Boy Scouts of America files bankruptcy in wake of abuse lawsuits

By Tom Hals

 

 

FILE PHOTO: The statue of a scout stands in the entrance to the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving, Texas, February 5, 2013. REUTERS/Tim Sharp/File Photo

 

WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America said on Tuesday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid a flood of lawsuits over allegations of child sexual abuse stretching back decades.

 

The bankruptcy is not expected to affect the organization's programs, which promote self-reliance through outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. The group was already struggling with declining membership and controversy over admitting gay and female members.

 

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, has said that it sincerely apologizes to anyone harmed, that it believes the accusers and that it encourages victims to come forward.

 

Founded in 1910, the organization has been overwhelmed by hundreds of claims after several states, including New York, removed legal hurdles that had barred people from suing over old allegations of child sex abuse.

 

The changes to the law coincided with the #MeToo movement and a shift in public opinion that has been more supportive of accusers. The result has been a wave of lawsuits against church leaders, doctors and schools, as well as scouting.

 

The Boy Scouts has said in a statement that "we can live up to our social and moral responsibility to fairly compensate victims" while "also ensuring that we carry out our mission to serve youth, families and local communities through our programs."

 

Paul Mones, who represents hundreds of men who claim they were abused as scouts, told Reuters: "The bankruptcy is being filed as a result of decades of concealing abuse by the Boy Scouts and their adult leaders."

 

The bankruptcy, filed in Delaware, will allow the Boy Scouts to bring all of the lawsuits into one court and try to negotiate a settlement, rather than using the organization's funds to fight each case in court, which might leave some victims with nothing.

 

A similar bankruptcy strategy to resolve sex abuse lawsuits has been used by more than 20 Catholic dioceses and USA Gymnastics.

 

It could, however, be challenging to determine the value of the Boy Scouts' assets. The national organization said in its most recent annual report from 2018 that it had $1.5 billion. But hundreds of local councils have their own assets, and victims may try to make those available for settling claims.

 

Membership in the organization's Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts fell 13% at the end of 2018 from the end of 2012, according to its annual report.

 

The Boy Scouts lost a major source of support when the Mormon church said it would no longer sponsor scouting troops, beginning in 2020. The move by the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came shortly after the Boy Scouts said it would drop "boy" from its program for older youths and after saying it would admit transgender scouts.

 

The church said its decision was not influenced by the Boy Scouts' changes, but by a desire to focus on its own youth programs.

 

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Dan Grebler and Gerry Doyle)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-19

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Out of the fire and into the pan, the Catholic Church should have tried this one on.....dib, dib, dib ????

 

Edited February 18, 20206 yr by 4MyEgo

Lord Baden Powell would be turning in his grave!

 

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

"The bankruptcy is being filed as a result of decades of concealing abuse by the Boy Scouts and their adult leaders."

Disgraceful!

17 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Lord Baden Powell would be turning in his grave!

 

If Baden Powell is turning in his grave it would be out of envy.  He was certainly gay and probably a pedophile himself.

 

Once in the army he [Baden Powell] made a name for himself playing female roles in army theatricals. Throughout his life he openly admired muscular men and pretty boys, while attractive women sent him into a state of anxiety; he was much more comfortable with plain, companionable ones. He was 55 before he decided to marry, but he panicked soon after his union with the lovely young Olave Soames, developing agonizing headaches that were relieved only when he left the matrimonial bed and returned to his ascetic soldier’s cot.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/opinion/scoutings-gay-founder.html

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Dob dob dob became the reality part of the Motto 

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

Lord Baden Powell would be turning in his grave!

 

Disgraceful!

I’m not entirely sure he would.

59 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

My mom and dad knew the scouts were riddled with gays child molesters way back in the 60's. This is the real reason me and my brothers were never in it. 

Likewise.

Test your knowledge:-

Anyone know where Baden-Powell is buried?

4 hours ago, Daffy D said:

Test your knowledge:-

Anyone know where Baden-Powell is buried?

At a wild guess, I'd say in the ground!

7 hours ago, Daffy D said:

Test your knowledge:-

Anyone know where Baden-Powell is buried?

 

Nyeri, Kenya

27 minutes ago, mrfill said:

Nyeri, Kenya

We have a winner 

 

Scouts Honor you didn't Google 

I am very saddened by this. Fortunately, my association with the BSA from age 8 through my retirement in 2011 was not privy to these charges. The only contest I faced was being liberal in a quasi nationalistic movement. I have only good memories for myself and my Sons through our participation in International Scouting. It was a different time as a Baby Boomer, you actually stood out if you were not a Scout.

2 hours ago, mrfill said:

Nyeri, Kenya

Lucky guess 

13 hours ago, Dap said:

Lucky guess 

Wow! With luck like that you should buy a whole book of lottery tickets  

14 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

I am very saddened by this.

Me also 

 

I was a scout in my youth and have nothing but good memories of that time. I learned crafts and values that have served me well through life and are still with me to this day. 

 

D.D.

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Daffy D said:

Wow! With luck like that you should buy a whole book of lottery tickets  

At the very least