We feel a lot of sympathy for the Stokes family, who live just outside of Charlotte, N.C. Jeremy and Jodi Stokes, both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had been welcomed as Cub Scout leaders at Christ Covenant Church, a conservative Presbyterian congregation. The Stokes' two sons, 6 and 8, also attended the Scout meetings.
Then, Christ Covenant Church leaders discovered what religion the Stokes were. Because they were Mormons, the Stokes were told to get lost. However, they were told their children could stay. That's wrong: Scouting should stay out of the religious bigotry game, whether it's Mormon or gay leaders being kicked out for who they are.
This is an example of religious bigotry at its most unchristian. It's ironic that Christ Covenant Church kicked the Stokes couple out as Cub Scout leaders because they "weren't Christian." There's been no comment from Christ on the matter, and we have no plans to speak for him. However, we regard it as rather audacious that Christ Covenant Church leaders are so arrogant and naive as to believe Christ would shun anyone who is eager to practice charity, which has been defined as the pure love of Christ.
The Stokes family now is with a Scout Troop at a local Mormon congregation. Mormons don't discriminate by religion in their Scout activities.
To be fair to Presbyterians, the Christ Covenant church is part of an Evangelical branch of that faith called the Presbyterian Church in America. Evangelicals tend to be critical of Mormon beliefs, which many regard as unchristian. During the 2008 presidential campaign, evangelical Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee criticized Mormon GOP hopeful Mitt Romney's Mormon beliefs. Again, it's sad that Cub Scouts is contaminated by bigotry.
Mormons have experienced charges of bigotry against gays and lesbians, most recently when a senior apostle claimed in a church conference that God would not create someone with same-sex attraction. Those comments were recently excised by church leaders in official records of the conference.
The intolerant church says it wishes the Mormon family well. Doesn't that always seem to be the last comment for those who exclude others, whether it be for religious discrimination, ethnic discrimination or sexual discrimination?
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