Parents tend to want the best for their kids, and when they see their child forging down a dangerous path, it must be heartbreaking.
But while Mormon father Quin Monson may be shaken over his teenage son’s rebellious attitude, we’re more concerned for Dad.
Related: Boy Scouts Now Okay With Gay Troop Leaders–And Churches That Ban Them
In an interview with NPR’s Weekend Edition, Monson discussed his disappointment that the Boy Scouts decided to lift their blanket ban on gay troop leaders.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Quin, a former scout, current father of a scout and a professor at Brigham Young University, said, “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.”
He continued, “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.”
Ah, the tried and true “love the sinner hate the sin” approach to delusion.
Related: Here’s How Americans Are Celebrating The (Near) End Of The Boy Scouts Ban
But then Monson got to the heart of his dilemma — the fact that his own son sees no problem whatsoever with gay scout leaders.
“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?’” he said.
“That’s the hard part about all of this,” Monson continued, his voice cracking with emotion, “is that it impacts a group of young men who don’t necessarily understand why.”
At least somebody’s thinking of the children.
Listen below:
h/t Rawstory
Kathukid
Listen to your child. He knows better than you. It’s no big deal.
Glücklich
Scared? Well, we gays are a pretty scary bunch. Some might even say fierce. {Rolls eyes}
NoCagada
Dad probably is scared of gays because every time he thinks he sees one his penis rises and then vomits!
Lestar
God should do in depth assessments before letting the breeders breed….That father is probably pulling all the stops right now to change that kid’s mind.
Leonard Woodrow
Your son is wiser than you are. Take a leaf out of his book.
BlueDude
Boys who aren’t gay can’t be MADE gay. Too bad that myth can’t be put to rest, along with the pedophilia crap, and others. During highschool I had several friends in BSA, and I heard the JO-at-camp stories, but all the friends turned out to be hetero married breeders!
meghanada
???
Ladbrook
Translation:
“I’ve spent years, YEARS, teaching my kid to hate all the right people… but it’s not working. It’s not working at all!! I’ve failed as a father AND as a Christian. I’m going to hell.”
Don Rockwell
“they have got to be taught……….before its too late, before they are six, or seven, or eight, to hate everyone their relatives hate……… they’ve got to be carefully taught…….” South Pacific
fifthelephant
“That’s the hard part about all of this,” Monson continued, his voice cracking with emotion, “is that it impacts a group of young men who don’t necessarily understand why.”
Seems to me that it doesn’t impact these young men and it’s Monson who can’t understand why.
AtticusBennett
he’s upset because he knows that in no time at all his son is going to be completely embarrassed to call him Father.
Daniel-Reader
There is a reason so many Mormons leave the church when they grow up and realize that the founder of the “religion” was a criminal who duped his followers and was eventually killed because he was trying to murder followers.
Xzamilio
@Daniel-Reader: It’s one of the few religions that we KNOW was started by a con man… we can trace its origins, which shows you the power of willful ignorance and gullibility.
Will L
There is hope for the younger generation!
KerryB
That’s ironic, because I am scare shitless of Mormons, oops, I mean MORONS. They are the strongest proof that religion is the only contagious form of mental illness.
Lance Mullholland
Is it coincidence that the president of the LDS org is a Monson, too?
Big Boy Scout leader, sent a letter suporting Prop 8 to CA Mormons when he was on the way up (and no telling what else?).
Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Mormons fascinate me, always have…
jwtraveler
How is it that smart kids grow up to be stupid adults? I think the answer is in that “South Pacific” song: “You’ve got to be carefully taught.”
If only we let the children lead.
Avery Alvarez
What’s that sound? It’s heterosexual privilege crashing down, and all the sadz, tears, whinz, etc…
I kant haz privilege no more?
Giancarlo85
I can’t believe we almost ended up with a moron… I mean mormon as President. And considering one of our long time trolls voted for that mormon… lulz.
McShane
@jwtraveler:
Wow, you are so right. Here’s Mandy Patinkin’s version. It’s really pretty.
https://youtu.be/owxRpV7l8Dc
RobvR
He chokes up beacause he doesn’t know a real argument to be against gay leaders. He realises he lost the “discussion” and knows he’s fighting against the tide.
gaym50ish
@KerryB: My great great grandparents who set out on the Oregon Trail in 1852 were VERY afraid of the Mormons as they passed through Utah. They made it through safely, but their fears were justified with the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857. (Look it up.)
The Mormons have tried to rewrite history to gloss over the massacre as if it were an isolated incident by a few rogue Mormons, but there is evidence that Brigham Young knew about the planned massacre and may have ordered it. And, for my ancestors to be so afraid of the sect in 1852 would indicate that there were rumors, at least, of previous raids on wagon trains.
jason smeds
All men have latent homosexual feelings. If you remove the stigma against homosexual feelings, these men will concede to them.
NoCagada
@Ladbrook: “You know you have created god in your own image when he hates all the same people you do”
Kangol
This white Mormon father chokes up because he’s a closet case and his son doesn’t agree with his self-loathing homophobia. Daddy sounds like he needs psychological help. Fast.
SteveDenver
“Monson” is a pretty big name within Mormon circles: Thomas S. Monson is the PRESIDENT of that cult. He’s the one who announced that God had changed his mind about Black people.
Sounds like the youngest Monson is a lot more aware than his dad.
Cam
This is what the Mormon Church is TERRIFIED of!
Before, they could claim “Oh, we aren’t bigots, it’s the national BSA policy and we’re just following it.” or “We aren’t bigoted, it is the govt. that doesn’t allow marriage.”
Well now this is what they fear, a nasty bit of bad publicity, because now they have to openly admit they are bigots, OR follow the new policy.
The LDS church is very passive aggressive. They hate gays, and don’t want anything to do with them, but they want to avoid being called bigots for it, so for years have blamed everybody else.
Now the church leadership will have to admit it flat out.
GayEGO
It seems that papa has more problems than he is admitting. Being openly gay is a better thing than hiding it because that way people will see that we are not the problem. Perhaps papa is hiding because he went to a Mormon Boy Scout camp and found some activity with some other boys! :>) I did back in the 1950s//,
tusgold
the next generation will make life easier for gays and trans. The trans community gets it the hardest, Caitlyn has helped beyond belief. This is the man called best male athlete in the world and it was blazoned across the cover
tusgold
If you thoroughly read the Bible Jesus never mentions homosexuality once
Cam
@tusgold:
No, but he mentions divorce which the Mormons have no problem with, because it would inconvenience them to prevent it.
russellhm
I suspect that the son’s comfort level exemplifies a generational attitude change, one that caused the U.S. to drastically change its feelings about same-sex marriage, moving rather quickly since 2005 to support it. The boy is likely still a good Mormon but is likely just part of his age-range group. They are not offended by gay lifestyles. They have friends who are gay. And, they want their churches to agree with them. Catholics gave up on their church agreeing with them and hence, have been using contraceptives religiously for eons. They also will seek an abortion–quietly. Of course, back in my day, those Catholics who used the “rhythm method” of contraception were called “parents.”
Matt1961
@Ladbrook:
HA this is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I have many mormon friends, and some who I suspect are gay and just too deep in the church to let themselves free. This guy’s son is like everyone in that generation, it’s really no big deal. the kid is right.