SCOUTING IS YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
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The
complex world of the 20th century, with its emphasis
on instant answers and high technology, has had a devastating
effect on our young people. Working mothers, single-parent
families, and the difficulties of maintaining family
life all add to the problem. The suicide rate among
teenagers is the highest of any age group, and you will
find drugs and alcohol prevalent even among preteens.
It is no wonder that young people wander about in search
of something to hang on to, someone to trust and in
whom to confide. They have difficulty finding God, because
there is no one to show them the way.
How significant it is, therefore, that the latest revisions
of the Boy Scout Handbook have restored the emphasis
on duty to God in its pages. For, while the charter
of the Boy Scouts of America has always had a religious
principle, it was not always obvious to the individual
youth in the unit.
In
recent years, as the Catholic Church developed its apostolate
to youth more fully, it became known as youth ministry.
Scouting is a significant part of this ministry.
There is one particular aspect of Scouting that deserves
special attention today, that is, Scouting has a tremendous
potential for developing Christian leadership.
Many of our youth today are struggling with an identity
crisis and problems that growing up in these times often
creates. Boys involved in the Scouting experience have
a real advantage in coming to know themselves and attaining
skills that will give direction to their lives.
Training, challenging, and supporting young men to develop
responsibility, maturity, and leadership are constant
elements of the BSA.
The
Catholic Church is fortunate to have in the Scouting
movement so apt a vehicle for Christian development.
Scouting is vital in today's world as a unique opportunity
for young people to grow in faith, life, and leadership.
The Boy Scouts of America has consistently stressed
the necessity of the spiritual life for youth and the
importance of dependence on God.
Though programs have come and gone as the Boy Scouts
of America has responded to changing times, the recognition
of this spiritual principle has remained constant.
On October 10, 1985, the national Executive Board of
the Boy Scouts of America passed a resolution reaffirming
the Scout Oath and the Scout Law as important precepts
of Scouting. The resolution is consistent with the original
principles of the BSA when it was founded in 1910. The
Religious Relationships Committee, whose members represent
all the major religions that are affiliated with the
BSA, endorsed the resolution.
The BSA passed this resolution to reaffirm its commitment
of "Duty to God."
The twelfth point of the Scout Law says: "A Scout
is reverent."
More than half a century ago, the Boy Scouts of America
and the Catholic Church drew up a plan of cooperation,
which is still working well. The Church recognized Scouting
as a program that provides rich, educational experiences
and essential character enrichment. At the same time,
the Boy Scouts of America realized that its vision demanded
strong spiritual support, and the Church is the provider
of this support.
Youth ministry today demands a total commitment to youth,
a commitment that must be totally Christ leading. Scouting,
with its many programs and activities, can bring a Scout
to a greater knowledge of God through nature and comradeship.
With the addition of a spiritual emphasis such as that
provided by the Catholic Committee on Scouting on a
local, diocesan, and national level, the local Scouting
unit can have a program that will lead young people
to Christ.
Scouting is basically an educational program and thus
it is just as important to train leaders to work with
youth as it is to train youth. Scouting under Catholic
auspices must train youth to be good citizens and good
Catholics (or members of whatever faith to which our
Scouts belong). Adult leaders must be trained to do
the job well.
To meet this need, the National Catholic Committee on
Scouting developed the Scouter development program several
years ago to help our adult leaders relate their Christianity
to Scouting. To do the job effectively, our leaders
must know what is expected of them, and so Scouter development
trains them in the basic philosophy of youth ministry,
with particular attention to the religious, vocational,
and educational aspects. At the same time the spirituality
of participants in the Scouter development program is
given an opportunity to grow and develop.
A variety of programs exist to underline the importance
of religion in Scouting. Through the Catholic Committee
on Scouting, there are opportunities for weekend retreats
for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts, days of spiritual
activity for Cub Scouts, and special activities for
Venturers. Religion and Scouting must relate to each
other. They cannot be put into separate categories Scouting
for weekdays, religion for Sundays. Today's young people
can perceive falsity easily. They seek God and want
to find Him not just on Sundays, but every day. And
what a Scout learns in the troop program cannot contradict
the principles of his faith. To teach him how to build
a fire is of no value if he uses that skill to burn
down other people's property.
Through the Religious Emblems program of the Catholic
Committee on Scouting, a boy can learn how to put his
faith and his Scouting together in an integrated learning
experience. By working on the religious emblem for his
age, a boy reinforces what he learns in the parish religious
education program. This can lead to his selection of
a religious vocation.
Finally, but by no means least in importance, the principles
of the Oath and Law should be explained both from a
Scouting point of view and from a religious point of
view. If a boy does not live up to one of these points,
it is the duty of the leader to point out the religious
failing as well as the Scouting deficiencies.
The practical expression of Christianity is seen in
the Scout slogan, "Do a Good Turn Daily."
This should be stressed frequently so that boys do not
lose perspective in what they are doing.
The Scouting apostolate is truly
a most important aspect of youth ministry in our Church.
The Scout Oath and Law teaches
a boy respect for authority, develops an attitude
of service, and encourages the Christian way of life.
It
is strongly recommended that:
-
At a boy's Tenderfoot investiture ceremony he is
given a copy of this interpretation of the Scout
Oath and Law.
-
At some time during his first 6 months in Scouting,
he discusses with his parents the meaning and obligations
of the Scout Oath and Law.
-
Provisions are made during Scout Sunday observance
for all members of the unit to rededicate themselves
to the precepts of the Scout Oath and Law.
-
At least once a year, each unit leader or Scout
chaplain discusses with his unit the meaning and
obligations of the Scout Oath and Law.
-
During Scout Retreats and Days of Recollection,
each member of the unit is provided an opportunity
to "check his course:' to determine just how
well he is living up to these precepts.
Top
of page.
THE
SCOUT OATH
"On
my honor I will do my best": Our honor
is a quality we possess because of our dignity as human
beings and children of God. Our "best" means
to give all we have. It means to keep striving to do
what we know is right, and in the Oath it means we will
try to be good Scouts by fulfilling our Scout duties
as expressed in the Scout Law.
"To do my duty to God and my country and
to obey the Scout Law": Our duty to God
and country means chiefly two things: obedience and
loyalty. The duties we owe to the church, to our country,
to parents; to one another, and to ourselves come from
some command of God. The Scout Law sums up all the qualities
a Scout should have and without which he cannot be a
good Scout.
"To help other people at all times":
Our Lord told us that love of our neighbor was like
the first law of love of God. Early Christians were
known by the love they had for one another. Real Christian
charity or love prompts us to want to help others at
all times. Our Scouting training will give us skills
and knowledge that will put us in a better position
to do this.
"To keep myself physically strong, mentally
awake, and morally straight": Scouting
offers us many opportunities to grow strong physically.
To be alert and ready requires us to give special care
to those two gifts of soul – intellect and will
– that make us like unto God. "Morally straight"
means we must try to know what is right and true, to
love what is good, and to choose it. Top
of page.
THE
SCOUT LAW
The
Scout Law is really a definition of a Scout. Wearing
the uniform alone does not make a Scout. In fact, the
boy who keeps the Scout Law, even if he has no uniform,
is the real Scout far more than one who wears the uniform
but does not keep the Law. This is the Scout Law you
promise to obey in the Scout Oath:
A Scout is trustworthy: Character is
what a man is. Reputation is what people think about
him. A youth of character is worthy of trust. No one
is worthy of trust who does not recognize his dignity
and the dignity of all men as children of God.
A Scout is loyal: Because our first
loyalty is to God, a Scout is loyal to all to whom loyalty
is due his parents, his church, and his country.
A Scout is helpful: Christ has told
us that the good turns we do for others will be considered
as done to him. The reason we are helpful is that we
see Christ in everybody. If our Lord was willing to
die for everybody, a Scout certainly should be ready
to render help. The whole Scout program gives us an
opportunity to be helpful.
A Scout is friendly: The basis and
motive of this point of the Law is Christian charity.
We are all children of the same father, and brothers
of Jesus Christ. Recognizing this, a Scout should be
a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout.
A Scout is courteous: A Scout should
respect the image of God in everyone. The meaning of
love as a Scout should be taken from the words of Christ
himself: "I have come not to be served, but to
serve."
A Scout is kind: This point of the
Law refers mostly to animals. They exist for our use.
They have life and feeling, and God has given them to
us as a trust. As such, we must use them well, never
abusing or mistreating them.
A Scout is obedient: Jesus Christ gave
us an example of perfect obedience throughout his life.
This will be a difficult point of the Law for a Scout
to keep because it will mean discipline and giving up
his own will at times. He should obey, not because the
command pleases him, but because the one giving it has
the right to do so, is someone in authority, and is
right in doing so. Disobedience brought death and sin
into the world. Obedience brought our salvation. Real
victory comes from obedience first to God and then to
all he has placed in authority as long as they deserve
our obedience.
A Scout is cheerful: Joy should be
one of the marks of a child of God. A Scout will have
joy in his heart and manifest it outwardly by his cheerful
manner.
A Scout is thrifty: Thrift teaches
self-respect, making us unwilling to be a burden to
others. Far from being a burden, we are able by thrift
to help them. A Scout is deeply concerned with preserving
our natural resources.
A Scout is brave: He can face danger
even if he is afraid. He has courage to stand for what
he thinks is right even if others scorn him.
A Scout is clean: He keeps clean in
body and thought; stands for clean speech, clean sport,
clean habits; and travels with a clean crowd.
A Scout is reverent: He is reverent
toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and
respects the convictions of others in matters of custom
and religion. Top
of page.
For
Cub Scouts: Parvuli Dei
A home centered program to help the Cub Scout learn
about his faith through visits to places of interest.
For Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts: Ad Altare Dei
A scripture study and project centered program based
on the sacraments to relate the boy's Scouting life
to his religious life.
For Boy Scouts, Eastern Catholic Churches: Light
Of Life
Program based on the "God With Us" series
of the Eastern Christian Formation Program to prepare
a Scout to be an active member of his faith community.
For Older Scouts and Venturers: PIUS XII
A program to help the teenager learn more about his/her
personal vocation as a Christian now and his/her career
vocation later. Top
of page.
SPECIAL
UNIT RECOGNITION
POPE
PAUL VI National Unit Recognition:
An annual presentation to units under Catholic auspices
that carry out a high quality Catholic oriented program.
Requirements
include:
-
Scouter
development training
-
Participation
in a religious formation activity (retreat, day
of recollection, etc.)
-
Religious
emblems participation
-
Good
turns to the parish and community
-
Planning
for increased membership
-
Rededication
and explanation to the principles of the Oath and
Law
REFERENCES
-
Scouter
Development: Lay Apostolate Formation, No. 16-147
-
Pope
Paul VI National Unit Recognition, No. 16-169
-
Religious
Emblems for Catholics, No. 16-436
-
A
Scout is Reverent, BSA No. 33075
Copyright
© 1999-2006 National Catholic Committee on Scouting®
Scouting Is Youth Ministry in the Catholic
Church
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