Thousands of pages of newly-released documents show that for decades, scoutmasters and others who were accused of molesting children were protected by police, prosecutors, pastors and local Boy Scout leaders.
For years, the Boy Scouts of America have kept these "perversion files" secret, but after a two year long court battle, they're finally being made public.
The document is about 20,000 pages long (DISCLAIMER: The site has been overwhelmed with traffic and has not had consistency working). Inside, the names and accounts of men both inside and outside of the organization from 1965 to 1985 that the Boy Scouts believed committed acts of abuse.
Until now, the scouts had argued they did all they could to prevent sex abuse within the organization by keeping these records. The boy scouts have since pledged they will go back into the files and report any offenders who may not have been reported to the police when the alledged abuse took place.
Be trustworthy and be loyal: two values the local Boy Scouts of America President Stephen Harsh says the organization stresses on its members.
"We want to instill in our youth a set of values that they can use over their entire lifetime to make moral and ethical choices," said Harsh.
Locally, two years ago, Roger Young from Lansing took his own life just days before appearing in court on charges he sexually assaulted a local boy. He'd been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts for 30 years.
Paul covert was president of the Lansing Area chapter when it happened.
"My personal feeling is, it was a tragic situation. Obviously the allegations against Mr. Young were despicable. And it's not what Boy Scouts stand for in any way shape or form. Unfortunately Mr. Young took his life before we'll ever know," said Covert. "We're doing everything possible to make sure these things don't happen."
There's no indication that local scouts knew about Young's behavior and failed to act.
Nationally, leaders admit sexual abuse cases have happened and that the abuse was not always reported to police.
Attorneys on behalf of the organization released a statement, which you can find to the left of the text in this story.
Page 1 of Boy Scouts Response
Page 2 of Boy Scouts Response
