$3.5 million for the Boy Scouts.
On May 15, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5872, an act "To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes." The sale of the coins by the Secretary of the Treasury, with a surcharge on each coin sold to "be paid to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation." In other words, this is a congressionally mandated fundraiser for the Boy Scouts.With the act allowing for up to 350,000 of this coin to be issued and fixing the surcharge at $10 per coin, the Boy Scouts could receive as much as $3.5 million from their sale. Never before, in the long history of U.S. government issued commemorative coins, has this benefit been granted to an organization that promotes religion or discriminates based on religion.
Un-believable.
This is unconstitutional based on the Boy Scouts Declaration of Religious Principles.
The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the 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 recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes 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 the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.
It's religious discrimination!
A private organization can have whatever beliefs and religious requirements it chooses to. That's their constitutional right. But Congress can absolutely not financially aid the Boy Scouts in the promotion of their beliefs and enforcement of their religious requirements by legislating a fundraiser for them!
Comments
So does this mean that our government is going to do this type of donating to EVERY non profit organization? We have fallen far from our constitutional laws years ago. We are not for the people, by the people and of the people any longer!
Posted by: Mindy | May 19, 2008 8:57 PM
You know Kat, I found this article interesting. My Son is in Boy Scouts, but we DO NOT participate in the religious activities. We DO NOT recite the Oath to God. Meaning my Son does NOT, for one. He does not know who God is. So he asked me one day, who is that person. I told him that one day he will make the decision on that one. They have never said a word to me about our beliefs, and if they ever did. I would have to say something.
Posted by: Christie | May 20, 2008 8:09 AM
I read that 248 members of the House of Representatives and Congress were former Boy Scouts.
Maybe this has something to do with it?
Posted by: Coin Collecting | May 20, 2008 8:32 AM
I have always loathed that Bible-thumping, homophobic paramilitary organization.
Posted by: Mr. Fabulous | May 20, 2008 10:57 AM