No ban on gay Scouts in Canada — even in Mormon troops

Scouts Canada — like its U.S. counterpart — has oaths, troops, uniforms and merit badges. What it doesn’t have is a rule excluding gay members or leaders. "Scouts Canada does not discriminate for reasons of gender, culture, religious belief or sexual orientation," it says on its website. Apparently, that’s no problem for the many Mormon troops, which use the program for LDS boys and young men. South of the border, however, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) finds itself embroiled in a heated battle about whether to allow gays to be members and leaders. The national group has postponed a decision on the matter until May, a choice lauded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "We believe BSA has acted wisely in delaying a vote on this policy issue," church spokesman Michael Purdy said late Wednesday, "until the implications can be more carefully evaluated."