The decision of the Boy Scouts of America to allow gay adults to serve as a Scoutmaster or unit leader has "deeply troubled" the Mormon church, which is now looking into the possibility of forming its own organization.

The Mormon church, which sponsors more Scout units than any other church or organization in the United States, hinted that it may withdraw from the Boy Scouts and form its own organization.

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In a statement, the Mormon headquarters in Salt Lake City said the decision to allow openly gay adults to become Scoutmasters or unit leaders does not conform with the doctrines of the Church and is inconsistent with the traditional values of the Boy Scouts of America.

Because of the decision, Mormon officials suggested they are now looking into the possibility of forming their own organization and completely bolting out of the Boy Scouts of America.

According to the decision released by the Boy Scouts of America, church-sponsored Scout units will have the right to exclude openly-gay adults from their units for religious reasons.

However, an organization promoting the rights of LGBT, the Human Rights Campaign, urged the Boy Scouts of America to compel church-sponsored units to accept gay adults as leaders.

The controversial decision was approved by the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, which voted 45-12.

In a statement released after the voting, the Boy Scouts of America said the new policy now allows members and parents to select their units, based on their beliefs and the needs of their families.

"For far too long, this issue has divided and distracted us. Now is time to unite behind our shared belief in the extraordinary power of Scouting to be a force for good," Boy Scouts of America president and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

Religious groups, however, expressed stern opposition on the decision and have been apprehensive about the lifting of the ban on gay adults.

TagsBoy Scouts of America, Gay Scouts, Gay Boy Scouts