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      April 16, 2008

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The City of Brotherly Love is squaring off with a long-time ally -- the Boy Scouts of America. At issue: the Scout's 80-year-old headquarters building in downtown Philadelphia. But what's really at stake is the right of the Scouts to ban homosexuals from leadership. A Noble History Since 1910, the Boy Scouts have sought to nurture young boys by teaching them things like how to pitch a tent and how to be brave, kind and cheerful. And over 100 million boys have benefited. Today, close to 5 million are active in Scouts nationwide. Philadelphia's Cradle of Liberty Council is the third largest chapter in the country. Many supporters believe its work is critical to keeping young people in Philadelphia off the streets and out of trouble. "It's really, really important that groups like the Boy Scouts step in to provide some of that mentoring influence," Horace Cooper of the American Civil Rights Union said. "That father influence -- to step in to make up where the rest of the family structure has failed." But that influence may soon change. Gay Ban Challenged The City of Philadelphia says it will evict the Boy Scouts from their headquarters on June 1 if they don't change their policy banning homosexuals. The Scouts built the grand Italian Renaissance building 80 years ago and entered into an agreement with the city to lease it back for a dollar a year in perpetuity. The city says it told the Boy Scouts last June that they either need to stop "discriminating" and abide by the city's fair practice ordinance or get out of the building. Several conservative groups including the ACRU, Conservative Defense Alliance, and the Conservative Leadership PAC have launched a   campaign to support the Boy Scouts. The Cradle of Liberty Council told CBN that it's considering its options and a First Amendment action is one of them. But it remains hopeful that the matter can be resolved without
 
   

 litigation. The  Scouts cite a 2000 Supreme Court case which supports its right as a private organization  to set membership rules. Philadelphia joins several other cities including Berkeley and San Diego, California that have recently challenged the Scout's use of public facilities. And that has many wondering what type of scouting the second century for the Boy Scouts will bring. CBN Reporting

 
   
   
   
   
   

WAL-MART SHAME A North Carolina mother is encouraging concerned parents and grandparents to sign an online petition that asks the world's largest retailer to do more to keep certain magazines away from the eyes of children. Recently, OneNewsNow reported the story of Angie Smethers, the North Carolina mom who took her 7- and 9-year-old daughters to a local Wal-Mart. While there, one of the children brought the Sports Illustrated "Swimsuit Edition" to her, asking why the woman on the cover was not wearing a bikini top. Smethers raised a fuss with the store manager -- and eventually, Wal-Mart corporate headquarters issued a statement saying the Swimsuit Edition would be moved from the checkout aisles to the regular magazine rack and placed above the eye level of children. Still, the mother of the youngsters believes Wal-Mart should be more responsible by placing some sort of covers in front of other offensive magazines -- and she plans to outline her request in a letter the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer. "I'm asking to have some type of individual covers on each of these magazines so that no matter where they're placed -- high or low -- the kids aren't exposed to it," she explains. "And of course, Wal-Mart doesn't lose any revenue; they still sell the magazines and they still get the revenue, but it just help protect our kids."
Online petition drive asks Wal-Mart to cover offensive magazines
 

 
   
   
   
 

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Centers for Decency is apart of a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which encourages, motivates, educates, and equips the family and community in morality and decency offering information, articles, volunteers to make the difference, with conference speakers thereby battling the pornography and obscenity. If you appreciate our focus and hard work, send any dollar amount for donations or creative gifts to Centers for Decency, 1415 S. Voss Road, Suite 110393, Houston, Texas 77057 or call 713.266.2715.