President Obama said in a pre-Super Bowl interview that gays should be allowed in the Boy Scouts of America.

The news comes after last week's announcement that the organization may end its ban on gay Scouts.

A proposal to open up the Scouts' membership to gays is expected to be discussed and possibly voted on at a board meeting in Texas this week.

Obama, like presidents for the last century, serves as honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America. He told CBS News and CBS Sports that gays should be allowed to join the organization.

"The scouts are a great institution that are promoting young people and exposing them to opportunities and leadership that will serve people for the rest of their lives,' the president told CBS's Scott Pelley. "And I think nobody should be barred for that."

Meanwhile, some church groups expressed alarm at the proposed change as their congregations observed the annual Scout Sunday.