Catholic Family Vignettes

235.

That was today's attendance for the 9:00 a.m. Traditional Mass. Amazing! Monsignor John Cody was today's celebrant (Fr. Lutz is in Denton, Nebraska for the tonsure of seminarian Michael Connaughton) and in addition to regular parish members as well as a few other visitors, there were more than forty Boy Scouts, leaders and parents.

Most of the Scouts and parents had never attended the Latin Mass--it was such an encouraging sight. These young men, armed with the Ecclesia Dei guide to the Latin Mass, were so reverent and well-mannered. May God bless them all!

Remember to keep in your prayers the Boy Scouts and their leaders. Though my own sons are not Scouts (only because we are fortunate enough to be able to provide within the context of the family many of the experiences the Scouts offer), we support them in any way we can. My husband was a Scout for many years.

This organization has struggled for years to maintain its commitment to assist in the formation of young men of character. They have kept in place policies to exclude atheist, agnostics and avowed homosexuals. They have also remained firm in their intent to keep this organization the "Boy" Scouts and not the "People" Scouts. The Supreme Court has repeatedly (thus far) upheld the rights of the BSA to exclude atheist, agnostics, homosexuals and women. Nonetheless, the attacks keep coming:

Philadelphia Raises Boy Scouts' Rent $199,999 Over Gay Ban

Many organizations (like the United Way) have reduced and even refused to continue funding the BSA due to their refusal the budge on issues that strike at the very core of this organization. A few quotes to encapsulate what the Scouts are about:

Scout Oath
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.

Scout Law
A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

As early as 1908, Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell wrote in the first Scout handbook that, "No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws."

"The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were designed to meet the emotional, psychological, physical, and other needs of boys between the ages of 8 and 14."

"Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed. The conduct of youth members must be in compliance with the Scout Oath and Law, and membership in Boy Scouts of America is contingent upon the willingness to accept Scouting’s values and beliefs."

God Bless the Boy Scouts of America!