Boy Scouts Forced To Reveal Scope Of Abuse

Lawsuit Over Abuse By Seattle Scoutmaster In 1980s Opens Window Into Scouting Files Dating To 1946

(AP)  In a deposition in 2005, Phelps said he last molested someone — also a Boy Scout — around 1985. But he testified that he stopped abusing boys after he converted to Christianity and got married.

In that deposition, he said the Boy Scouts had never asked whether he had committed abuse.

To settle the lawsuit with the Stewarts, Phelps gave them the deed to the house in West Seattle where much of the abuse occurred. The Stewarts quickly sold it.

He also wrote a letter to the Stewarts' attorneys that details ways that Scoutmasters could exploit lax oversight by Scout officials and trusting parents.

Since the time of the Stewarts' abuse, the Boy Scouts of America has installed a so-called "two-deep" rule, which bars adult leaders from being alone with youth. And it has issued youth-oriented training materials, which win plaudits from child-abuse experts.

The Boy Scouts also recently began doing background checks on prospective leaders. But only new volunteers are checked. Millions of current leaders go unscreened.

Even so, "they've probably done more than any other general youth-serving organization to address this issue," said John Patterson, a consultant for Nonprofit Risk Management and an adviser to the Boy Scouts.

According to the files opened by the Stewarts' lawyers, the Boy Scouts ejected a leader, on average, once every three days between 1971 and 1990. From 1991 to 2005, the total was about 2,500 adult volunteers, a rate of about 15 a month, or one every other day.

In 2003, after the Stewarts and one of their lawyers held a news conference announcing the suit against the Scouts, four other men came forward to accuse Phelps and one other Scoutmaster.

Tom Stewart became an adult leader in Scouting about 10 years ago, when his sons joined. He says he still believes in the organization's core mission of developing young men for adulthood. But he also says he might have been trying to "right some wrongs" by coming back to the Boy Scouts.

"I know there are thousands and thousands of men nationwide who've been abused in the Boy Scouts who are suffering in silence," he now says. "Everything in your life is tainted by being abused as a boy."

With that weighing on his mind, he made a decision.

In the fall of 2003, just before he and his brother filed their suit, he stood up at his troop's meeting in Enumclaw. He was wearing his Scoutmaster uniform.

"I cannot be a leader in an organization that does not protect boys," he told his Scouts.

Then he walked out the door.

[oldpilot954]

Diligence on everyone''s part is the only way to prevent such tradgies. I work with my son''s Scout Troop. When I first went through the Scoutmaster training, I was very impressed with the procedures that are in place to protect the boys. I am still impressed. They are better than my kid''s public school and better than my church. Those rules, if followed, not only protect the boys but they protect the adult leaders from false accusations. Of course, for the procedures to work you have to be diligent to conform with them. Our troop tries to encourage parents to take the child-protection training so that they know and understand the rules also. We have canceled camping trips when we could not get enough leaders to assure safety of the boys. That is a hard decision when the boys are all ready and an Assistant Scoutmaster has an unforseen reasin to cancel at the last minute. But it is the safe way.
I do have a question. Mr. Stewart makes the statement "I cannot be a leader in an organization that does not protect boys." What would satisfy him (other than a large legal settlement) that we are protecting boys or how can we protect the boys? We do background checks, we are never out of sight of the group with a boy, we have two adults on every trip, and we train the boys to protect themselves. What else can we do?

[colonieny]

ACLU STARTS OWN OPEN SCOUT TROOPS

This article seems like a hit piece against a very decent American orgainization, run by very decent men and women.
Some years ago they went after the Scouts by not allowing girls in.
Then they ruined a great relationship with the federal gov''t to use some park and gov''t miliary space for their camping, which had been a tradition for over 100 years, thanks ACLU.
Now this.
At the same time the very media, and ACLU types do all they can to "protect" the names of *** offenders, and their locations, so all us decent people live on edge. Thanks again for sticking up for the perverts, and at the same time attacking all things American and Decent. What organiztions do you ACLU types have for kids to build character and explore the wilderness ? None. Would you desciminiate against gay leaders and campers , and separatation of gender ? I am waiting to see ... The point is ACLU types are destoyers and not builders.

[thinkplease]

Lastly - parents, be viligent about where your kids are going, who they are going to be with, and what they are doing. Be aware of anyone who is older than your child (a 15 y/o intrested in a 10 y/o or an adult) who is taking too much intrest in them. It might be nothing, but it could be more.

[thinkplease]

3) As a scout leader, let me tell you about the safety policies that we have. These are nationwide, and any leader caught breaking them can be removed from scouting for the rest of their life. whether anything was going on or not. This is NOT to protect the scouting organizations, but are there to protect OUR/YOUR children.
A) 2 Deep Policy. At no time is an adult to be with a child without either 2 or more children present, or another adult.
B) Leaders are NOT permitted to sleep in a tent/hut/cabin with a scout unless that scout is thier own child. If Fred wants to sleep in the same tent as my son, I have to leave the tent and sleep under a tree.
C) All scouts (leaders included) are required to watch a safety video on abuse, and to learn to recongize the signs of a pedophile (yes - 95% all use the same patterns to gain the child''s trust) and to speak up if they feel uncomfortable around someone, and to yell/scream/punch - to do whatever it takes, to get away from them and get someone to listen. All leaders/volunteers are required to attend a different training from what the scouts learn to keep updated on new policies as well as refreshing the old. We get cards showing that we are trained. Ask, if your child''s leader does not have one, find out why.

[thinkplease]

A couple of things here:

1) Pedophiles are in every organization, from youth sports, schools, churches, safety officials, etc, etc, etc. They are men/women/old/young/bald/red headed/martian aliens, etc, etc, etc. As parents, we need to make sure that we are involved with these and not to just "drop off the kids, go to the store, come back later and pick them up". Get to know the coaches, leaders, friend''s parents, and so on.
Get involved with the organization, find out what thier policies, training, and safety procedures are. Find out why people are there, are they parents of a player, singer, scout, whatever.

2) Talk to your kids, but more importantly - LISTEN with your ears and eyes. They might be trying to tell us something through their actions and words, but we are so busy we do not notice.

[Ed0719]

Why should such young men NOT be sexually arousing to homosexuals? And why should the Boy Scouts take the risk of allowing them to share tents with the possible objects of their lust?

If someone is stealing the ship''''s rum, it''''s not discrimination to look first at the known alcoholics.
Posted by gkc99 at 09:52 PM : Aug 24, 2007


Just because you obviously have no self-control over your sexual urges, you project your own weaknesses upon everyone else? As a happily contented adult gay male, I''m just as capable of being monogamous and faithful to my one partner, which I assume is the same of many heterosexual married men. I have absolutely no desire to rape or molest anyone of any age. But I guess since you think everyone must be sexual predators who can''t control themselves, you must fight those urges yourself. How dangerous are YOU?

[toldyouso21]

Pedophiles go after children. 14 and 15 year old boys are not children, and cannot be manipulated like children. Posted by gkc99 at 09:52 PM : Aug 24, 2007


Obviously your knowledge of rape, child abuse and pedophilia is not very high. Pedophiles may prefer adolescent or younger kids. Some don''t want a kid over 8, others not over 12 and still others take it all the way to 17.The fact is a 15 or 16 year old is emotionally and mentally still a child and can be manipulated. Just in different ways.

the nitty gritty about why many pedophiles only like really young children is because they do not want any odors, genital hair or anything else to remind them that the person is growing up. A child begins to have hormones and their personal scent changes at about 12 to 14, so this is the cut off age for die hard pedophiles that only want to destroy children. Still, there are some that like to exploit those on the verge of growing up. the other attraction is that emotionally, pedophiles and other rapists are warped and immature, invariably they "think" they are the same age as their victim and do not want someone that can ''outhink'' or second guess them. But there are several types of pedaphiles and though some are homosexual, most are heterosexual men, same as the profile for those who rape and murder kids--94% are heterosexual men.

[toldyouso21]

People need to stop saying that rape is not about ***. Sure it is, it is about power and control also, but mostly it is about nutting.

It is the entire taboo, force and getting an *** thrown in to boot. don''t downplay the *** part, because that is the part that destroys others. If it was just about power and control, people would just enslave others, not rape them. Those who rape get a thrill out of it and out of the act itself--make no mistake.

[toldyouso21]

The fact is, Americans hide from the idea of molestation and either do not admit or don''t want to accept that the scout leader, choir director, band teacher, hockey coach, great uncle, etc wants to harm their kids--but it is a crime of opportunity. So,,,,,, WHO are you trusting with your kids.

No sleepovers for my kids unless all males are gone and I drop by for treats and games and stay a while myself. No school sleepovers. Not band, cheerleading, NONE...do you know what happens when your kids are away from home.

And word to the wise, background checks only catch CONFIRMED molesters. It does not catch the career ones that no one has told on yet. When a grown man wants to spend time with your son, and is not related and is not close to you (or even if he is) beware, if he is close to you, then he needs to spend time with both of you NOT just your son. Ladies, beware of men who claim to be interested in you but are overly interested in your kids. Men have practically a fetish for the tight butts of boys and young girls. (Sodomy)

[toldyouso21]

"Their mother had urged them to join the Boy Scouts and had introduced them to Phelps, a teenage Eagle Scout who lived down the street and had his own Jeep. "

I''ll say it again: MOLESTATION IS LARGELY A CRIME OF OPPORTUNITY. And it is usually too trusting parents that turn their kids over to molesters and do not suspect them.

Things most parents do not want to believe or know:

Most molesters of young boys are married men with kids of their own. the kids/wife are a cover. ANY MALE that appears too interested in your boys--probably IS too interested in your boys.

although molestation can take place at any time, the easiest time, is at sleep overs.

Molesters can be as young as 10 (molesting their 7 year old sister''s sleepover guest) to 101 or older. Have ***--will penetrate.

Women can be molesters also, but by and large, the molester of kids (boys and girls) are men who claim to be heterosexual and are usually married. Often they are relatives like an uncle, cousin or dad or brother.

Women assume other women will watch their kids, but sometimes, those other women are too trusting of their mates or other men and put your kid in jeopardy.

see next post

[jankebenz]

I spent a significant portion of my youth with the scouts and learned a lot of vauluable life skills. There was commradeship amoung the boys and we looked up to the men who directed and led us. But that was back in the early 60,s when truth, honor, and God were still part of the scout movment ,and when boys were raised to be real men.

[karen091866]

OK--I''m freaking out not only @ the horror detailed in this story--but the fact that this DEGENERATE works with the PUBLIC, probably entering people''s homes to perform service calls.. @ the Power & Light Company?!?!?!?!

Helloooo--Getting married doesn''t make you less of a freak! What kind of female would ... never mind. Totally perverse.

Where''s the Clorox bleach when you need it? Sen this poor woman some---and QUICKLY.

[aznyron-2009]

as a former boy scout I would like to educate the ignorant cub scout is between 8 & 12 yrs old boy scout is between 12 & 15 years old and explorer scout is 15 and older I was never abused by a scout leader but I was in the B/S when we had leaders not perverts who lusted after young children let me post my opinion any org. that hide records of child abuse such as the B/S or the Catholic Church is just as guilty as the pervert commiting those horrible crimes against our young children today I am a grand Parent of 3
and any one touches my g/kids I will ripped they F**** eyes out and then stomped them to death and I dont give a f*** about the courts or any one else screwed up ideas of healing the sick f***ers

[rudy654-2009]

Pedophiles go after children. 14 and 15 year old boys are not children, and cannot be manipulated like children. Thus they are unlikely targets for the classic pedophiles. We are talking about sexually mature, but vulnerable, teenage boys with supercharged hormones. Why should such young men NOT be sexually arousing to homosexuals? And why should the Boy Scouts take the risk of allowing them to share tents with the possible objects of their lust?

If someone is stealing the ship''''s rum, it''''s not discrimination to look first at the known alcoholics.
Posted by gkc99 at 09:52 PM : Aug 24, 2007

Excuse me, are you saying that only 14 or 15 year olds are allowed to be boy scouts??? That little distortion tells me a lot right there. And that nonsense of inbred hatred you got going tells me that you are probably projecting something about yourself.

[gkc99]

"But somehow it''''s right there with your agenda of accusing only one segment of society, while overlooking the rest. Those who have said it know, pedophilia isn''''t about homosexuality, it''''s about perversion period."--Posted by rudy654

Pedophiles go after children. 14 and 15 year old boys are not children, and cannot be manipulated like children. Thus they are unlikely targets for the classic pedophiles. We are talking about sexually mature, but vulnerable, teenage boys with supercharged hormones. Why should such young men NOT be sexually arousing to homosexuals? And why should the Boy Scouts take the risk of allowing them to share tents with the possible objects of their lust?

If someone is stealing the ship''s rum, it''s not discrimination to look first at the known alcoholics.

[gkc99]

"LOL the scouts descriminate against G@YS yet they clealy thrwo out over 5,100 PEDOPHILES from their own ranks who are HETERO!"
Posted by newster1

The Scouts try to keep the GAY boy-rapers out, but the **** groups all get up in arms, don''t you newster1?

[rudy654-2009]

But in any event, there should be no opportunities given to homosexuals to rape our teenage boys. Posted by gkc99 at 07:30 PM : Aug 24, 2007

Oh, so you think it''s okay for them to rape if they''re not homosexuals? No, you didn''t say that, right? But somehow it''s right there with your agenda of accusing only one segment of society, while overlooking the rest. Those who have said it know, pedophilia isn''t about homosexuality, it''s about perversion period. It''s about control over someone who is weaker and more vulnerable. It is in the same category with those who rape, whether they''re heterosexual or not. Meanwhile, the media, which you all feed on, promotes all kinds of perversions that everyone wants to deny has anything to do with the conduct of these perpetrators.

[nothappyatall]

The 45 boxes of files are not public because..."

BECAUSE the scouts, like the church are right wingers who HIDE their dirty secrets, and like the church paying out MILLIONS to lawsuits, so should the scouts.
Scouting, daycare, teaching, pastoring and any job that puts pedophiles in charge of or around children is the job they GO FOR.

LOL the scouts descriminate against G@YS yet they clealy thrwo out over 5,100 PEDOPHILES from their own ranks who are HETERO!

[gkc99]

"Get your sons out of the Boy Scouts now. Grown men involved with the Boy Scouts have one thing on their mind and it ain''''t merit badges & hiking. Creepy.
Boy Scouts & the Catholic Church. eeeewwwwww."
Posted by Keithle1

Sounds like youre the sicko, "Keithie". My boys were in scouts and it was just fine, the leaders were the boys'' fathers. Or are we all homos?

[keithle1]

Get your sons out of the Boy Scouts now. Grown men involved with the Boy Scouts have one thing on their mind and it ain''t merit badges & hiking. Creepy.

Boy Scouts & the Catholic Church. eeeewwwwww.