Tuesday, March 25, 2008

HUD grant to theist only Boy Scouts violates law

BSA National Council, Litigation, "Duty to God" cases says "Because of Scouting’s methods and beliefs, Scouting does not accept atheists and agnostics as members or adult volunteer leaders." (see Policies ● Youth and Adult Volunteers).

Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (see A-6.4 Discrimination prohibited), as amended prohibits discrimination in Community Development Block Grant Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. Pertains to all Title I programs, including employment.

Excerpt from Anchorage Daily News article "Boy Scout adventure camp planned north of Talkeetna" (warning: this link may expire) follows:

HELP'S ON WAY: Federal grant could get project started.

By S.J. KOMARNITSKY
skomarnitsky@adn.com

Published: March 21st, 2008 02:27 AM
Last Modified: March 21st, 2008 03:15 AM

WASILLA -- An Anchorage-based Boy Scout group is in line to receive a federal grant of nearly $1 million that could kick-start construction of a long planned high-adventure camp near Blair Lake, north of Talkeetna.
The Great Alaska Council, which serves 6,000 Scouts, most in Southcentral Alaska, hasn't yet received the $940,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But the group could get the funding as early as next month once the camp environmental assessment is finalized. A copy of that assessment, which concluded the camp would have "no significant impact" on the surrounding wilderness, is currently being circulated for public comment.

Scouts project manager Tom Barnett said this week that the federal grant would help pay for design and construction of some initial facilities, including a generator building, warehouse and administrative office.

....

Take action: Complain to HUD that this grant appears to violate non-discrimination provisions of Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act for grant recipients because participation in Boy Scouts Scouting programs is restricted to theists (select link for email, phone, and mail contact information).

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