According to evangelist Franklin Graham, the time has come for “all churches” to “pull out” of any involvement with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). While the BSA remains one of the largest youth organizations in the country, policy shifts made by the group in recent years with respect to the issues of gay membership and gender identity have put them on the wrong side of the values discussion, in the eyes of traditional America.

Historically, the BSA has been strongly rooted, by virtue of official policy stands, in Christianity and what many now see as old-fashioned values. Even today, it is the official position of the BSA that neither atheists nor agnostics can be Scouts or serve as Scout Leaders.

However, the organization, in recent years, has greatly modified its positions on homosexuality and gender identity. In 2013, the Scout’s governing body voted to lift the prohibition on gay youth becoming members, and voted again in 2015 to end the ban on gay adults serving in leadership roles. Additionally, in January, the Scouts announced that transgender boys would be allowed to join, as well.

Last Friday, Graham issued a statement, via a post on Facebook, that readily agreed with a decision by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) on May 11 to officially end its involvement with the BSA’s Varsity and Venture programs, which are oriented on boys in the 14-18 age range. However, Graham said that the Mormons did not go quite far enough, and called on the church…and all other churches…to take steps that would entirely disengage them from any involvement with the Scouts, at any level.

“I think the Mormon Church—and all churches—should pull out of the Boy Scouts organization completely,” Graham wrote. “They need to get their younger boys out as well. I would not want my child or grandchild to be influenced by the lifestyle of a gay Scout Leader that goes against God’s design for creation.”

As for why the LDS Church is presently keeping its involvement with other components of the BSA, including the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, they say that “these programs currently meet the development program needs of boys from ages 8 through 13.”

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large