Mastodon
RNS logo

Three cheers for Mormon decision to stay with the Boy Scouts of America

Three cheers for the LDS Church for being willing to compromise. Other than "guilt by association," there was no reason not to, since the BSA was already making accommodations to allow Mormon troops to select their own local leaders.
Three cheers for Mormon decision to stay with the Boy Scouts of America
Jana Riess

Boy ScoutsThe LDS Church will continue its longstanding association with the Boy Scouts of America, even though the two organizations have agreed to disagree about gay leaders.

The BSA now allows them, but has offered Mormons the right to select their own troop leaders “according to their own religious and moral values,” according to the Associated Press.


I was pleasantly surprised by this news, given the much-publicized public opinion poll from last week showing that a majority of active Mormons in Utah favored severing ties with the BSA — and the fact that the Church confirmed to the Salt Lake Tribune that it was investigating the possibility of inaugurating its own international program for boys to replace Scouting.

Three cheers for the Church for being willing to compromise. Other than “guilt by association,” there was no reason not to, since the BSA was already making accommodations to allow Mormon troops to select their own local leaders.

The Boy Scouting program has been an important part of Mormon life for more than a century, and it’s good to see that this relationship will continue.

Now if we could just implement an equally amazing and well-funded program for Mormon girls . . .

READ: Mormon Church Sticking with Boy Scouts

 

 

 

No paywalls here. Thanks to you.
As an independent nonprofit, RNS believes everyone should have access to coverage of religion that is fair, thoughtful and inclusive. That's why you will never hit a paywall on our site; you can read all the stories and columns you want, free of charge (and we hope you read a lot of them!)

But, of course, producing this journalism carries a high cost, to support the reporters, editors, columnists, and the behind-the-scenes staff that keep this site up and running. That's why we ask that if you can, you consider becoming one of our donors. Any amount helps, and because we're a nonprofit, all of it goes to support our mission: To produce thoughtful, factual coverage of religion that helps you better understand the world. Thank you for reading and supporting RNS.
Deborah Caldwell, CEO and Publisher
Donate today