An attack on Scouting

Re “Scouting’s merits,” Opinion, Feb. 12

Jay Fernandez attacks one of the nation’s finest institutions, the Boy Scouts. He grounds his assault on a solicitation letter he received from the Scouting Legal Defense Fund. He does not mention that the fund is not affiliated with the Boy Scouts.

Fernandez asserts that the Boy Scouts “exclude children or adult volunteers based on their sexual orientation.” That’s misleading. The Scouts are against overt sexual conduct or statements by anyone -- homosexual or heterosexual. Sexuality has no place in a youth organization.

He distorts the Scout oath, which states, “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.” The oath says nothing about homosexuality; contrary to the author’s word-twisting, today’s straight and gay slang was not part of common vocabulary when the oath was drafted 98 years ago.

Let’s support, not hinder, the efforts of thousands of Scout leaders to make a positive difference in the lives of our youth.

Robert F. Scoular

President

Los Angeles Area Council

Boys Scouts of America