Texas Values, an organization whose goal is to "preserve and advance a culture of family values," has issued an open letter to the Boy Scouts of America with their thoughts on lifting the ban on gay scouts. They're against it.
"While adopting this ill-considered and wrongly devised policy might earn temporary kudos, you can never do enough to appease those who want to see the scouts robbed of their moral authority." they write. And nearly 40 Texas GOP officials have added their names to the letter, joining Governor Rick Perry in outrage that the BSA is even opening the topic for discussion.
Texas Values is also hosting a "Save Our Scouts" prayer vigil tomorrow at BSA headquarters in Irving. If you happen to be a Texas legislator and would like to add your name to the list, email [email protected]. The complete letter with signatures follows:
An initial group of state elected officials have released an open letter to the Boy Scouts of America:As state elected officials, we strongly encourage the Boy Scouts of America to stick with their decades of support for family values and moral principles. Capitulating to the liberal social agenda not only undermines the very principles of scouting, but sets the stage for the erosion of an organization that has defined the American experience for generations of young men.
Scouts begin each meeting with an Oath, "to do my duty, to God and my country, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight." By caving in to pressure from the social left, the national leadership would violate each of those principles.
Worse still, the contemplated national policy would throw to the wolves chartering organizations and scout troops that choose to stick with scouting's historic and legally protected policy. Left to defend themselves from legal attacks, we fear many churches and other entities will choose to simply abandon scouting altogether - it will be the safer course, and one hastening the organization's eventual collapse.
Rest assured that while adopting this ill-considered and wrongly devised policy might earn temporary kudos, you can never do enough to appease those who want to see the scouts robbed of their moral authority.
We urge you to be morally and physically strong. We urge you to protect all that scouting has been, and all that it can remain.
Letter Signers:
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson State Senator Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) State Senator Kelly Hancock (R-Fort Worth) State Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) State Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) State Senator Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) State Representative Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) State Representative Pat Fallon (R-Frisco) State Representative Scott Sanford (R-McKinney) State Representative Jeff Leach (R-Plano) State Representative Matt Krause (R-Ft. Worth) State Representative Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) State Representative Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) State Representative Scott Turner (R-Frisco) State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) State Representative Jodie Laubenberg (R-Parker) State Representative Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) State Representative Van Taylor (R-Plano) State Representative Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth) State Representative Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) State Representative Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) State Representative Drew Springer (R-Muenster) State Representative Dan Flynn (R-Canton) State Representative Cecil Bell Jr. (R-Magnolia) State Representative Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) State Representative James White (R-Woodville) State Representative Rob Orr (R-Burleson) State Representative James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) State Representative Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) State Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) State Representative Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood) State Representative Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land) State Board of Education Member Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio) State Board of Education Member David Bradley (R-Beaumont) Collin Country Commissioner Pct 3 Chris Hill (BSA Circle Ten Lone Star District Chairman) Collin County Judge Keith Self
