LDS Church Criticized for Endorsing Boy Scouts' Proposal on Accepting Gay Members

Christian Post ^ | 04/27/2013 | By Anugrah Kumar

[SeekAndFind]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the nation's largest sponsor of the Boy Scouts of America, is being criticized for endorsing a BSA proposal that would allow gay youths to join local troops while continuing to exclude gay leaders.

"While the church has not launched any campaign either to effect (sic) or prevent a policy change, we have followed the discussion and are satisfied that BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort to address issues that, as they have said, remain 'among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today,'" said a statement by the church.

The BSA has been considering a change to its current ban on open homosexuals. It released a proposal earlier this month that states: "No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone." While allowing gay members, the Scouts would at the same time maintain its gay ban when it comes to leadership. The BSA's National Council is scheduled to vote on changing its membership policy on May 23.

OnMyHonor.Net founder John Stemberger called the LDS church's statement "perplexing and non-committal," saying it neither endorses nor condemns the proposed resolution which requires every Scouting unit to accommodate open homosexuality among Boy Scouts who identify as openly gay.

Stemberger's group is the official coalition of concerned parents, Scout Leaders, Scouting Donors, Eagle Scouts and other members of the BSA who are united in their support of the Boy Scouts' timeless values and in their opposition to open homosexuality in the organization.

The LDS said the 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."

But this "cleverly-worded" resolution tries to "dodge criticism from gay activists but still creates a myriad of problems for how to manage and ensure the safety and security of the boys in the program," Stemberger said in a statement. "The current membership policy has stood the test of time and should remain as is … It is disappointing the LDS church did not give a more definitive statement and express concern for young boys in the BSA."

The LDS church tops the list of membership enrollment numbers, with 431,000 youths participating in LDS-sponsored units as of Dec. 31, 2012. More than 70 percent of Scouting units are chartered to faith-based groups.

The Boy Scouts said it was pleased with the Mormon statement. "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."

Nationwide, the BSA's own official "Voice of the Scout" survey shows respondents support the current ban on openly homosexual members and leaders, 61 percent to 34 percent. Additionally, 72 percent of chartered organizations and 61 percent of Boy Scout parents support the current policy.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins has said the proposed resolution is "incoherent," because it would convey the message that "homosexuality is morally acceptable until a boy turns 18…"

Perkins also warned that the resolution would make BSA vulnerable to lawsuits because it would no longer uphold its argument that considering homosexual conduct as immoral is a core value, which helped BSA win in the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The stated mission and message of the Boy Scouts is clear, and changing their policies to appease one group will only encourage other special interest groups to demand that the Scouts make more changes to please them," Perkins argued. "An atheist leader has already declared that if the policy on homosexuality changes, then there is no reason why atheists should not also have their way and remove God from the Scout oath and the term 'reverence' from the Scout law."

The FRC earlier argued in a statement shared with The Christian Post that BSA must "not surrender to financial or political pressures by corporate elites on the issue of homosexuality."

"Every American who believes in freedom of thought and religious liberty should be alarmed by the attacks upon the Boy Scouts, whose oath includes that members should be 'morally straight,'" the FRC said in an ad in USA Today in February. "To compromise moral principles under political and financial pressure would teach the boys cowardice, not courage."

The FRC recently decided to stop using the United Parcel Service (UPS) as its primary shipping vendor due to the company's decision to exclude the Boy Scouts of America from future funding because of the youth organization's anti-homosexuality policy.

The Christian Post previously reported that a critical factor in the Christian organization considering changing its policy on membership is due to pressure from corporate sponsors. The American Independent's review of corporate giving to BSA in 2010 revealed that Intel gave at least $10,000 to BSA, and in September 2012 the company announced it would stop donating to the Scouts unless it lifts its ban on openly homosexual members and leaders. Then a month later, pharmaceutical giant Merck made the same ultimatum.

[svcw]

Na, Romney wouldn’t have forced you to be a mormon, the lds just wait till after you are dead and claim you are one.

[Westbrook]

Look, I don’t care if it’s Mormons, Catholics, Evangelicals, or Fundamentalist Atheists.

ANYBODY who doesnt’t see a problem with this is ...

STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID . STUPID

[Zakeet]

The LDS Church is and has been on the front line for defending traditional marriage.

Snort!

The polygamy thing was 125 years ago, and had forced the church leadership/membership to go underground.

For behold, I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory – Doctrine & Covenants – Section 132

As I recall:

• 1843 – D&C 132 became everlasting
  
• 1879 – Reynolds v. United States, 89 U.S. 145, held that religious duty was not a suitable defense to deviant sexual practice
  
• 1882 – the Edmunds Act declared polygamy a felony and drove LDS Church leadership into hiding
  
• 1887 – the Edmunds-Tucker Act disincorporated the LDS Church and ordered their assets seized (especially their perpetual immigration fund, the foundation of the current day Mormon business empire)
  
• 1890 – the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Edmunds-Tucker Act and the Mormon Church promply capitulated and adopted the Utah Manifesto officially making D&C 132 un-everlasting
  
• 1903-07 – the Smoot Hearings – Congressional hearings expose polygamy openly practiced in the Mormon Church // LDS Church was forced to drop missionary bounties for girl converts // several key Church leaders went into hiding
  
• 1904 – the Second (this time we really mean it) Manifesto was adopted by the Mormon Church, and D&C 132 officially became still more un-everlasting
  
• 1923 – the Utah Mormon Church finally stoped sealing plural marriages in temple ceremonies – the FLDS broke away from the Utah Mormon Church
  
• 1945 – the last polygamous LDS president, Heber J. Grant, died in office
  
• 1953 – the last Utah state prosecution for polygamy took place
  

  

• 1998 – the lost teens of Mormonism – the LDS Church is caught running a boarding school for more than 450 surplus males dumped by polygamous Mormons – part of their efforts to continue to cover up the principle
  

  

• 2004 – Flora Jessop was forced into hiding under the threat of blood atonement for helping child brides escape from polygamous Mormon sexual bondage

Doesn't look to me like the polygamy thing was over 125 years ago.

I havent heard of this recent claim [that the LDS has a proud history of bending in front of the wind] and am very dubious that it isn’t more of the Anti-Mormon smear,inuendo,distort, and fabricate campaign.

Please also see directly above as you read this response.

I have heard that a big reason the National Boy Scout association has refused to allow Gay Leaders is because the LDS church has threatened to break off and form thier own program

That is an interesting statement that I have never heard from any Scouting official. Can you please provide references for that claim?

[elcid1970]

Those prairie dresses - when you find a look that works, you stick with it!

;^)

[GeronL]

Let the Boy Scouts whither

[Utah Binger]

I have heard that a big reason the National Boy Scout association has refused to allow Gay Leaders is because the LDS church has threatened to break off and form thier own program........
Zakeet Said: That is an interesting statement that I have never heard from any Scouting official. Can you please provide references for that claim?

Possibly Scoutmaster knows the answer.

[ansel12]

Bishop Romney has always been for homosexualizing the Boy Scouts and the military.

[Vendome]

Them Women’s is Hotties!

Though they could come forward 100 years and at least wear Kulats...

[Vendome]

[Vendome]

[greyfoxx39]

Bump :-)

[Colofornian]

They are like the pharisees who couldn't recognize Christ because they were so superior in every way that any ray of light needed to be doused that they might glow pure and perfect (Trebb said, in as "superioringly" of a tone that he/she could manage)

[Colofornian]

This whole movement of trying to be “kind” to young people caught up in homosexual behavior is kind of like the parents who let their kids eat as much candy as they want, because they want it very badly and cry and throw tantrums. We say “no”, because it’s not good for them. When they have chicken pox we don’t let them scratch because it will make things worse and scar them for life.

And not only "kids," but let's not forget that 18-yo Eagle Scouts are part of the BSA program...hence...if this was all passed the BSA would have 18-yo-homosexual Scouts potentially "hitting on" males on outings...(along with 17 yo, 16 yo, etc.)

In fact, the BSA could have open-"out-of-the-closet-'advertised'" adult 18 yo homosexual Eagle Scouts interactively "mixing" with minors on outings...with full blessing of the BSA, the Mormon church, etc....!

[wonkowasright]

Never forget this group was founded on the belief that polygamy was required for salvation, The Principle, which itself would lead to the destruction of Christian Marriage. Mitt’s father was born on an polygamous compound in Mexico.

Meanwhile the FL GOP is happily attacking Marriage in FL by saying its somehow morally objectionable for a husband to support his wife with Alimony because it gets in the way of the 2nd/3rd/Nth wife’s lifestyle.

And the Dems just want Bill and Ted to marry each other.

Saints Preserve Us !

[Tennessee Nana]

gay dogs, gay scouts......whats the difference...

[Vaquero]

[District13]

Please remember that the LDS Church helped pass Prop 8 in CA and they took a lot of abuse for it, too. Why is the LDS Church now being singled out for a policy that is practiced by virtually all the other Christian denominations? Name one other religious denomination that refuses to admit gay scouts. Also, please remember that the Scouts continues to bar adult Scout leaders. I think they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. No matter what they did, there would be an avalanche of criticism.

Scout leaders have a huge responsibility to be fair and to keep all their scouts safe and sound. These leaders are great men, sacrificing time, blood, sweat and tears - and they are volunteers.

[District13]

“Never forget this group was founded on the belief that polygamy was required for salvation,. . .”

I see where this thread has deteriorated into a Mormon bashing exercise.

Meanwhile, I support the Boy Scouts of America, a great organization. And gay Scout leaders are still banned.