BOY SCOUTS UPHOLD GOOD MORAL VAULES

Until last week, the Boy Scouts of America had successfully defended its ban on homosexuals and atheists. The Scouts' successes came to an end when a New Jersey appellate court ruled that an assistant Scoutmaster shouldn't have been expelled because he is gay.

The Boy Scouts intends to appeal the ruling that came eight years after the assistant Scoutmaster was expelled. A lower court judge ruled in the Scouts' favor in 1995, saying homosexuality is "a serious moral wrong."

The Boy Scouts is having to spend considerable time, money and effort defending its right to ban homosexuals and atheists. In California, for example, the state Supreme Court will decide soon on two discrimination lawsuits, one filed by a man who was expelled because he is gay and the other by twin boys who were thrown out because they don't believe in God.

For almost 90 years the Boy Scouts of America has taught its Scouts traditional family values and to believe in God. The Boy Scouts has proved through all of those years that it fills an important role in the development of young men by stressing the importance of Christian and family morals. Homosexuality and atheism aren't among those values.

The Boy Scouts should be allowed to continue to follow in that tradition without court interference.