Comments on: Boy Scouts Lawsuit Opens Secret Files

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

[rfcnj68]

Dirktoney, why is it ridiculous, when the Catholic Church was hit with all these suites everyone was appalled that this could happen and was covered up. This is no different adults in charge and entrusted with our kids doing them harm, same thing and this is not the first lawsuit of its kind with the Boy Scouts.

I still feel the biggest problem is parents are not involved enough with their kids. The Boy Scouts over all is a fine organization, that has done a lot of good over the years but if there are no checks and balances to make sure of the quality of people that are overseeing the kids then this is what will continue to happen.

Parents wake up and do your own checks and make sure who you are entrusting your children too. No, this will not solve all the problems but it sure will help.

[rfcnj68]

Dirktoney, why is it ridiculous, when the Catholic Church was hit with all these suites everyone was appalled that this could happen and was covered up. This is no different adults in charge and entrusted with our kids doing them harm, same thing and this is not the first lawsuit of its kind with the Boy Scouts.

I still feel the biggest problem is parents are not involved enough with their kids. The Boy Scouts over all is a fine organization, that has done a lot of good over the years but if there are no checks and balances to make sure of the quality of people that are overseeing the kids then this is what will continue to happen.

Parents wake up and do your own checks and make sure who you are entrusting your children too. No, this will not solve all the problems but it sure will help.

[emmasgma]

IF these two boys were molested then I am sorry. Boy Scouts start at age 11,not 6 or 7. When Matt Stewart was 6 there was no Tiger Cub Program. The article said that Former Troop Leader(Boy Scouts)Phelps had contact with one and then the other boy, are we talking about the same boys? Did Sandra Hughes do her homework? Did she even LOOK at a Boy Scout book? Because as Scout leaders my husband and I have read these books and neither of us can find anywhere in these materials or any other BSA materials where it says that it is OK for a boy to go along with a leader doing ANYTHING that makes him uncomfortable! I am furious by the last statement in Ms. Hughes report. As an honorable leader I feel insulted by CBS NEWS.If Boy Scout leaders were being dismissed on average of 1 leader every day there would be NO BSA program LEFT. Safe guards for the boys are in place. My husband is an Eagle Scout and so are our 3 sons, none of whom were molested.I know men and boys who were or are now scouts who have not been molested. So if the BSA program is SO dangerous were are all these monsters? Not to say that it has not happened, I just do not believe that it is the monster that this piece pictures BSA. So What is the agenda here? CBS NEWS certainly has a black EYE on this one!!
Honored Cubmaster

[bradosol]

As a Briton, I''m sickened by the reports of abuse. Predatory adults must pay for their crimes. Such cases happen over here, too.

I''m not surprised by the suspicion which, understandably and unavoidably, is now often directed at the motives of adults who help youngsters in organisations like the Scouts.

The suspicion coming from others must put off some adults who could otherwise do a worthwhile job in assisting young people.

Both our sons, now in their late 30s, were Scouts and gained the Queen''s Scout Award - the equivalent of the Silver Award in the Boy Scouts of America.

I''m sure that our sons benefited greatly from Scouting, especially in the development of personal self-reliance, independence and initiative. They''re not sentimental or nostalgic about it, but Scouting has been a formative influence in their lives.

This was due to the quality and dedication of their adult leaders, as well as the content of programmes laid down by the Scout Association.

So there are adults whose motives, in doing voluntary work with young people, are not sinister. I beleive they''re the great majority.

Maybe they enjoy the leadership role, perhaps they like being admired, possibly they get a kick from being thanked by the youngsters'' parents - but so what? In all walks of life, there are many sorts of motivation - not saintly but not criminal or predatory, either.

Please, let''s not panic and let''s keep a sense of proportion!

[fryedbread]

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.

Posted by chrisfrenzy at 09:34 AM : Aug 29, 2007

How this could not be true is beyond me. Are we surprised that when the Boy Scouts hold up a mirror, they see the catholic church? =/

[ricktoney]

To blame the boy scout organization for this is ridiculous. They are doing everything they can to make sure your children are safe, but no matter what anyone does, the people that want to do things like this are going to find a way. For someone to say "you shouldn''t send you children to boy scouts because of this incident" is like saying "don''t send your children to school" because you read about a teacher abusing a child, which I''m sorry to say we read about fairly often. I have five children, all of whom, girls and boys, have been or are currently in the scouting organization. My children are much better for the values they have learned. It''s a parents job to make sure we teach our children what is appropriate and what''s not, because face it, the chances they are going to meet someone that wants to abuse them is greater than ever. It''s a shame that the world has come to this, but it is our job to make sure our children are taught the right things, and know the difference between right and wrong.

[fryedbread]

Holy proclaimed source of morality that turns out to be a bastion of perverts and liars, Batman!

[redfiveuk]

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.
Posted by chrisfrenzy at 09:34 AM : Aug 29, 2007

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. Pedos should be hung drawn and quartered no leniency no exception - Any organisations found covering up offences should be disbanded. Its no good making liberal excuses why people commit these henous crimes, they are just plain evil end of story - These people need to be shamed and shuned by society and made to pay a very very heavy price - they are nothing but evil scum.

[shell4rls]

This story was bias to begin with. My sons father died when he was 6 years old. I have been involved with the scouts since 7. The scouts have provided positive role models, whether they are male or female. Our scout master will not let a boy join until both the scout and the parent go over the youth protection. Pedifiles are everywhere, youth sports, church groups, schools and even posing as a father in a private home. The boyscouts do background checks and programs to fight this horible crime against children. I would send my child off to camp with ANY of our troop members and know what he brings back is life skills and a few bug bites. To say the boyscouts is not a safe place was a bias statement.

[goamerica]

I raised my boy in Brooklyn and worked full time, leaving him in the care of sitters. At an early age (3-4?) we told him about "good" touching and "bad" touching, and as he got older, it was stressed that he could NEVER be in anybody''s house or car unless we knew about it. On one occasion, my cousin saw my boy standing at a school bus stop in the rain, but he wouldn''t get in the car with her for a ride to school, and she was insulted. I explained that it was too complicated to create a bunch of exceptions to a rule, and safer to just say NOBODY''s car or house.

We also made in clear to my son that no matter how somebody threatened him -- I''ll kill your mother and dad if you don''t do this, or if you tell, for instance -- that nobody was that powerful and that mom and dad could kick ANYBODY''S behind.

I always thought of these "lessons" as giving my son reasonable tools to keep himself safe. It worked! Parents have to talk to their kids -- their YOUNG kids -- otherwise, uninformed kids can too easily become victims.

[scoutmom08]

I am frankly disgusted with the CBS news story concerning the Stewarts molestation being caused by the Boy Scout Organization. It was not the entire Boy Scouts of America that molested them, but ONE individual who used a wonderful organization to satisfy his own sick needs. My family has been very active in the BSA for many years. I am a leader and have been through countless mandatory training sessions. Two-deep leadership (AT LEAST 2 ADULTS WITH CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES) is absolutely drilled into leaders. Sexual predators use groups such as the BSA, Girl Scouts, Church Youth Groups and Schools to locate and molest children. That is a terrible fact about our society. But to group the entire BSA and condemn it for the immorality of individual persons is WRONG. My heart bleeds for the Stewarts and what has happened to them - but the BSA did not molest them - a single man did. Bill Cosby is correct in saying that parents need to quit blaming society for their children''s problems and take back responsibility for their kids. If you are a parent, you need to be INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD''S LIFE. That means doing things with them! Not just dropping them off and driving away. The Boy Scouts of America is a truly wonderful organization where boys can be truly successful. As is Girl Scouts of America. Condemn the molestor and go after him or her - not the organization he or she has joined for convenience. And parents - do things with your kids - it will do both of you good!

[barbaraf4]

D"o 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."
Posted by chrisfrenzy at 09:34 AM : Aug 29, 2007

Well said! All children should be given the opportunity to express themselves within appropriate parameters.

[roach9703]

The problems of the Boy Scouts of America is further evidence of the social decay of America.
As one educational psychologist told me, it takes a community to support an abuser. Self centered parents plus opportunistic voyeurs in any organizaton spells tragedy for a child.
From Senator Craig to the disobedient Catholic priests to the sixth and ninth commandments all point to a nation in very deep trouble and in need of repentance. Maybe, Chirstians in particular, should make Friday a day of fast and absenance. If we don''t, what future does American have?

[teri591]

If the men who were supposedly abused by Scout Leaders want to see what a real Troop is like, they should visit Troop 79. Our Troop currently has 5 Eagle Scouts, one of them being my son who has gone on to become Assistant Scoutmaster. Scouting has helped my boy become a man. Our Troop is very strict about always having two adults with the Scouts. If we do not have two adults, the event is cancelled. On August 25th, our Troop along with Troop 40 and the Girlscouts, honored a fallen soldier Justin Penrod by holding a Color Guard ceremony on Main Street. Justin died while serving our country. His funeral procession slowly made there way through our small town while the Scouts stood at attention saluting. The American Flag was flying from many hands and hearts were crossed by onlookers. You may not support the war, but you can support our service men and women. There was not a dry eye on Main Street Saturday afternoon. I am proud of my son, proud that he is a Scout and I will always support him and the Troop. There are thousands of success stories about Scouting. CBS News should tell both sides of the story.

[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.

[barbaraf4]

"Substantial commercials aand most shows on TV concentrate on prolonging sexual enjoyment. Now-a-days all older people are encouraged to continue sexual activity much beyond 60 and 70, and we are told that it is quite normal." Posted by gangesdak -

Speaking for "older people", it ain''t over ''til it''s over! Plus, I don''t hear that it is senior citizens who are molesting the Boy Scouts.

[sasi1-2009]

Adults are supposed to be the ones who keep children safe, but today it seems to be the opposite. Looks like we need to teach our kids not to trust anyone (especially relatives) over 12, and be careful of those under that age. *** seems to be what sells everything today, so *** has become the major interest for many if not most people. We need to get away from being a totally ***-oriented society, and opt for a more moral stance.

[jydavis1]

THEY SHOULD JUST CHANGE THE NAME TO:

"MEN SCOUTING BOYS OF AMERICA"


WOULD BE MUCH MORE HONEST...

[jydavis1]

PARENTAL WARNING: the Boy Scouts, the Catholic Church and Republican Senators have been shown to pose a high risk to your childs physical and emotional well being. AVOID CONTACT WITH THESE INSTITUTIONS!

[gangesdak]

Substantial commercials aand most shows on TV concentrate on prolonging sexual enjoyment. Now-a-days all older people are encouraged to continue sexual activity much beyond 60 and 70, and we are told that it is quite normal. With this prevailing culture no wonder that many Boys scout leaders follow this "active" role, because now they have to "do" it any chance they can create. Can we make a fundamental change in attitude?