Therefore, most Bolsheviks (including Lenin) possessed a dim view of the Scouting Movement – declaring it thoroughly bourgeoise and decadent in nature – and seeing it as a serious encumbrance to building a Socialist State! Furthermore, even at this time, paedophilia had raised its ugly head in the Scout Movement in Russia, (following the tradition developed throughout Western Europe), which saw older men in authority sexually abusing the young boys entrusted into their care. This reflected the tradition of child abuse prevalent throughout the Protestant and Catholic Churches in the West – which was well represented throughout the priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Church! Although the children of the rich were sometimes targeted – the establishment figures preferred to also to target the children of the peasantry knowing that their parents could do nothing about it!
