The Viking Council Catholic Committee on Scouting
(VCCCS) is a committee of concerned Catholic laity and clergy working to help
scout youth in their quest to fulfill the 12th point of the Scout Law - A
Scout is Reverent. This committee works with the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops and reports to the Archdiocesan Catholic
Committee on Scouting. The Committee is here to support adult leaders and
youth in the encouragement of the Boy Scouts of America as a viable form of
youth ministry within the Catholic Church.
The committee works to train adult
leaders as counselors for Catholic religious emblems for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts,
Venture Scouts and Girl Scouts. The committee also assists
and encourages youth to take part in the various religious emblem programs
made available through the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of
America.
This committee meets on a monthly
basis, generally the third Wednesday of each month. The committee
encourages Scout leaders to attend the meetings when possible to understand
the role of the committee, but more importantly to understand how this committee
can help the packs and troops to have a more enriched scouting program through
the use of the religious emblem program. While this committee focuses on
the Catholic program, there are also Protestant, Jewish as well as other faith
committees that can assist in your Scouting programs. If you have
questions, please feel free to contact the Council office for more
information.
What is a Religious Emblem Program?
It is a church
program which recognizes Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and Girl
Scouts who do additional study and work for their faith. The programs
are similar to earning an achievement or merit badge. The Boy Scouts of
America officially recognizes the scout who completes the program
of his Faith. Every scout will be proud to achieve this high honor.
A scout will be awarded an emblem of their faith from their
Church or Archdiocesan committee. The Boy Scout program also honors these scouts
through the religious knot that a Scout can wear on his
uniform.
How Do Scouts Start Earning Their
Emblem?
Every faith has a program.
- Step one
: Obtain the study book from the local Scout
Shop. Some books must be special ordered.
- Step two: Scout and
parent visit the religious leader of their church, temple, or place of worship
and review the workbook.
- Step three
: Begin study as directed in the workbook and with the
approval of the religious leader.
- Step four
: When the
workbook is completed, award the emblem as suggested in the
workbook.
- Step five
:
Encourage other Scouts to earn their emblem.
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