The Church Will Continue With Scouting ... For Now

The LDS Church is apparently not yet done with the Boy Scouts of America. The Church issued a statement yesterday stating:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appreciates the positive contributions Scouting has made over the years to thousands of its young men and boys and to thousands of other youth. ...

... 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. 

With equal concern for the substantial number of youth who live outside the United States and Canada, the Church will continue to evaluate and refine program options that better meet its global needs.

I'm disappointed with the decision, but it makes sense to a certain extent since an abrupt termination would have caused a significant amount of chaos within the Church youth programs. Better to methodically organize a separation.

The damage in the relationship between the BSA and the membership has already been done, though. A poll taken earlier this month in Utah showed that 63% of "very active" members want the Church to leave the Boy Scouts. Although this number will probably drift downward in the coming months, I suspect that it will never dip below 40%. If the comments to the various stories on this subject are any sign, a lot of members are disenchanted with the Scouting program for various reasons, and don't have a deep attachment to the BSA. The BSA thinks it can do better by appealing to the "cool kids" in the politically correct crowd and spurning its rank and file members. This cuckoldry cannot be allowed to continue forever. I think its time that the Church start earnestly preparing for a separation.