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LDS Church Criticized for Endorsing Boy Scouts' Proposal on Accepting Gay Members
Christian Post ^ | 04/27/2013 | By Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 04/28/2013 6:35:14 AM PDT by 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.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: boyscouts; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; inman; lds; ldschurch; mormons
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1 posted on 04/28/2013 6:35:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Putting queer kids with straight kids on camping trips.

What could go wrong?

Stupid . Stupid . Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid


2 posted on 04/28/2013 6:36:49 AM PDT by Westbrook (Children do not divide your love, they multiply it.)
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To: SeekAndFind

LDS has a proud history of bending in front of the wind.That is why the about face on polygyny in the first place. They seem to be stalwart conservatives but they only maintain until the pressure becomes direct. Washington leaves them alone for the most part because Washington knows that LDS will bend or fold at the appropriate time.


3 posted on 04/28/2013 6:38:19 AM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's Economics In One Lesson ONLINE www.fee.org/library/books/economics-in-one-lesson)
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To: SeekAndFind

It is good policy to simply keep gays away from adolescents to the greatest extent possible. Any sanctioning or acceptance of this behavior is harmful to everyone.


4 posted on 04/28/2013 6:38:29 AM PDT by allendale
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To: SeekAndFind

Its common sense, would you let your teen daughter go spend the night with teen boys out in the woods miles from home?

This is crazy.


5 posted on 04/28/2013 6:40:44 AM PDT by icwhatudo (Low taxes and less spending in Sodom and Gomorrah is not my idea of a conservative victory)
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To: SeekAndFind

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

6 posted on 04/28/2013 6:42:52 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight,, he'll just kill you.)
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To: Westbrook
NO....not Stupid . Stupid . Stupid . Stupid Stupid . Stupid

Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb

7 posted on 04/28/2013 6:50:27 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight,, he'll just kill you.)
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To: SeekAndFind
"Never trust a Mormon!"


8 posted on 04/28/2013 6:57:18 AM PDT by montag813
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To: SeekAndFind

Both Stemberger and Perkins make strong logical and legal arguments against this change. This will be the unfortunate end of a great organization and it will come with a whimper about “changing times.” The strength of the organization is in its sustaining membership of youth, adults, and chartering organizations. They are clearly saying, apparently with the exception of the LDS, the current policy is the right policy for them. Listening to 2% of the population and the corporate swine that believe they can exercise the power of the purse will be the undoing of the BSA.


9 posted on 04/28/2013 6:57:39 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
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To: SeekAndFind

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.

Why, oh why, then do people who claim to care about these poor confused kids stand back and wish them well? Not only should the Mormon Church NOT be “accepting” of this “lifestyle” they should be encouraging those kids to overcome their destructive behavioral disorders. Whether it is homosexuals, alcoholics, or pyromaniacs simply allowing them to enroll in the Boy Scouts with no attempt to resolve their behavioral problems is a recipe for turmoil and conflict within the Boy Scouts.


10 posted on 04/28/2013 6:58:11 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Is it possible LDS is a pro gay, pro poligamy tool in disguise? Would make sense.


11 posted on 04/28/2013 7:00:54 AM PDT by Deathtomarxists (collapse death heartburn heartache dingdongs diaherea)
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To: SeekAndFind

The LDS church is headed toward a total open door policy for the gay agenda. The dark suits in Salt Lake have already decided, and now they’re slowly moving there.


12 posted on 04/28/2013 7:16:36 AM PDT by lurk
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To: SeekAndFind
perplexing and non-committal

Sounds like Joseph Smith and his many flings.

13 posted on 04/28/2013 7:18:26 AM PDT by dragonblustar
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To: SeekAndFind

The Mormons have always had the problem of a politically divided congregation, tending to extremes in either direction: either staunchly conservative, or extraordinary leftism.

For example, the Utah state government as a whole is very conservative, but the government of Salt Lake City is Nancy Pelosi grade Moonbat.

But apparently the Moonbat wing is slowly trickling up into the high leadership, which, if you think about it, is like saying to yourself: “Gee, I’m bored with good health. I think I’ll try brain cancer to see what it’s like!”


14 posted on 04/28/2013 7:35:52 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: Westbrook

Nearly 1,500 Boy Scout Council Members voted for this resolution yet this post has led to a criticism of the LDS Church for accepting their decision. The Mormon Bashers are at it again.


15 posted on 04/28/2013 7:43:59 AM PDT by svxdave (Life is too short to wear a fake Rolex.)
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To: SeekAndFind

This is delightsome!

The Mormon Church has a long history of bending long-standing sacred scripture and basic fundamental doctrine to comply with public opinion and/or economic expediency. A few of the more noted examples include:

It appears that the LDS Church's change in stance on homosexual participation in scouting provides yet another clear-cut example of this loathsome practice.
16 posted on 04/28/2013 7:48:35 AM PDT by Zakeet (If idiots could fly, Washington would be an airport)
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To: SeekAndFind
effect (sic)

In this context, I believe "effect" is the correct word, meaning "to cause or to bring about"

17 posted on 04/28/2013 8:12:10 AM PDT by informavoracious (The ancient Greeks and Romans thought they were on the "right side of history.")
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To: T-Bird45

Hmmm......

Insee this as an entreaty to the homosexual community and laying the ground for the few places they haven’t yet despised the hearts of and may be a desperate move to gain more converts as they start micro-evangelizing.

Yep. I see them opening mini-stakes in West Hollywood, Rancho Mirage, Helmet, The Castro, South Beach.....

I personally know of three closet gays whobare LDS.

Have no idea why everyone doesn’t just admit they are but, maybe it’s best to have the person announce themselves and then they can decorate a New section of MTC with icons of their culture and form a partnership to help the gay community co-opt dead peoples lives and “prove” they were gay.

They are after all pretty good at proving all kinds of stuff or claiming things that didn’t happen and aren’t remotely possibly .

Fairytales are one of their hallmarks.


18 posted on 04/28/2013 8:16:58 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: svxdave

There’s a “v” in your name....


19 posted on 04/28/2013 8:18:50 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: Zakeet

A telling list of “concessions”. Some correct LDS error while others concede to the world’s system, concessions which demonstrates they (or any other group) are not of God.

The LDS are antichrist in the strictest sense of the word. And they will be instrumental, just as all false religions will be, in ushering in the antichrist.

Sodomy/sodomite allegiance might very well be the “mark” the antichrist will require emblazoned in hand and forehead. It’s got to be something so disgusting and reviling that no real Christian will accept it. Who knows, just speculation on my part.


20 posted on 04/28/2013 8:25:37 AM PDT by nonsporting
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