Thursday, October 18, Lawyers published over 1,200 records
from the Boy Scouts that were previously kept secret by the organization. The
files, which were dated from 1965 to 1985, included details about any
accusations of sexual child abuse by Scout leaders.
The files were ordered released by the Oregon Supreme Court
after determining that the organization had been unintentionally negligent in
keeping the files secret and un-looked upon for so many years. The files are
representative of “the pain and anguish of thousands of untold Scouts,” says
Paul Mones, the attorney for the case.
On average each of the 1,200 Scout leaders accused molested
more than one Scout, but the organization did not want the information to be
released because of negative implications to Scouting as a whole.
But concerns have been raised by some offenders getting
second chances and continuing to be allowed to be associated with the Scouts,
as in the case of one Cub Scout leader who was allegedly caught showing boys
pornography and sleeping nude with them. The filed response says that he
“indicated very poor judgment,” but that they weren’t sure that it was “a
serious enough offense to refuse registration anywhere he might try to register
unless there are more instances.”
Today, though, the organization has publicly recognized that
its previous actions (or inaction) was ineffective and a mistake on their part.
“Where those involved in Scouting failed to protect, or worse, inflicted harm
on children, we extend our deepest and sincere apologies to victims and their
families.”
Despite past mistakes, however, the Boy Scouts remain one of
the leaders in preventing child abuse. The attorneys from the case hope that
the files might help prevent future child sex abuse by offering insight from
past cases.
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