The Boy Scouts have had problems with pedophiles forever and were keeping files on abusers starting back in the 1920s. The problem is human nature and enablers getting into positions of power. If you want a deep dive on the Boy Scouts problems, The Intercept did a long article recently. https://theintercept.com/2020/12/21/boy-scouts-abuse-scandal-film/
I think one of the big problems with Scouts, churches, etc., is that they attract pedophiles. We as parents must realize that pedophiles will purposely join these groups and appear normal. They'll befriend you to get near your children. Parents need to know this. We tend to be comfortable with people we see as being in our tribe, but we can't let our guards down or assume that just because an organization is good doesn't mean all the people within the organization are good.
I coached Christian Youth basketball for a while decades ago. I asked that there was always at least two other parents at our practices, just to protect the kids, the more eyes, the better.
This is such a good point. We have to remain diligent. My husband is saying no to a week long church camp for this reason. It kind of breaks my heart. I got to do these things as a kid. I hate that we have to be so worried all the time. But I see his point, better safe than sorry.
A few years ago I worked briefly at an Episcopal church where the minister told me the scouts use the church for meetings. The leader of the troop was accused of abusing boys in their basement classrooms. She said the trial hadn't occurred yet so this guy was free to walk around the church and many of the members claimed that such a thing could never have happened with such a nice man in charge! I said "no thanks" and left that job. The minister still kept the Sunday school classrooms in the basement (with solid doors for each & no windows) just as they were with this guy able to stop by whenever. A "woke" minister in charge of a "woke" congregation. Sad that children aren't the priority!!
Unfortunately I have had a similar experience at a church he was popular( they know what they are doing) but made no effort to be friendly to me. I had no authority. In my opinion they( happened more than once) were easily spotted they butter up or brown nose ppl with influence
40+ years ago, our Cub Scout den leader magically couldn't come to our meetings anymore. Found out when I was an adult that the den leader, who was the father of a childhood friend, touched the wrong kid (cop's son) nd ended up in prison, but that the father had been touching kids for years. Twisted justice.
My first Scoutmaster was a psychopath, rather than a pedophile. It's an absolute miracle that none of us wound up in the hospital or dead from that man, and thankfully we wound up with a new Scoutmaster several months after I joined.
The Boy Scouts have had problems with pedophiles forever and were keeping files on abusers starting back in the 1920s.
The problem is human nature and enablers getting into positions of power.
If you want a deep dive on the Boy Scouts problems, The Intercept did a long article recently.
https://theintercept.com/2020/12/21/boy-scouts-abuse-scandal-film/
I think one of the big problems with Scouts, churches, etc., is that they attract pedophiles. We as parents must realize that pedophiles will purposely join these groups and appear normal. They'll befriend you to get near your children. Parents need to know this. We tend to be comfortable with people we see as being in our tribe, but we can't let our guards down or assume that just because an organization is good doesn't mean all the people within the organization are good.
I coached Christian Youth basketball for a while decades ago. I asked that there was always at least two other parents at our practices, just to protect the kids, the more eyes, the better.
This is such a good point. We have to remain diligent. My husband is saying no to a week long church camp for this reason. It kind of breaks my heart. I got to do these things as a kid. I hate that we have to be so worried all the time. But I see his point, better safe than sorry.
Remember what Willie Sutton said when asked why he robbed banks: "Because that's where the money is."
Why would a pedophile join the groups we've defined? "Because that's where the little kids are."
A few years ago I worked briefly at an Episcopal church where the minister told me the scouts use the church for meetings. The leader of the troop was accused of abusing boys in their basement classrooms. She said the trial hadn't occurred yet so this guy was free to walk around the church and many of the members claimed that such a thing could never have happened with such a nice man in charge! I said "no thanks" and left that job. The minister still kept the Sunday school classrooms in the basement (with solid doors for each & no windows) just as they were with this guy able to stop by whenever. A "woke" minister in charge of a "woke" congregation. Sad that children aren't the priority!!
Unfortunately I have had a similar experience at a church he was popular( they know what they are doing) but made no effort to be friendly to me. I had no authority. In my opinion they( happened more than once) were easily spotted they butter up or brown nose ppl with influence
40+ years ago, our Cub Scout den leader magically couldn't come to our meetings anymore. Found out when I was an adult that the den leader, who was the father of a childhood friend, touched the wrong kid (cop's son) nd ended up in prison, but that the father had been touching kids for years. Twisted justice.
My first Scoutmaster was a psychopath, rather than a pedophile. It's an absolute miracle that none of us wound up in the hospital or dead from that man, and thankfully we wound up with a new Scoutmaster several months after I joined.