The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) has criticized the Boy Scouts of
America (BSA) for ending its ban on openly gay adult leaders,
employees and volunteers.
(Related: Boy
Scouts ends ban on gay adults.)
While troops run by churches can
continue to “choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with
their own,” the Mormon Church threatened to leave the organization
over the policy change.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is deeply troubled by today's vote by the Boy
Scouts of America National Executive Board,” the Mormon Church said
in a written statement. “In spite of a request to delay the vote,
it was scheduled at a time in July when members of the Church’s
governing councils are out of their offices and do not meet. When
the leadership of the Church resumes its regular schedule of meetings
in August, the century-long association with Scouting will need to be
examined.”
“The Church has always welcomed all
boys to its Scouting units regardless of sexual orientation.
However, the admission of openly gay leaders is inconsistent with the
doctrines of the Church and what have traditionally been the values
of the Boy Scouts of America. As a global organization with members
in 170 countries, the Church has long been evaluating the limitations
that fully one-half of its youth face where Scouting is not
available. Those worldwide needs combined with this vote by the BSA
National Executive Board will be carefully reviewed by the leaders of
the Church in the weeks ahead.”
With over 30,000 LDS chapters, the
Mormon Church is the nation's largest sponsor of the Boy Scouts.