
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                    TAG: 9406170009 
SECTION: COMMENTARY                     PAGE: J4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940619                                 LENGTH:

SCOUTS REJECT `ABERRANT' BEHAVIOR

{LEAD} I must comment on recent remarks by our nation's surgeon general concerning the Boy Scouts of America and their stand on homosexuality. We in scouting are proud to be part of an organization that upholds and attempts to instill in our youth traditional Christian and American values.

The surgeon general and others in our society would like all of us to acknowledge homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle and to believe that this aberrant behavior is natural, normal and part of mainstream America. The Boy Scouts of America reject this position emphatically.

{REST} The vast majority of right-thinking, God-fearing Americans agree with us and are glad to enroll their sons in an organization where they will not be exposed to sexual perversion or any other bad influences. We do not hate homosexuals, only the behavior in which they choose to engage. We will continue to reject homosexuals because of what they do, not who they are.

Boy Scouts of America members would be ill-served if we allowed ourselves to be put off course by the winds of change and permissiveness sweeping our nation. With the continued support of concerned Americans, we will continue to stand firm on this issue.

JOSEPH C. SCARLOTT

Virginia Beach, June 4, 1994 by CNB