Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Religious Leader Decries Court Ruling

(Boston, MA- June 28) The Rev. John Buehrens, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, deplored today's ruling by the United States Supreme Court in the case of the Boy Scouts vs. James Dale. "We regret the Court's decision, which is a setback for justice, human rights, and non-discrimination," Buehrens said. Addressing the issue from a moral perspective, Buehrens said, "Unitarian Universalists and others know that it is homophobia that is the sin, not homosexuality."

"The Boy Scouts have been alone among youth organizations in practicing this kind of discrimination," Buehrens continued. Noting that the Court's decision treated the Boy Scouts as a "private organization," Buehrens said, "The Boy Scouts cannot have it both ways. If they are allowed to discriminate, then it is time to end their access to public facilities such as public schools and to consider revoking their Congressional charter."

The Unitarian Universalist Association has been embroiled in a dispute with the Boy Scouts for over two years due to the Association's vocal support of both gay rights and the rights of agnostic scouts. In 1998, the Boy Scouts rescinded the authority of the liberal religious group to award its Religion in Life emblem to Unitarian Universalist scouts who complete the required program. The UUA has continued to award the emblem despite the Boy Scouts' prohibition.

"We call upon the Boy Scouts of America to end their discrimination against gays and also to end their discrimination on the basis of religious belief, including discrimination against Unitarians and others whose definition of God is different from the Boy Scouts' definition," Buehrens said.

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal, creedless religion with Judeo-Christian roots. The UUA was formed in 1961 through the merger of the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association. For more information on the UUA or its dispute with the Boy Scouts of America, please contact John Hurley, Director of Information, at (617) 742-2100 x131 or by email at jhurley@uua.org

Unitarian Universalist Association
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