Temple Isaiah of Lafayette has taken a stand.
The temple's Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday night to express its opposition to the Boy Scouts of America's decision to disqualify participants because of sexual orientation. The board called for a letter-writing campaign by temple members.
A Temple Isaiah press release cited rejection of "a superb candidate for Eagle Scout in our neighborhood" (Ryan Andresen of Moraga).
"Though we cannot change the Scouts’ national policy, we can work hard within and outside Temple Isaiah’s walls to create an awareness of the damaging consequences of such policies on all our youth and on our communities,” said Rabbi Roberto Graetz of Temple Isaiah. “Ten years ago, the Reform [Jewish] movement, through its governing bodies and constituencies, issued a strong recommendation favoring full inclusion of gay Scouts and troop leaders, in contradiction of the BSA policy forbidding their participation."
"A member of the Boy Scouts as a child, (Manti) Te’o earned Eagle Scout status after years of determination and effort."
--Samuel Johnson
i can't wait to hear what the temple's position is on drugs in sports.....
The BSA has made it quite clear that it has no plans to change its membership rules. It will never change. Why people continue to beat their heads against a wall on this matter is completely mystifying. Either accept what you can't change & play the game or quit the group. I've not yet met one Eagle scout who was hunted down by BSA executives when they came out AFTER getting the badge.
Sounds to me like this synagogue just wanted a bit of airtime by jumping on the hot button du jour. Good job.
When is it time to stop trying to be accepted by a homophobic, mainstream organization which has credentials, and when is it time to cast it aside for what it is...a reprehensible ideology! They have rejected Ryan, your fine son, again and again, based upon their "principles". It is time to cast THEM aside and expose THEM for what they are. The Hitler Youth were taught camping and survival skills and SERVICE, but to what end? If the ideology is bankrupt, cast it aside, and start over. These organizations teach conformity as much as anything. They don't allow free thinking. Allegiance to God!? Whose god? It is a narrow-minded, bigoted organization from the start. Yes, it does good, and yes it does harm. And, Woe unto you who do not recognize that when they speak of sinners, they speak of you who are "not of us". That is my advice as a parent, but I understand the difficulty of parenting (I am crappy at it), so I support whatever you do for your son!