Below and attached is a letter to leaders, friends, and family from Auxuilary Bishop Edward Rice and CYA Executive Director Fr. Brian Fischer regarding the BSA membership policy change that took place May 23rd:
Dear Scout Leaders and Families,
Recently the Boy Scouts of America announced a change in their membership policy. We want you to be aware of this policy change and how we as the Church are responding.
- Archdiocese Statement regarding the membership policy: The Archdiocese of St. Louis takes Catholic faith and formation of young people very seriously. The decision of BSA regarding youth and same-sex attraction does not change our responsibility to uphold the truths of our faith and to offer faith-formation programs based on those truths, which we will continue to do. As Catholics, we believe that a proper understanding of Theology of the Body, as taught by Pope John Paul II, offers truth about the beauty and sanctity of human sexuality. We welcome opportunities to proclaim the Gospel call to conversion. We agree with Pope Emeritus Benedict when he said, “Every human being is loved by God the Father. No one need feel forgotten, for every name is written in the Lord’s loving heart.” We encourage Catholics and all people of faith to treat one another with respect, dignity and love and to pray for our culture.
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that individuals who disclose a homosexual inclination or a same sex attraction are to be treated with the same dignity due all human beings created by God. (CCC 2358). This teaching is followed in enrollment policies for Catholic schools, for Catholic sports programs, and for all programs of Catholic youth ministry. Scouting, as Catholic youth ministry, allows us to provide a safe environment in which the Catholic faith can be taught, practiced and nurtured. Scouting, as a program for all youth, gives us as Catholics, the opportunity to meet youth in an activity they enjoy and evangelize them in our faith.
- St. Louis Review article: http://stlouisreview.com/article/2013-05-24/boy-scouts-policy
- National Catholic Committee on Scouting response:
http://www.nccs-bsa.org/comment/Response-EPM-130529-v2.pdf
- Membership policy from Boy Scouts of America: http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/Resolution/results.aspx
We have personally met with the local Boy Scout Council regarding this issue. We informed them that we would continue to support the youth and leaders in Boy Scouting as an arm of Youth Ministry in our parishes. As you know, the parishes are the chartering sponsors of scouting units, and Catholic units run as an arm of Youth Ministry within the parish.
It is of utmost importance that pastors continue to select adult leaders who uphold the Church’s teachings. We encourage you to attend the Office of Catholic Scouting’s Lay Apostolate Formation Program, which is a retreat designed for Catholic adults in Scouting. In addition, please consider engaging in our faith formation programs and retreats, sponsored by the Office of Catholic Scouting.
With so many mixed messages within our culture today, Catholic Scouting gives us a real opportunity to teach our faith and be a witness to these youth in their formative years. The Office of Catholic Scouting Ministry offers faith formation programs and retreats for Scouts of all ages. Some of our programs focus on topics of sexuality and chastity. The Ad Altare Dei program, for those who have completed the sixth grade and older, touches on the seven sacraments and helps Scouts develop a fully Christian way of life in a faith community. The Pope Pius XII program, for individuals in high school and college, explores the concept of vocations and making life choices.
We plan to promote new programs, as well as incorporate them into our retreats, that will help teach the young people and adults about the proper understanding of Theology of the Body. We have asked the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to look into enhancing their faith formation award programs in accordance with these topics.
If you want to learn more about these faith formation programs and retreats and how they can help you in your parish and your scouting units, please contact the Office of Catholic Scouting at www.catholicscoutingstl.org or 314-792-7608. They will be happy to assist you!
Be assured of our prayers for you as you continue your important work of formation for the youth of the Archdiocese.
Signed by:
Auxiliary Bishop Edward Rice of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis
Executive Director Fr. Brian Fischer of the Catholic Youth Apostolate
All of the priests and parishes of the Archdiocese have received a letter similar to this one along with a copy of this letter to leaders and families.
We ask for your continued prayers and support.
To view what other dioceses have been saying, click here.
