Ethan Walker
Scouting is a diverse and inclusive organization, welcoming members from all walks of life, faiths, and racial and ethnic groups. While the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) maintains that recognizing an obligation to God is integral to a Scout's training, it remains nonsectarian and does not immerse Scouts in the politics of the day. The BSA has recently rebranded as Scouting America to reflect its commitment to welcoming all youth and their families. This rebranding is not expected to impact Catholic Scout troops, which are officially recognized by both the BSA and the Catholic Church in the United States. Catholic Scouting is unique in its connection to the mission of the Church, aiming to form youth into good citizens and committed disciples of Jesus Christ. It offers religious activities and emblems in alignment with Catholic teachings and works closely with parish and school-based faith formation programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scouting is nonsectarian in its attitude toward religious training | Scouting America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God |
| Scouting supports the spiritual view of life that underlies the teaching of all denominations and faiths | Any youth or leader who would be a member of Scouting America must profess a belief in God and promise to do their best to fulfill the spiritual ideals of Scouting |
| Scouting encourages all members to participate in the program of their religion at their place of worship | The Scout Oath or Promise: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law." |
| Catholic Scouting is the official Catholic Scouting organization that utilizes all the programs and activities of the Boy Scouts of America | Catholic Scouting aims to form youth into both good citizens and committed disciples of Jesus Christ |
| The Boy Scouts of America has more than 97,650 Scouts from over 5,000 Catholic units across the country | Catholic Scouting works with parish and school-based faith formation as well as youth ministry outreaches, offering age-appropriate religious activities and emblems |
| Scouting organizations may recognize religious programs run by other organizations | In Austria, chaplains exist on a national level for Lutheran and Roman Catholic groups and members |
| Scouting organizations may have obligatory religious merit badges | In Slovenia, Zveza tabornikov Slovenije is a member of WOSM and is open to members without prejudice to birth, nationality, religion, or belief |
| Scouting organizations may have alternative Promises for optional use among their members | The Swedish Scout Promise was changed to omit reference to God |
| Scouting organizations may be segregated on the basis of religious belief | Scouting associations in France and Denmark are segregated on the basis of religious belief |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Boy Scouts of America is non-sectarian
Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), is a non-sectarian organisation. While it maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognising an obligation to God, it is nonsectarian in its attitude towards religious training. Its policy is that the home and organisation or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.
Scouting America seeks to include a diverse community of Scouts and Scout families. It respects the rights of all people and groups and allows youth to live, learn, and enjoy Scouting without immersing them in the politics of the day. Its unit is committed to providing an open, clearly structured environment where a diverse group of Scouts can grow collectively and individually toward self-reliance without harming one another. Conduct, not status, governs the unit.
Scouting America's Declaration of Religious Principle states:
> Scouting America recognises the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and organisation or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.
Scouting America's founder, Robert Baden-Powell, emphasised that there was a place for God within the Scouting movement. In "Scouting for Boys", Baden-Powell wrote about Christianity and the practice of it in everyday life. However, his position evolved shortly after the Scout movement began to grow rapidly around the world, and his writings and speeches allowed for all religions. Baden-Powell did continue to emphasise that religion was a part of a Scout's life, without dictating a particular faith. When asked where religion came into Scouting, Baden-Powell replied, "It does not come in at all".
While Scouting America is non-sectarian, it does have a religious element. All members must profess a belief in God and promise to do their best to fulfil the spiritual ideals of Scouting. Scouting America encourages all members, according to their own convictions, to participate in the program of their religion at their church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship. More than half of all Scouting units are chartered to religious organisations, and Scouting America supports the spiritual view of life that underlies the teaching of all denominations and faiths.
Interfaith Marriages: Catholics and Non-Catholics Unite in Love
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Catholic Scouting is the official Catholic Scouting organization
Scouting is a diverse and inclusive organization that welcomes members from all faiths and racial and ethnic groups. While it is nonsectarian, Scouting America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. This is reflected in the Scout Oath or Promise, where members declare their duty to God and their country.
Catholic Scouting
Catholic Scouting is supported by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS), which works with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ensure Catholic Scouting programs align with Catholic teachings. Diocesan bishops oversee arrangements with scouting organizations in their dioceses, and Catholic Scouting is often integrated into parish youth faith formation activities.
Catholic Scouting is open to both boys and girls, with separate troops for each, although some older youth programs are coed. It emphasizes leadership, organizational skills, respect for authority, reverence for God, and seeing the dignity in all people. Catholic Scouting aims to develop authentic leaders and help young people know themselves as sons and daughters of God, fulfilling their God-given mission.
Catholic Scouting is a journey of experiences, providing a collaborative and shared mission with Catholic youth ministry. It is a dynamic way to minister to young people, passing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ through faith, morals, leadership development, pastoral care, prayer, worship, and service.
Ash Wednesday: Do Catholics Receive the Eucharist?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Scouting America respects the rights of all people
Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) is a nonsectarian organisation that respects the rights of all people. It maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognising an obligation to God, but it does not dictate a particular faith. Its founder, Baden-Powell, emphasised that religion was a part of a Scout's life, but that it did not come into Scouting at all.
Scouting America seeks to provide an open, clearly structured environment where a diverse group of Scouts can grow collectively and individually toward self-reliance without harming one another. Scouts come from all walks of life and all types of family structures, faiths, and racial and ethnic groups. Scouting America allows youth to live and learn and enjoy Scouting without immersing them in the politics of the day.
While Scouting America is nonsectarian, more than half of its units are chartered to religious organisations, and it supports the spiritual view of life that underlies the teaching of all denominations and faiths. Any youth or leader who would be a member of Scouting America must profess a belief in God and promise to do their best to fulfil the spiritual ideals of Scouting. Scouting America encourages all members, according to their own convictions, to participate in the program of their religion at their church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship.
Scouting America's nonsectarian approach is reflected in the World Organization of the Scout Movement's (WOSM) "duty to God" principle, which has evolved to cover not only monotheistic religions but also non-monotheistic religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Baden-Powell's original Scout Promise stated that a Scout does his "duty to God", but he later clarified that Scouting was open to all religions.
Scouting America's commitment to welcoming youth and families from all backgrounds is reflected in its 2025 rebranding, which was not expected to impact Catholic Scout troops. The organisation's name change is intended to reflect its ongoing commitment to welcoming every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting.
Melkite Catholics: Meat Abstinence on Fridays
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Scouting founder Baden-Powell's views on religion
Scouting founder Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell was a Christian who believed that spirituality and a belief in God were an intrinsic aspect of the scouting movement. He felt that religion was not just about studying scriptures but a practical manifestation of loving one’s neighbour and living an honest and compassionate life.
In his book 'Scouting for Boys', Baden-Powell wrote:
> We aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life and dealings, and not merely the profession of theology on Sundays…
However, Baden-Powell wished to allow room for all religions, but concentrating only on a belief in God. He wrote:
> Though we hold no brief for any one form of belief over another, we see a way to helping all by carrying the same principle into practice as is now being employed in other branches of education…
Baden-Powell's view was that religion was a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding. He believed that God was a part of a Scout's life, and that being religious was about putting the principle of loving one's neighbour into practice. When asked where religion came into Scouting, Baden-Powell replied:
> It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding. Though we hold no brief for any one form of belief over another, we see a way to helping all by carrying the same principle into practice as is now being employed in other branches of education…
Baden-Powell's original formulation of the Scout Promise states that a Scout does his "duty to God". However, Baden-Powell's position evolved shortly after the Scout movement began to grow rapidly around the world, and his writings and speeches allowed for all religions. The Scout Association of the United Kingdom is flexible in its interpretation of Baden-Powell's writings, and Baden-Powell himself emphasised that Scouting was separate from any particular faith or religion.
Baden-Powell's own gravestone bears no cross or other religious symbol. Instead, it bears a circle with a dot in the centre, the trail sign for "Going home" or "I have gone home".
Poland's Catholic Population: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Boy Scouts' Oath or Promise
Scouting is a diverse and inclusive organization, welcoming members from all faiths and racial and ethnic groups. While the movement is non-sectarian, it does recognise the importance of religion in a Scout's life. The Scout Oath or Promise is a declaration made by all members of the Scout Movement, and its wording has varied slightly over time and across different countries. The original Scout Promise, written by Robert Baden-Powell, stated that a Scout does his "duty to God", but Baden-Powell later clarified that this was not restricted to a specific faith.
The current version of the Boy Scouts Oath or Promise, as stated by the Boy Scouts of America, is:
> "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
The Scout Law, which is referred to in the Oath, consists of 12 points, including being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, and kind.
While the Boy Scouts of America use the word "Oath", most other Scouting and Guiding organizations use the term "Promise". Typically, Scouts will make the three-fingered salute when reciting the Promise.
The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) has passed resolutions recognizing the importance of spirituality within Scouting, but without mandating a specific definition of God. The WOSM's "duty to God" principle is open to interpretation, allowing for members of various religious denominations to participate.
In some countries, such as Slovenia, the reference to God in the Promise has been replaced with "acceptance and development of Spiritual reality". In Sweden, the Promise was changed to remove the reference to "God and the motherland", now simply stating a commitment to "following the Scout Law".
Catholics' Perspective on the Crusades
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Boy Scouts is not a Catholic organization. It is non-sectarian and welcomes scouts from all faiths and denominations. However, there is a separate Catholic Scouting organization that utilizes all the programs and activities of the Boy Scouts of America.
Catholic Scouting is the official Catholic Scouting organization that utilizes all the programs and activities of the Boy Scouts of America. It is recognized by both the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church in the United States. Catholic Scouting aims to form youth into good citizens and committed disciples of Jesus Christ.
Catholic Scouting has the same programs and activities as regular Boy Scouts but is aligned with Catholic teachings. Catholic Scouting partners closely with parish and school-based faith formation, as well as youth ministry outreaches, offering age-appropriate religious activities and emblems.
Yes, girls are welcome to join Catholic Scouting. However, the Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs are not co-ed and maintain separate troops for boys and girls.
Yes, Catholic Scouting is an alternative to Boy Scouts that is officially recognized by both the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church in the United States. It is sponsored by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and aims to form youth into good citizens and committed disciples of Jesus Christ.
![St. Joseph Sunday Missal Prayerbook and Hymnal for 2026 [Paperback] Catholic Book Publishing Corp](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71N-HHa6foL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
