The Boy Scouts of America is one of our nation’s finest youth organizations. It helps build good character and self-confidence, and provides wholesome good times for millions of our young people, as many Chattanooga-area people can attest.
But when millions of boys are led by many thousands of volunteer male leaders, it is possible for a “bad apple” to show up now and then.
Such a rare case occurred in Portland, Ore., years ago. And now a jury has ruled the national organization was negligent in allowing one former assistant scoutmaster to interact with Scouts after he had admitted in 1983 to having molested 17 boys.
It’s sickening that anything improper occurred. Constant care should be applied to avoid having any such unfortunate situations develop anywhere. But some intolerable cases may occur in any kind of group, in schools or clubs or even churches. There should always be leadership watchfulness to prevent any impropriety, and to deal with it immediately if wrong does occur.
It is shocking that a jury in Portland ordered the national Boy Scouts of America organization to pay $18.5 million in punitive damages to a man who was sexually abused in the 1980s by the former assistant scoutmaster.
This rare case should alert all of us to be sure that only proper relationships prevail wherever young boys and girls are under adult leaders in any group or personal situations.
Fortunately, millions of fine youths and many thousands of admirable leaders work together properly and beneficially for our children, with bad situations being very unusual.