on file so that rejected applicants couldn''t try to apply elsewhere.

Adult leaders in the BSA are very aware of the requirements for youth protection. Training is required for new leaders, and must be refreshed annually. Leaders are also not allowed to drink at scouting events, or to use tobacco in view of the boys. A leader application also requires that you provide personal references, ss# and drivers license.

It would be nice if CBS balanced this story with a review of all of the good things that Scouting does throughout the country (and the world).

[klingon69]

Men = Dogs

I was a Mommy Den Leader for years and we loved it.

Mom''''s don''''t DO this sota stuff.

What is wrong with men these days?

Too much porno, viagra, liquor, drugs?

EH?


Posted by Dana417 at 09:00 PM : Aug 28, 2007
hmmm, how about the women teachers molesting their male students???
Of course I understand that your entire understanding of the world must come from those afternoon talk shows like Oprah and the other bash the mne shows. Speaking as a man, I have never molested any child, male or female. The idea is sickening. But, to keep you happy, then bash the men.

[eagle-1976]

Ceebo6817 - I in no way suggest that we abandon due process, I''m simply pointing out that the boy scouts are already doing as much as they can to address the problem by rejecting anyone even suspected of abuse from participating in the organization. This is not a criminal trial, this is not a ''jail term'', this is a "we don''t trust you and don''t want you around our boys" policy. Yes, I think this policy for a private organization is a good one, others should use it as well. No, I don''t think we should use it for law or any government entity - that is where the innocent until proven guilty should be.

This ''turning over of records'' that has been required of the Boy Scouts can easily turn into a modern-day witch hunt as many of these names listed are simply those of the accused and many may well be completely innocent of any wrong. If that list ever becomes public record, then you will see a loss of due process - those named will be considered guilty by the public immediately.

[smasterb]

bradosol

That Baden Powell must have been a moron... oops I%u2019m sorry he was British wasn''t he.

Is this more tolerance from a contemporary European?

[smasterb]

bradosol

That Baden Powell must have been a moron... oops I%u2019m sorry he was British wasn''t he.

Is this more tolerance from a contemporary European?

[chrisfrenzy]

Ceebo, we''ve already forgotten about due process. It''s called the Patriot Act.

[bradosol]

"jetlizhan"

I''m not surprised your boy thought being a Scout was ''silly''. I sympathise with him.

Over here in Britain - where the name ''Boy Scouts'' was dropped years since - the usual media portrayal of Scouts is of lads wearing big hats and carrying staves (both discontinued decades ago), led by incompetent idiots (far from the truth - mostly!) - whose main aim is to get as many badges as possible on their shirt. I don''t know if you have the same images in the U.S.

My two sons were lucky in the Scout Troop they joined. They stuck with Scouting to the bitter end (around the age of 20), by which time they were competing with (and beating) army units in cross-country orienteering, canoeing, abseiling, rock-climbing and spending winter nights under the stars without tents in the Welsh mountains.

Their Scout leader encouraged initiative even when it broke the ''rules'' and was much keener on them learning self-reliance and independence than getting badges. The Scout uniform was an unfortunate encumbrance - and, as for marching and parading - have you ever seen British Scouts trying to march?

Talk about ''rough and tough'' - their only problem, apart from an aversion to showers and baths, was with kids who thought Scouts were soft and wanted to beat them up. It didn''t work.

P.S. They certainly weren''t put off girls - and, strangely, the girls weren''t put off them (once they''d conquered the aversion to showers and baths, of course!)

[ceebo6817]

eagle-1976, are you saying that everyone should fire people based on allegations and no proof? That''s what I got from your post. "activly combats the problem by removing SUSPECTED offenders from the organization appears to be punishing the good guys." "I would challange all organizations to do as good a job as BSA to combat the problem." I agree, lets just make allegations the basis of our law system. From now on lets forget about due process and "innocent until proven guilty" and just send everyone to jail that has someone accuse them of a crime.

[smasterb]

Of course there is abuse in Scouting there is abuse in all organizations and families throughout humanity, to some degree. Is there a high frequency in Scouting? Of course there is it is a target rich environment for pedophiles. Why wouldn%u2019t they be drawn to this organization?
I would ask where the parents of these children that were abused? How about some personal responsibility, or is that tasking too much? I am constantly searching for adults to help with the Troop, to satisfy %u201CTwo-Deep%u201D and %u201CRule of Three %u201C requirements. Most parents want to just drop their kids off for a little cheap baby-sitting. But boy do they scream and point the finger at someone else when something isn%u2019t the way they would like it.
It never ceases to amaze me how the same people who will say the BSA has no right to set its own moral standards will be the first ones to accuse the BSA of not following procedures. I put in excess of 50 hours a week into Scouting (I%u2019m a volunteer) and there is always work left undone. Here is an idea. Turn of your computer and go and actually find out what Scouting is all about by getting involved, and making a difference in a young mans life. With all the moral straight arrows out there passing judgment we could eliminate the abuse with more watchful eyes.
Scouting silly? Sure it is if you are childish and have no first hand knowledge of the program.

[smasterb]

Of course there is abuse in Scouting there is abuse in all organizations and families throughout humanity, to some degree. Is there a high frequency in Scouting? Of course there is it is a target rich environment for pedophiles. Why wouldn%u2019t they be drawn to this organization?
I would ask where the parents of these children that were abused? How about some personal responsibility, or is that tasking too much? I am constantly searching for adults to help with the Troop, to satisfy %u201CTwo-Deep%u201D and %u201CRule of Three %u201C requirements. Most parents want to just drop their kids off for a little cheap baby-sitting. But boy do they scream and point the finger at someone else when something isn%u2019t the way they would like it.
It never ceases to amaze me how the same people who will say the BSA has no right to set its own moral standards will be the first ones to accuse the BSA of not following procedures. I put in excess of 50 hours a week into Scouting (I%u2019m a volunteer) and there is always work left undone. Here is an idea. Turn of your computer and go and actually find out what Scouting is all about by getting involved, and making a difference in a young mans life. With all the moral straight arrows out there passing judgment we could eliminate the abuse with more watchful eyes.
Scouting silly? Sure it is if you are childish and have no first hand knowledge of the program.

[smasterb]

Of course there is abuse in Scouting there is abuse in all organizations and families throughout humanity, to some degree. Is there a high frequency in Scouting? Of course there is it is a target rich environment for pedophiles. Why wouldn%u2019t they be drawn to this organization?
I would ask where the parents of these children that were abused? How about some personal responsibility, or is that tasking too much? I am constantly searching for adults to help with the Troop, to satisfy %u201CTwo-Deep%u201D and %u201CRule of Three %u201C requirements. Most parents want to just drop their kids off for a little cheap baby-sitting. But boy do they scream and point the finger at someone else when something isn%u2019t the way they would like it.
It never ceases to amaze me how the same people who will say the BSA has no right to set its own moral standards will be the first ones to accuse the BSA of not following procedures. I put in excess of 50 hours a week into Scouting (I%u2019m a volunteer) and there is always work left undone. Here is an idea. Turn of your computer and go and actually find out what Scouting is all about by getting involved, and making a difference in a young mans life. With all the moral straight arrows out there passing judgment we could eliminate the abuse with more watchful eyes.
Scouting silly? Sure it is if you are childish and have no first hand knowledge of the program.

[chrisfrenzy]

RedFiveUK says: "Kids are not sexual they are innocents, if a so called child thinks he is gay he should not be allowed to join the scouts he should instead get some counciling and attempt to address the issues that he has."

You''re still confusing gay and pedophile. Pedophilia is the urge to sexually abuse children of either gender. That''s a horrendous sickness. Homosexuality doesn''t stem from ''issues.'' It''s not a choice. It''s something you''re born with.

Moreover, if the BSA is going to actively ban ***, then they are asking innocent children to define their sexuality at a relatively young age.

[jetlizhan]

thank God my son never wanted to be a boy scout - he was so into sports (and girls), he didn''t have time, plus he thought it was ''silly'' - that''s a rough and tough little boy''s thinking. thank Heavens i never pushed it either. who knows, had he joined, he might have been one of these pitiful statistics.

[chrisfrenzy]

Do not confuse homosexuality with pedophilia. Just because a person is gay does not make them a child molester. If you are straight, does that automatically mean you abuse children of the opposite ***? Of course not. I am one of the "hypocrites" that believes that the practice of ostracizing gay kids by preventing them access to an organization like the BSA is precisely what leads to repressed, sick adults who take advantage of leadership situations.

[eagle-1976]

Anyone that thinks this is not real is living in a fantasy world - but also understand these things also happen in every youth organization in the country - including our public schools and every religeous organization. To prosecute an organization that recognizeses the possiblity, then steps up and activly combats the problem by removing SUSPECTED offenders from the organization appears to be punishing the ''good guys''. BSA policy removes people from the organization not on proof or conviction but on accusation - our public schools are not this careful with our children. This is a child predator issue that exists everywhere, I would challange all organizations to do as good a job as BSA to combat the problem.

I see several comments in reference to the gay issue - leaders on both sides of this issue would be discouraged that people don''t understand that homosexuality and child abuse are not the same issue. The boys scouts do not prevent gay boys from participating, youth members are never asked to reveal their sexual orientation. Being a private organization, the BSA has the right to define moral standards for itself just as any other private organization and church does. Anyone is free to disagree, free to participate or not; but don''t put your own freedoms at risk by forcing your own values on someone else. If you support forcing the BSA to change this policy by legal action, your own organization will be then next one to feel the heat of activist disapproval.

[gunnerv1]

Now you know why they didn''t want to let the "Known" peterpuffers in. It''s difficult enough just tracking down the unknown.

My son to was abused by 6 other boy scouts while under the so called supervision of the BSA. The BSA loves to say they have policies in place, but they don''t enforce them. Perfect example is when those poor men were electrocuted at the jamboree. They said they had policies for that too, but how far did that get them. The BSA did their best to cover up my boys abuse, but in the end justice prevailed. It is distgusting to lengths they went to try and cover this up. I spoke to many top leaders in the BSA any they were all very arrogant towards me. The six boys had a lawyer that just so happened to be deeply involved in the BSA represent them. I didn''t get them too far, there was too much evidence... They are corrupt...

Parents don''t need the boy scouts you can do a much better job teaching them yourself....

[scoutmom08]

The Boys Scouts of America organization is working very hard for our sons, as well as the Girl Scouts of America work hard for our daughters. Parents - work hard for your kids too!

I understand CBS''s ''attempt'' to report the news but I think I will check out ABC or NBC.

[feedback3-2009]

Let''s see, the organization that won''t even let gay boys participate has been molesting the straight ones. What''s the merit badge look like?

Repressing homosexuality really seems to be working, at least in the church and in the Boy Scouts.

[rainbowbrew]

This is also another disgusting example of the law profession. This lawyer is just trying to get a big payday not necessarily justice.

The BSA apparently has a program (not like the Catholics) to rid their ranks. They are trying and require people to speak up.

Stop this needless suing and let the BSA do the great job they are doing.

An Eagle Scout.