DOD Crumbles Before ACLU on Scouts Issue; Amer. Legion Aghast

by Chad Groening and Jody Brown
November 23, 2004

(AgapePress) - A spokesman for the world's largest veterans organization is calling on the Secretary of Defense to not cave in to what he calls the "legal terrorists" of the ACLU in its desire to punish the Boy Scouts of America.

In a negotiated settlement earlier this month, the Department of Defense agreed to cease direct sponsorship of Boy Scout units on military installations. The settlement is the result of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which claimed that the government has improperly supported a group that requires members to believe in God.

"If our Constitution's promise of religious liberty is to be a reality, the government should not be administering religious oaths or discriminating based upon religious beliefs," says Adam Schwartz of the ACLU of Illinois in announcing the settlement. "This agreement removes the Pentagon from direct sponsorship of Scout troops that engage in such discrimination."

The settlement does not prevent service members from leading Scout troops unofficially on their own time. And Scouts will still be able to meet on military bases where civilian groups are permitted to hold events.

The American Legion is one of the largest sponsors of the Boy Scouts in the United States. Legion spokesman Robert Spanogle says it goes beyond stupidity that the Defense Department would kowtow to the ACLU and agree to not directly sponsor Scout troops.

"The Department of Defense has caved in to what I call 'legal terrorists' -- the ACLU," Spanogle says. "I would hope that [Secretary of Defense Donald] Rumsfeld, who said in a press release that he was not aware of this -- and I'm sure he isn't; he's conducting a war on terrorism -- that he will take action and stand up for what's right."

The American Legion spokesman expresses his dismay at the DOD's reaction. "What we find in this ruling by the Department of Defense, saying that because of the Scouts' oath that says '...for God and Country,' that now they're termed an unconstitutional [and] religious organization -- and we just find it absurd," he states. "It goes beyond the definition of stupidity."

Spanogle believes the ACLU is going after the Boy Scouts at least in part because of the organization's steadfast refusal to allow homosexuals to serve as Scout leaders.

Meanwhile, on Saturday (November 20) the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a non-binding resolution recognizing the invaluable public service performed by the Boy Scouts. The resolution was passed on a 391-to-3 vote. Conservative activist Gary Bauer asks: "I wonder how the ACLU would fare if a similar vote were held on its activities?"