The long-running case against the Boy Scouts of America came to an end Monday with a verdict against the program.

In 1990, assistant scoutmaster James Dale was kicked out of the program on account of his homosexuality. He sued, and after eight years of trials, decisions and appeals, a New Jersey court ruled in his favor.

Throughout the trial, the Boy Scouts’ defense was that they are a religious organization, and homosexuality is a sin. Spokesmen for the group said that a homosexual leader or member would be hypocritical to the group’s beliefs.

The program’s mission statement is as follows: “The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to develop personal fitness.”

There is no mention of God, the Bible or any aspect of religion in the Scouts’ mission statement. Where did this religious defense come from?

It seems as though it was a quick measure to cover the fact that they are discriminating against homosexuals.

The Boy Scouts mission also never once mentions sex. It doesn’t mention heterosexual sex, and it doesn’t mention homosexual sex.

If sex isn’t an important issue to the Boy Scouts, why in the world should they care about the sexuality of a Boy Scout or a leader?

Homosexuals have just as much right to be educated, to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating leadership and to develop personal fitness as any other boys. There is no reason to discriminate against them.

The message of the Scouts program is to teach young boys about citizenship and responsibility. To kick gays out because of irrational fear teaches young boys that discrimination is OK.

It’s about time someone called them on it.

There is no better place for boys to learn about people different than themselves than the #Boy Scouts. As such an influential organization, they have a responsibility to teach tolerance for others’ beliefs and ways of life.

The Boy Scouts of America teaches many things. One of them is that justice always prevails.

After eight years, justice has finally prevailed.