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This Mormon Dad Got All Choked Up Because His Son Doesn't Hate Gay People Enough

“His reaction was interesting... It’s not a concern to him."

Brigham Young University professor Quin Monson, a former Boy Scout and current father of a scout, appeared on NPR’s Weekend Edition to talk about the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to lift its ban on openly gay troop leaders.

During the segment titled “Mormons Face A Painful Loss If Church Severs Boy Scout Ties," Monson, himself a Mormon, spoke out about his disdain for the recent decision which came as a blow to many conservative religious organizations.

Related: Boy Scouts Pass Resolution Lifting Ban On Gay Adult

Monson opened by giving some background on the century-long relationship between the BSA and the Church of Latter Day Saints.

The church took the Boy Scout Proram and decided that it’s values and mission aligned closely enough with that of the church’s program for young men that they just wholesale adopted it and have had local congregations sponsor or charter Scout Troops. Basically, if you are a young Mormon male, you join the Boy Scouts.

“In some senses, it’s hard to tell the two apart,” Monson responds when asked if the Church-sponsored troops teachings were of church doctrine or purely secular.

The conversation then turned to the recent decision to lift the ban, which Monson notes has been on the minds of the scouting community in Utah.

My sense is that there’s not disappointment with the church as much as maybe disappointment with the scout program and just disappointment that the relationship might be in danger, because it’s something that’s valued and loved.

The BSA statement allows for leaders who are openly gay and what that means in practice is, I don’t think, exactly clear. But I think that it very well could conflict with the church’s own policy which is, ‘You can identify as gay and be an active, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.’ The problem is acting on that same-sex attraction, so there’s a distinction between actions and orientation.

So how does Monson’s son feel? “His reaction was... interesting. It’s not a concern to him. He’s a pretty deep thinker, and a thoughtful kid, but his reaction was, ‘Well, I don’t see why it matters, dad. Why is this such a big deal?’"

Monson, clearly not happy with his son’s level of tolerance and inclusiveness began to choke up as he continued: “That’s the hard part about all of this, that it impacts a group of young men who don’t necessarily understand why.”

Right, Quin, that’s the hard part.

h/t: Raw Story

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