Agesci scouts and homosexualities. History of an ongoing change

Reflections by Massimo Battaglio

On the columns of The future, Luciano Moia informs us that the scouts have started an internal debate on homosexuality.

"In June last year, a listening path was born among the over 30 thousand scout leaders of the Agesci. No predefined program, no pre -packaged recipe. But an authentic itinerary that focuses on the desire to listen to reality, without prejudice, without solutions already written.

A commission established by the General Council, which includes some ecclesiastical heads and assistants, as well as an external expert - the Jesuit Father Pino Piva - has prepared a letter with the aim of promoting the collection of written testimonies of those who, in Agesci, want share their experience ".

"In early June, during the meeting of the Central Council already scheduled in Sacrofano, north of Rome, what emerged will be assessed and it will be decided how to go on".

It seems, indeed it is, a serious thing. So much so that, for the first time, Agesci has decided to be accompanied on its path by an expert who has always been close to the LGBT+community, Father Pino Piva. However, it is useful to retrace some history to understand why the scouts have decided to take such a serious and complex path on our themes.

We will dispel that it is not a new theme and that, in the last twenty years, Agesci, on the homosexual question, has had swinging positions when not stormy. It is precisely from this story that the need is born to summarize once and for all, no longer referring a discussion no longer postponed.

2002: the "Bucaioni case"

Some time ago, I had already dealt with the case of my friend Stefano Bucaioni, Scout of Perugia who, in 2002, had been degraded and, in fact, expelled from the association following his coming out. He had talked about it with his group, with whom there seemed to be no problems. However, the question was sent back to the regional managers, he had been answered: "The responsibility of educator is not compatible with homosexuality". From there, a series of measures followed us to cause its exit from the Agesci.

Di Stefano, we spoke in the newspapers not only local. However, his story did not take any step forward.

2011: "homosexuality, knots to be dissolved in the communities". A study seminar.

On November 12, 2011, in Rome, the Agesci National Council held a seminar in which, for the first time, we tried to systematically speak of homosexuality: "Homosexuality, knots to be dissolved in the communities". However, the positions did not change. The three invited speakers only reiterated the official positions of the Church of that time. And the arguments also left rather desire. Father Francesco Compagnoni said, for example:

"It is clear that a homosexual person has always been, with the deeply rooted tendency, is generally found in difficulty with one's sex".

And further on:

“Adult homosexual people who have an innate (and perhaps predominant) tendency constitute, for the children entrusted to them, an educational problem. We know that much of the educational effect depends on the exemplarity (also unconscious) of the adult ".

Etc. He echoed dr. Contardo Seghi, declaring:

"In my professional experience, in the many cases of female homosexuality that I have met, I was able to see that, very often, these women had met brutal males".

There were fiery reactions, not only for the lack of dialogue demonstrated but above all for the scientific backwardness of the positions expressed. Agesci specified that it was not the positions of the association but only of the speakers. Meanwhile, those speakers had been invited there and not others. And two out of three had a long scout experience.

2012: a personal experience

In 2012 I was invited to an evening organized in Ivrea on the faith-homosexuality theme. There was a teacher of the diocese, a Valdese pastra, and I was there. He said the usual bestiality; She replied that, in her parts, it was all different (practically roses and raimbow flowers); I limited myself to bringing my experience.

There was a local scout group. At the end of the symposium, they approached me to teach me that I didn't have to worry too much. To them unquestionable judgment, I was certainly a good person; I was simply not Catholic. Because, to define Catholics, you have to follow the catechism, which says blah blah blah.

Oh well, they were the roaring years of Benedict XVI and, especially among young people, that was a common opinion. Nobody touched the doubt that the catechism, the magna opera of the card. Ratzinger, was more sacred (and more comfortable) than the Gospel. But that group of boys impressed me.

Today they will be thirty years old and many of them will be married (who knows if in church or, perhaps, according to the institute of civil unions). Perhaps one day the good God will give them a homosexual son. I'm sure it would be a beautiful experience.

2014: The Charter of Courage: "Rights to the future"

Almost unexpectedly, in the summer of 2014, the scouts participating in the national rout Courage card. A chapter was dedicated precisely to homosexuality and seemed like a declaration in support of the Cirinnà bill (and perhaps it was). We read:

"We ask the EGSCI to expand their horizons so that all people - regardless of sexual orientation - can live the scout experience and the educational role with serenity without feeling marginalized. We also ask AGSCI that shows greater opening regarding themes such as homosexuality, divorce, coexistence, through opportunities for comparison and dialogue, thus becoming a spokesperson at the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of a generation that wants to be the protagonist of a change in society. In this regard, we ask the Church to welcome and not only tolerate any choice of life led by love ".

It's still:

"We ask that Agesci does not consider experiences of divorce, coexistence or homosexuality invalidating participating in associative life and educational role, as long as the educator maintains the values ​​of moral integrity".

And finally:

"(We ask) The Church to question themselves and to re -evaluate the themes of homosexuality, coexistence and divorce, helping us to take a clear position;

(we ask) that the State carries out policies of non -discrimination and welcome towards people of any sexual orientation, because we all have the same right to love and be loved and that this love is legally recognized so that it can become a shared value ".

The wind had changed. Of course, some scout groups, former chiefs and religious assistants hurried also to claim that it was not official statements. You can see that national routes are a bit of a game. We educate ourselves to the rituals of the democratice but then ... in the meantime, what is written, is written.

2016: The letter of the one hundred and thirty

In January 2013, the scouts, like all Catholic groups, were warmly invited to participate in the Family Day. Centrartreenta chiefs published an open letter addressed to the top of the movement, in which they felt for not having accepted the invitation:

"We see with profound joy that the association will not take part in the Family Day event"

But they added:

"Unfortunately this is not enough." “A journey and a comparison must be started with the ultimate purpose of making a decision of courage on this topic. Let's ask ourselves what a family is, we meet the rainbow families, compare ourselves with associations such as new proposal that group homosexual Catholics "

The echoes of the card of courage made themselves felt. But above all, both the refusal to participate in the Family Day, and the letter of the one hundred and thirty, they warned that the scouts do not live outside the world and that their motto is the journey, do not stand still.

2017: the case of Staranzano

In June 2017, a new case forced scouts to deal with LGBT+themes. The scout leader Marco of Just, a Storane, in the province of Gorizia, had married her boyfriend. The wrath of the local parish priest had not been expected. The reverend claimed that Marco would resign and leave scouting.

Of course, his teammates replied that he was not really talked about and reminded him that he had no authority to demand such stuff. Among other things, it was not even their religious assistant (assignment to the deputy parish priest). He cheered the dose and turned to the bishop. Once an answer was obtained in which it was invited to dampen the tones, he began to even stumble against the prelate.

After a year of Battibecchi, Don Francesco Fragiacomo (as the parish priest was called) surrendered resigning. This did not news but, among the Staranzano scouts, she was welcomed as a victory.

We could add

Since then, the line of the various scout groups on homosexuality and transsexuality has really changed. Many groups have started to sincerely confront each other on the theme of faith/homosexuality and, even before, on homosexuality itself.

Io stesso, come tanti de La Tenda di Gionata, siamo stati chiamati spesso a intervenire in qualche incontro, e sono sempre stati bei momenti. Diversi gruppi hanno preso a partecipare ai pride.

E’ evidente che l’attuale dibattito promosso dal Consiglio Nazionale dell’Agesci vuole arrivare a fare sintesi di un percorso travagliato ma interessante. Sa che è urgente. Se, qualche anno fa, c’era il timore che qualche genitore o qualche prete si sarebbero ribellati all’idea che gli scout “promuovessero il gender”, oggi è il contrario.

Continuare ad assumere posizioni neutrali, non è possibile. Si finirebbe per essere scambiati per omofobi. E questo causerebbe sicuramente gravi defezioni e significativi cali di iscrizioni.

C’è però ancora un nodo da sciogliere: quegli slogan ripetuti come “non servono posizioni ideologiche” o “ci vuole discernimento”. Cosa vuol dire “posizioni ideologiche”? Noi siamo persone, mica idee. E cosa significa “discernimento”? Che bisogna distinguere il gay buono da quello cattivo e includere il primo cacciando il secondo?

Quando in un gruppo giovanile cattolico, che sia scout o no, qualcuno si sposa, non si fa mica tutto questo “discernimento”. Scatta immediatamente l’entusiasmo collettivo. Si sceglie il regalo dopo lunghe discussioni, si provano i canti almeno tre volte, si decidono i doni da portare all’offertorio e si scrivono enciclopedie di intenzioni di preghiera da leggere durante la cerimonia. A nessuno salta in mente di interrogarsi sull’amore dei nubendi. Lo si dà per scontato – a volte, anche troppo.

Perchè mai, se invece uno del gruppo dichiara di essersi fidanzato con una persona del suo stesso sesso, bisogna “discernere”? E’ possibile che, ancora nel 2023, si possa dubitare che tra due uomini o tra due donne ci possa non essere amore?