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Advocates of the Boy Scouts of America contend that these policies are essential in its mission "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law".<ref name="core">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/core-values-286.asp|work=BSA Legal|title=Core Values|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref><ref name="duty">{{cite web| url=http://www.bsalegal.org/dutytogo-155.htm|work= BSA Legal Issues |title=Duty to God |accessdate=2006-10-22}}</ref> Others believe that some or all of these policies are [[wrong]] and discriminatory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atheism.about.com/b/a/258300.htm|title=Boy Scouts & Public Funding: Defending Bigotry as a Public Good|accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/|work=BSA Discrimination|title=Discrimination in the BSA|accessdate=2006-09-04}}</ref> | Advocates of the Boy Scouts of America contend that these policies are essential in its mission "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law".<ref name="core">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/core-values-286.asp|work=BSA Legal|title=Core Values|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref><ref name="duty">{{cite web| url=http://www.bsalegal.org/dutytogo-155.htm|work= BSA Legal Issues |title=Duty to God |accessdate=2006-10-22}}</ref> Others believe that some or all of these policies are [[wrong]] and discriminatory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atheism.about.com/b/a/258300.htm|title=Boy Scouts & Public Funding: Defending Bigotry as a Public Good|accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/|work=BSA Discrimination|title=Discrimination in the BSA|accessdate=2006-09-04}}</ref> | ||
The organization's right to set such policies has been upheld repeatedly by both state and [[federal court]]s. Moreover, in 2000, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization which can set its own membership standards. In recent years, the policy disputes have led to | The organization's right to set such policies has been upheld repeatedly by both state and [[federal court]]s. Moreover, in 2000, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization which can set its own membership standards. In recent years, the policy disputes have led to litigation over the terms under which the BSA can access governmental resources including public lands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/10/16/state/n075532D70.DTL|work=|title=Supreme Court Won't Review Berkeley Sea Scouts' Case|accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref><!-- If the previous link goes dead over time, consider using http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1720255/posts --> | ||
In addition to excluding gays and atheists, the BSA does not allow girls to participate in some [[Scouting]] programs, and this too has been a source of controversy. | In addition to excluding gays and atheists, the BSA does not allow girls to participate in some [[Scouting]] programs, and this too has been a source of controversy. |