Trial opens in Portland, with Boy Scouts accused of hiding pedophiles

[stevedeshazer]

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/trial_opens_in_portland_with_b.html

A civil trial that opened Wednesday in Portland will show that the Boy Scouts of America knew it had child molesters in its leadership for decades but kept the problem quiet, according to an attorney for one of the victims.

The case, expected to attract national attention, centers on a Portland man who confessed to Scout leaders that he had molested 17 Scouts but was allowed to continue joining boys in Scouting activities.

On a broader scale, the case is one of the first to bring into open court hundreds of confidential files that the 100-year-old organization kept on Scout leaders and others suspected of sexually abusing boys. Though the Scouts, based in Texas, have been sued dozens of times over allegations of sexual abuse, most cases have been settled out of court, keeping files from becoming public.

Patrick Boyle, the Washington, D.C.-based author of "Scout's Honor: Sexual Abuse in America's Most Trusted Institution," said Wednesday that this case may be only the second time such files have been used in a trial.

"It's very embarrassing to them," Boyle said.

[Mari333]

1. yep they sure did

I found out that the pack leader of my 3 sons was himself arrested a few years ago for pedophilia..I freaked out and called my sons and they said he had not bothered them when they were little.


they wont allow atheists or gays in scouting, but I guess they dont screen for pedophiles.

[left coaster]

2. "Boy Scouts of America knew it had child molesters in its leadership"

"...for decades but kept the problem quiet.."


Maybe they figured, if the Catholic church could do it, why not them?

[HopeHoops]

3. Weird - I never thought they were hiding them. I thought they called them "Scout leaders".

:shrug:

[GodlessBiker]

4. Scout leaders, priests...call them what you will.

[slampoet]

5. My old Constitutional Law professor Told us he was molested by his scout leader in 1923

That molester later on became a National Scouting Leader.

[Maraya1969]

6. When they banned gay men in the boy scouts someone I know predicted this.

Gay men are attracted to MEN. Pedophiles live in straight society and try to have access to children. What a perfect place for them but the boy scouts!

I wonder if they knew about the pedophiles when they banned gay men.

[Bluebear]

7. As Aravosis says, "Maybe they should incorporate as a religion"