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  December 4, 2007

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The Cradle of Liberty Council—Philadelphia's Boy Scout chapter—has been housed in an historic building in downtown Philly for almost 80 years, paying almost nothing for the prime piece of proprety under the terms of a 100-year sweetheart lease it inked with the city in 1928. But that lease is set to expire, and city officials say the taxpayer's shouldn't be footing the Scouts rent bill because of it's national policy banning openly gay members and leaders. The Scouts must either pony up the fair market rent for the space—about $200,000 a year—or find a new home. "If they want to accept the national policies of the Boy Scout organization they have to be able to pay for it," said Philadelphia City Councilman Jack Kelly.According to a letter the Boy Scouts received from City Solicitor Rome Diaz, the Boy Scouts have until Dec. 3 to sign a new lease and start paying for the use of the property, or the city will find a new tennant and the scouts will be evicted.Diaz, who is openly gay, refused FOX News' request for an interview. Cradle of Liberty Council member John Braxton, a retired judge and former Eagle Scout, said the Scouts can't afford the steep rent increase. He said the Scouts' policy on gays is "don't ask, don't tell.""I have known persons who have been gay within our scouting program," Braxton said. "We never ran them out. They're Eagle scouts, they're achievers, and what they do in their personal sexual life is not an issue within their scouting life," he said.  J.R. Brockman, scoutmaster for Troop 133, said he was surprised that the city council was taking such a position against the scouts. "You would think that a program such as ours would be embraced," Brockman said.Kelly said he hopes the city and the scouts could still work out a compromise. But with Monday's deadline fast approaching, the Philadelphia Boy Scouts may have to be loyal, helpful, friendly and kind someplace else.

  
     
   
DAD, IS THAT YOU? -- A sperm donor who sent gifts signed "Dad" to his biological son has been slapped with a child-support order, 18 years after helping his friend get pregnant. The Nassau County man donated his sperm to a work colleague, and included his name on the child's birth certificate, saying it would give the boy an identity, courts documents revealed. He then blurred the lines between donor and full-time father by sending money, presents and cards signed "Dad" and "Daddy," and having phone chats with the now college-bound teen. But the man's goodwill backfired: A court ruling says he is now liable for financial support of the 18-year-old, who lives with his mother in Oregon. "It really is no good deed goes unpunished," said the man's lawyer, Deborah Kelly of Potrush and Daab in Garden City."When people do things they think are being done with good intentions and there is an agreement and one of the party reneges on the agreement, it is certainly disconcerting." She said the time lapse was "unusual." "He was assured that he would have no responsibility on his part and of course 18 years has elapsed where there hasn't been responsibility," she said. "He did not anticipate this would happen now, when the child is almost an adult, that the mother would come forward for child support."She said her client had requested a DNA test, "because we have no concrete evidence he is the father." Nassau County Family Court judge Ellen Greenberg ruled Nov. 16 against a paternity test, saying it would have a traumatic effect on the child. The child signed an affidavit stating that he has "never known anyone other than [the man] to be his father," according to court documents. If payments were to go ahead, the child support would be determined based on the mother's earning capacity; the reported income of her partner, who is also a doctor; and the father's income. Click here to read the full story at the New York Post.
 
   
   

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