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Mormon church will continue relationship with Boy Scouts despite its dropping of anti-gay ban
Despite the Boy Scouts of America welcoming gay adult leaders into the fold, the Church of Latter Day Saints said Wednesday (26 August) it will continue its relationship with the organization.
Church leaders cited ‘the positive contributions Scouting has made over the years to thousands of its young men and boys and to thousands of other youth.
‘As leaders of the Church, we want the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to succeed in its historic mission to instill leadership skills and high moral standards in youth of all faiths and circumstances, thereby equipping them for greater success in life and valuable service to their country,’ they said in a statement.
It was last month that Boy Scouts of America has voted to immediately end the organization’s ban on openly gay and bisexual adults as employees and volunteers. Previously removed leaders were allowed to reapply for their positions and regional governing councils or non-Troop entities such as boy scouts camps are also now prohibited from discriminating against employees and volunteers.
But religious organizations, including the Mormon Church, that sponsor some 70% of scouting units are still allowed to set their own policies – a critical reason why the church is not dumping the BSA.
‘BSA has reiterated that it expects those who sponsor Scouting units (such as the Church) to appoint Scout leaders according to their religious and moral values “in word and deed and who will best inculcate the organization’s values through the Scouting program,”’ the church states.
‘At this time, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will go forward as a chartering organization of BSA, and as in the past, will appoint Scout leaders and volunteers who uphold and exemplify Church doctrine, values, and standards.’
Scouts for Equality Executive Director Zach Wahls, a former scout whose mothers are lesbian, led the fight against the anti-gay ban and cheered the church’s decision.
‘We are heartened by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ decision to continue working with the Boy Scouts of America and to continue offering the program to its young men,’ Wals said in a statement.
‘We have maintained from the beginning of our campaign that the values and life lessons of Scouting are universal, and we would have been saddened to see hundreds of thousands of youth denied the opportunity to participate in the Boy Scouts. We hope to continue to work to build a stronger and more welcoming Boy Scouts of America with friends and allies across the religious and political spectrum.’
The BSA decided to finally ended its ban on openly gay scouts in 2013 but until last month, the ban continued once a scout reached the age of 18 and applied to adults leaders and employees of the organization.
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Greg Hernandez
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