Texas: Sentenced to the Boy Scouts

In Houston, a judge has been sentencing juvenile offenders to spend time in the Boy Scouts. The fact that the group discriminates against gays and atheists doesn't appear to matter to Kent Adams; for all I know, that may be a selling point as far as he is concerned.

WAFF reports:

Kent Adams in the Houston suburb of Spring has sent 125 teens to the Scouts. Adams -- who's a district chairman of the Boy Scouts -- says the kids are accused of such nonviolent acts as misconduct at school.

The fact that Adams is an official with the Boy Scouts suggests a conflict of interests. The fact that the group discriminates on the basis of religion, as well as requires a religious oath in order to join, means that his sentences can't be upheld as constitutional. It's already been established that people can't be forced to go to Alcoholics Anonymous because of the religious nature of the organization and this isn't really different — especially given the youth of the people being sentenced.

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Boy Scouts of America
• Secularism 101