Joshua Bennett
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has introduced several policies that have strained its relationship with the Catholic Church. The BSA has lifted bans on same-sex-attracted scouts and scout leaders, and allowed transgender boys and biological girls who identify as boys to join its organization. While the BSA has assured faith-based partners that they can operate their programs in accordance with their religious beliefs, some Catholic officials have voiced concerns about the new policies, stating that they contradict Catholic values and teachings. In response, Catholic men have started organizing alternative scouting groups. However, there are Catholic Scouting programs that continue to work with the BSA, aiming to form scouts as committed disciples of Jesus Christ while also fulfilling the mission of the Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scouting is non-sectarian | Duty to God |
| Allows girls who identify as boys | Catholic Scouting unique connection to the mission of the Church |
| Lifts ban on same-sex attracted scouts and scout leaders | Forming young men to live in accord with the Scout Oath, Law, and Motto |
| Lifts ban on homosexual youth in 2013 | Openly gay scout leaders are incompatible with the Catholic Church's teachings |
| Allows transgender boys in 2017 | Transgender ideology is harmful to the dignity of the human person |
| Catholic Scouting programs are aligned with Catholic teachings | |
| Catholic Scouting forms committed disciples of Jesus Christ | |
| Catholic Scouting programs provide opportunities to learn about Catholicism |
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What You'll Learn
- Boy Scouts' new policies allow girls who identify as boys, straining Catholic ties
- Catholic officials are concerned about the message sent to youth with gender identity disorder
- Catholic teachings are incompatible with openly gay adult leaders in the Boy Scouts
- Catholics are organizing alternatives to Boy Scouts, like the Troops of St. George
- Boy Scouts maintains its religious partners will continue to make decisions based on beliefs
Boy Scouts' new policies allow girls who identify as boys, straining Catholic ties
The Boy Scouts of America's new policy of allowing biological girls who identify as boys has strained its ties with the Catholic Church. The Boy Scouts' decision follows the lifting of bans on same-sex-attracted scouts and scout leaders, as well as a threat of a discrimination complaint from the mother of a 9-year-old girl who identifies as a boy. In response to the new policy, the Boy Scouts CEO, Michael Surbaugh, said that communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently and that the previous policy of referring to birth certificates as the reference point for sex is "no longer sufficient". Surbaugh assured faith-based partners that they would be able to operate their programs in accordance with their religious beliefs.
The Catholic Church has historically been associated with Scouting, with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting serving as an advisory body to the Boy Scouts of America. However, the new policy has caused concern among some Catholic officials, who worry about the message it sends to youth with gender identity disorder and view it as incompatible with Catholic values. Brian Miller, executive director of the Catholic Youth Apostolate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, expressed uncertainty about the direction in which the organization is headed. Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, North Dakota, a former scout, instructed his diocese to disaffiliate from the Boy Scouts due to policy changes that contradict Catholic teachings.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis emphasized that the new policy is part of a "troubling pattern of behavior" exhibited by the Boy Scouts, indicating an increasing incompatibility with Catholic values. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting, however, stated that they expect the new policy to have "no impact" on Catholic-chartered units, and that religious partners will continue to make decisions based on their religious beliefs. This decision by the Boy Scouts has sparked a dialogue within the Catholic Church about the relationship between the two organizations and the need to adapt to changing societal norms.
While the Boy Scouts' new policy has caused strain with some Catholic groups, other Catholic leaders have accepted the decision. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting, in a statement by George Sparks and Father Kevin Smith, said they "accept and work with the new membership policy" and seek to "sustain and strengthen the relationship" between the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church. This decision followed a unanimous vote to accept girls as members. The Boy Scouts' decision also sparked a response from the Girl Scouts, with their president, Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, expressing displeasure and encouraging the Boy Scouts to focus on recruiting American boys.
The Boy Scouts' new policy allowing girls who identify as boys has highlighted a tension between the organization's commitment to inclusivity and the Catholic Church's religious teachings. While the Boy Scouts assure religious partners of their autonomy, the Catholic Church is navigating how to uphold its values while adapting to societal changes. This has resulted in a varied response, with some Catholic groups accepting the decision and others severing ties with the Boy Scouts, reflecting the complex nature of this evolving relationship.
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Catholic officials are concerned about the message sent to youth with gender identity disorder
The Boy Scouts of America's decision to allow biological girls who identify as boys to join its organization has strained its relationship with the Catholic Church. Some Catholic officials are concerned about the message sent to youth with gender identity disorder.
Brian Miller, executive director of the Catholic Youth Apostolate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, expressed concern about the Boy Scouts' new policy. Miller stated that his biggest concern is not how the policy change will affect Catholic dioceses that sponsor Boy Scouts programs, but rather the message it sends to youth with gender identity disorder. The Boy Scouts have long required that scouts obey their duty to God and recognize an obligation to God. This is in line with the Catholic Church's position that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God, male or female, and that people should be helped to discover their true identities as children of God rather than supporting them in rejecting their biological identity.
The Catholic Church teaches that one is born either male or female, even in the case of hermaphrodites who manifest both male and female anatomical aspects at birth. The Church's position on "transgenderism" is grounded in this belief, and it argues that a human person's gender is assigned at birth based on their observed anatomy. When a biological male identifies as a female and has gender confirmation surgery, the Church sees this as a disordered attempt to reject their undeniable biological identity. The Church emphasizes acting with love and compassion towards those who experience gender identity disorder while helping them discover their true identity as children of God.
Catholic institutions are advised to respond to gender identity theory with compassion, clarity, and fidelity to the truth as revealed in Jesus Christ. They aim to support and accompany gender-questioning youth and their families while fulfilling their Catholic mission. This includes protecting the vulnerable, avoiding bullying, and providing whole-person affirmation, which means affirming the entire person: body and soul. However, the Church also emphasizes the need for prudence, as the medicalization of gender dysphoria has been associated with risks such as depression, thoughts of suicide, and attempted suicide among transgender and non-binary youth.
The Boy Scouts of America has assured its faith-based partners that they can operate their programs consistently with their religious beliefs. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) expects the new policy to have "no impact" on Catholic-chartered units, stating that religious partners will continue to make decisions based on their religious beliefs. However, some Catholic bishops have concluded that the Boy Scouts are becoming incompatible with Catholic values.
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Catholic teachings are incompatible with openly gay adult leaders in the Boy Scouts
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has long been associated with the Catholic Church in the United States. Catholic Scouting is unique in its connection to the mission of the Church, forming scouts not only as good citizens but also as committed disciples of Jesus Christ.
However, in recent years, the BSA has made several policy changes that have strained its relationship with the Catholic Church. One of the most significant points of contention is the BSA's decision to lift its ban on openly gay adult leaders. In 2013, the BSA voted to lift the ban on openly gay scouts, but maintained its prohibition on gay adult leaders. Then, in 2015, under pressure from corporate sponsors and facing the threat of legal challenges, the BSA's National Executive Committee voted to lift the ban on openly gay adult leaders.
This policy change has been explicitly condemned by some Catholic officials as incompatible with Catholic teachings. For example, Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, North Dakota, instructed his diocese to disaffiliate from the Boy Scouts, stating that he could not "permit our Catholic institutions to accept and participate directly or indirectly in any organization which has policies and methods which contradict the authoritative moral teachings of the Catholic Church."
Another Catholic commentator expressed concern about the impact of "openly gay" scout leaders, not because of their sexual orientation, but because they do not want sexuality to be "on display" from any of the leaders. They argued that Boy Scouts should be a space for boys to learn to become good, faithful men without the distraction of sexuality.
The Boy Scouts of America has responded to these concerns by assuring its faith-based partners that they will continue to have the right to make decisions for their units based on their religious beliefs. However, it remains to be seen if this will be enough to repair the strained relationship between the BSA and the Catholic Church.
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Catholics are organizing alternatives to Boy Scouts, like the Troops of St. George
The Boy Scouts of America's decision to allow transgender boys and girls who identify as boys to join its organization has strained its relationship with the Catholic Church. Some Catholic officials have voiced concerns about these policy changes, stating that the Boy Scouts are "becoming increasingly incompatible with [their] Catholic values". In response, Catholics have been organizing alternatives to the Boy Scouts, one of which is the Troops of St. George.
The Troops of St. George (TSG) is an outdoor adventure apostolate with over 40 troops nationwide. It was founded by Taylor Marshall, a Catholic convert, bestselling author, and father of eight, in 2013. Marshall wanted to establish a "thoroughly Catholic organization for boys, one that taught virtue, honour, and brotherhood". The TSG combines recreational activities with faith-based opportunities to learn about Catholicism and grow closer to God. It is geared towards camping and skill work with fathers and sons, and strongly encourages the participation of a priest to offer Holy Mass on camping trips. The TSG has a well-developed handbook, a uniform, and a solid rank structure.
Another alternative to the Boy Scouts is Trail Life USA, a Church-based, Christ-centred, boy-focused mentoring and discipleship journey. Trail Life is similar to the original structure of the Boy Scouts of America and is a boys-only institution. It is owned and operated by the Church, with individual parishes owning and operating their own troops as an extension of their ministry. Trail Life offers troops on the "trail" to manhood that starts at age 5 and ends at age 17, helping boys maintain important connections and experiences throughout their adolescent years. While Trail Life is not a Catholic organization, there are Catholic chapters.
Fraternus is another Catholic-rooted organization that seeks to form boys into virtuous young men starting at age 12. It focuses on reaching and instructing those with absentee fathers or those lacking a strong masculine role model. Fraternus states that the success of the program is due to the Catholic faith and the brotherhood that it fosters.
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Boy Scouts maintains its religious partners will continue to make decisions based on beliefs
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has assured its faith-based partners that they will continue to operate their programs in accordance with their religious beliefs. This comes after the organization's decision to allow biological girls who identify as boys to join, which has strained its relationship with the Catholic Church. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) stated that the new policy would have no impact on Catholic-chartered units, as religious partners will maintain the right to make decisions based on their beliefs.
The Boy Scouts' commitment to religious freedom is not new. Scouting founder Baden-Powell emphasized that religion was a fundamental factor in Scouting, but did not dictate a particular faith. The Scout Promise, which includes a "duty to God," can be adapted by different Scouting organizations to align with their specific religious beliefs. In some countries, Scouting associations are even segregated based on religious belief.
Despite these assurances, some Catholic officials have expressed concerns about the Boy Scouts' recent policy changes and their compatibility with Catholic values. The Archdiocese of St. Louis, for example, noted that the new policy is part of a "troubling pattern of behavior" that includes lifting bans on same-sex-attracted scouts and scout leaders. Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, North Dakota, instructed his diocese to disaffiliate from the Boy Scouts in 2015 due to its decision to allow homosexual troop masters.
The inclusion of girls who identify as boys and the lifting of bans on same-sex-attracted individuals and leaders have been particularly contentious issues for Catholics. Some Catholics have lamented the organization's departure from being a boys-only group, while others have expressed concern about the message it sends to youth with gender identity issues. As a result, Catholic men have organized alternative scouting groups, such as Trail Life USA, Troops of St. George, and Fraternus, which prioritize Catholic teachings and values.
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Frequently asked questions
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) maintains that no member can grow into the best type of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. The first part of the Scout Oath or Promise states that a member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law."
The Catholic Church in the United States officially recognizes the Boy Scouts of America. The National Committee on Catholic Scouting works with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ensure alignment of Catholic Scouting programs with Catholic teaching.
The Boy Scouts have allowed biological girls who identify as boys to join. They have also lifted bans on same-sex-attracted scouts and scout leaders.
The Catholic Church has expressed concern about the Boy Scouts’ new policies, stating that they are “becoming increasingly incompatible with our Catholic values.” Some bishops have instructed their diocese to disaffiliate from the Boy Scouts.
Catholics concerned about the Boy Scouts' recent policy changes can investigate Catholic groups for boys and young men, such as the Troops of St. George, Trail Life USA, and Fraternus. These organizations combine recreational activities with faith-based opportunities to learn about Catholicism and grow closer to God.
