Posted on 04/26/2013 5:48:45 PM PDT by virtuous
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given tacit approval to the Boy Scouts’ proposal to allow gay youth to join, saying they “appreciate the positive things” included in the plan to end the organization's controversial ban on gay boys.
The Boy Scouts of America last week proposed allowing gay youth – but not adults – to participate in the private youth organization. That came two months after they floated the idea of allowing gays and lesbians of all ages to join, a proposal that was denounced by the conservative religious groups that make up a bulk of Scouting.
“We are grateful to BSA for their careful consideration of these issues. We appreciate the positive things contained in this current proposal that will help build and strengthen the moral character and leadership skills of youth as we work together in the future,” the LDS church said Thursday in a statement posted to their website.
“The current BSA proposal constructively addresses a number of important issues that have been part of the ongoing dialogue, including consistent standards for all BSA partners, recognition that Scouting exists to serve and benefit youth rather than Scout leaders, a single standard of moral purity for youth in the program, and a renewed emphasis for Scouts to honor their duty to God." The Mormon church tops the list of membership enrollment numbers, with 431,000 youths participating in LDS-sponsored units as of Dec. 31, 2012. That was followed by the United Methodist Church at 364,000 and the Catholic Church at 274,000. More than 70 percent of Scouting units are chartered to faith-based groups.
The Boy Scouts said Thursday in a statement that it was pleased the LDS church was “satisfied that the BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort to address this issue.”
“For nearly 100 years we have worked together with the mutual goal of building the moral character and leadership skills of youth. We believe kids are better off when they are in Scouting, and the program is successful because of its relationships with valued chartered organizations like the Church,” the statement said.
The Boy Scouts’ policy has increasingly been a sore spot for the organization over the last year, following the dismissal of a den leader because she is a lesbian and the denial of the Eagle Scout rank to a California teen because he is gay.
The BSA’s National Council will vote on changing the membership policy on May 23. Its biannual “The Voice of the Scout Survey,” conducted earlier this year, for the first time included questions on gay membership. Among the 280 administrative local councils, half recommended no change, 38 percent recommended a change and 14 percent took a neutral position, the Scouts said.
"While perspectives and opinions vary significantly, parents, adults in the Scouting community and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting," the organization said last week in a statement.
If you are a current or former member of the Boy Scouts and would like to share your thoughts on how your troop, pack or council is handling the BSA's proposed change to the membership policy, you can email the reporter at miranda.leitsinger@msnbc.com. We may use some comments for a follow-up story, so please specify if your remarks can be used and provide your name, hometown, age, Boy Scout affiliation and a phone number.
This will only encourage the anti-Scout forces to ramp up the pressure to have gay Scoutmasters. They smell blood in the water.
LDS strongly opposed gay marriage in the 1990’s and 2000’s. But the church was mocked and savaged by the Gay Gestapo. Now we have Mormons like Meg Whitman, Jon Hunstman, and Glenn Beck “evolving” on gay marriage.
Don’t forget Mitt Romney father of gay marriage in Massachusetts.
Why is this a surprise.........mormonism is pushing for acceptance of homosexual “marriage” then they can push for polygamy, in the real as opposed to the celestial.
So when do the Mormons embrace sodomites as their ministers, or whatever they call their “leaders”?
Darn shame. Mormons were strong against sodomy in California...now they’re rolling over.
Did they really?
Glenn Beck is pro-sodomy?
Bingo! That is exactly what they are after.
After the 2008 elections, LDS was smeared and savaged by the radicial Homosexual Agenda. Wealthly Mormons, who run Marriot Hotels issued a press release claiming to welcome gays. Also Rick Warren distanced himself from Prop 8. Goes to show how determined the Gay Gestapo is.
How about including transgender and transvestite yoofs?
On Beck’s radio show this year, he was ranting on what’s the big deal with gay marriage. Okay, perhaps saying Beck is pro-gay marriage is probably too strong. But, he won’t be outraged with gay marriage being legal in all 50 states either.
Wealthy momrons who own Marriot the biggest distributor of hotel porn in the world.
The question is did SLC lds really oppose homosexuality ‘marriage’ in California........they did not protest in any other state.
To accept homosexual “marriage” means you will accept polygamy.
Meg Whitman and Jon Hunstman signed a petition of Republican support for the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act and Prop 8. The petition was also signed by Steve Schmindt and Nicole Wallace.
probably his favorite brand
Not surprsied
Well, when Mitt Romney, that high Mormonic muckety muck, went looey, one could see this handwriting on the wall.
Polygamy would be preferable to this.
The Mormons flip-flopping on a church teaching?
I’m shocked!
Next thing you know they’ll change the teaching on multiple wives!
I’ll bet if you talked to the majority of Mormons they would not agree. I think many in the leadership class whether religious or secular value their places at the table rather than their duties to obey the Gospel.
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