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Mormon Church to Lose Tax Exempt Status by Campaigning for Yes on Prop 8?
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| in2muzikk |
Someone asked in another Prop 8 related thread why No on 8 protestors have chosen to single out the Mormon Church, when many other denominations also contributed to pass Prop 8 (which banned gay marriage in the State of California). From many accounts that I have read, Mormon contributions exceeded half of the funds raised to vigorously promote advertising for the Yes on 8 Campaign, something like $20 million dollars.
I got an email today about a petition to revoke the Mormon Church's tax exempt status due to substantially attempting to influence legislation. These are the parts that I found most interesting:
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Source: http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/
According to IRS law,
Section 501(c)(3) describes corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literacy, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in section (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
From IRS Publication 1828 Page 5,
Substantial Lobbying Activity
In general, no organization, including a church, may qualify for IRC section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). An IRC section 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.
Was the letter of the law violated?
We have spoken with experts on this matter, and the answer is unclear. The Mormon Church is not only a 501(c)(3), it is also a church, which grants them special rights. They are still prohibited from direct involvement in campaigns for a specific political office as well direct lobbying of legislators.
Was the spirit of the law violated?
Yes, absolutely.
Read this email from a mormon church coordinator:
...As mentioned in the broadcast, the coalition approached the Church about getting involved. With a mere difference of 400,000 votes, I am certain had the Church not been involved this proposition would not have passed...
Because it is already illegal for churches to support candidates or lobby, we must close this loophole and make it illegal for churches to support propositions, which are for all intents and purposes identical to legislation.
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What can I do now?
Sign this petition to support the legal effort to amend our tax laws such that the Mormon Church, and other transgressing churches, would lose tax-exempt status if they continue lobbying for state propositions. We intend to share this list with the ACLU, Lambda Legal, and other official legal organizations that will be pressing forward with this effort. Anyone can sign this petition.
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A quick disclaimer that I am not the author of this article, but it did open my eyes to some of the circumstances that arose around passage of Prop No on 8.
A much more comprehensive version of this campaign's position is at the following website, and the petition is also located at the end:
http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/ |
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| DaveT |
How are people blaming a church over decisions people make. In the end, the public still voted. Blame Californians.
I just don't see this as a topic where ads are going to make you either support gay marriage or be against it. These types of values are deeply implanted in our souls and I think all that advertising money was wasted on both sides. |
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| in2muzikk |
Well, if I'm interpreting the following exit poll correctly, 14% of voters decided how to vote on Prop 8 in October, a month or less before the election (poll shows "Who did you decide to vote for," but the answers are "Yes" and "No," so it must be "What way did you decide to vote?"
Of that group, the margin of people who voted "Yes" was the largest, by 60% to 40%. Granted, this was just an exit poll, but it did sample over 2,000 people and says to me that a lot of voters may have been swayed by the rampant (and often misleading) advertising shortly before the election. Given that this proposition passed with only something like 400,000 votes (last time I heard), it's entirely possible, I'd even go so far as to say likely, that such advertising was responsible for the passage of Prop 8.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1
Ballot Measures
California Proposition 8: Ban on Gay Marriage
California Proposition 8:
Ban on Gay Marriage
2,240 Respondents
When Did You Decide Who To Vote For?
Total Yes No
In October (14%) 60% 40%
In September (16%) 53% 47%
Before That (60%) 51% 49%
Also, the petition above doesn't single out the Mormons, it applies to all religious organizations claiming tax exempt status that use significant efforts to influence legislation. As to what's "significant," I'll leave that to the courts and the ACLU to decide... |
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| DaveT |
I'd like someone to find an actual person who had one belief before all this campaiging started, and changed their belief based on the commercials.
I just don't see it happening. |
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| R!CH |
| quote: | Originally posted by DaveT
How are people blaming a church over decisions people make. In the end, the public still voted. Blame Californians.
I just don't see this as a topic where ads are going to make you either support gay marriage or be against it. These types of values are deeply implanted in our souls and I think all that advertising money was wasted on both sides. |
because dave, the religious groups were advertising fearmongering lies such as that california schools would be required to teach gay marriage to kids. these are the kinds of lies that would make voting parents, who otherwise have no interest in the matter, concerned over what their children are taught. this proved to be a major issue for tradional immigrant groups, especially black, hispanic and asians. |
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| DJ Reese |
| quote: | Originally posted by DaveT
How are people blaming a church over decisions people make. In the end, the public still voted. Blame Californians.
I just don't see this as a topic where ads are going to make you either support gay marriage or be against it. These types of values are deeply implanted in our souls and I think all that advertising money was wasted on both sides. |
Fact is, if not for the money the Morman church contributed, prop 8 never even gets on the ballot and none of this ever happens. |
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| DJ Reese |
| quote: | Originally posted by R!CH
because dave, the religious groups were advertising fearmongering lies such as that california schools would be required to teach gay marriage to kids. these are the kinds of lies that would make voting parents, who otherwise have no interest in the matter, concerned over what their children are taught. this proved to be a major issue for tradional immigrant groups, especially black, hispanic and asians. |
The irony is because of prop 8 gay marriage will be taught in schools. Before prop 8 gay marriage was only really talked about for a few days when the courts said it was ok. The push to pass prop 8 turned it into a historic event that is far from over. This kind of stuff tends to go in history book that are used in schools.
By pushing prop 8 the "yes" people are making all they're worst fears come true. |
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| in2muzikk |
| quote: | Originally posted by R!CH
because dave, the religious groups were advertising fearmongering lies such as that california schools would be required to teach gay marriage to kids. these are the kinds of lies that would make voting parents, who otherwise have no interest in the matter, concerned over what their children are taught. this proved to be a major issue for tradional immigrant groups, especially black, hispanic and asians. |
Seems to be the case...here are some results from the same exit poll. Voters with children under 18 voted "Yes" on Prop 8 (to ban gay marriage) by 64% to 36%:
Do You Have Children Under 18?
Total Yes No
Yes (40%) 64% 36%
No (60%) 44% 56%
Do You Have Children Under 18?
Total Yes No
Fathers (20%) N/A N/A
Mothers (20%) 61% 39%
Men w/No Children (25%) 37% 63%
Women w/No Children (35%) 48% 52% |
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| selfEvolution |
Values, or in the case of Prop 8 "Yes' people, *perceived values" are *not* "deeply implanted". They are socialized and advertised. People change their minds about things all the time.
It wasn't too long ago that millions of people wanted to vote away the rights for whites to marry blacks - millions of these same people are far more accepting of this then they were - I know some of them, as I grew up in Texas, Guam, Louisiana and Florida.
Even a KKK Dragon renounced her membership a week after appearing on Opra Winfrey's show and being confronted with the reality that "If we go far back enough, we are all related". (An quote from my upcoming book; "What is Self-Evolution?" *plug, plug*). There are higher values than ignorance, intolerance and inequality, and more and more people are evolving beyond these notions. |
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| djjoshuaallen |
| lame, put it to rest. All campaign ads are lying, its the nature of the beast. And to single them out because they raised the most money lol. |
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| in2muzikk |
| quote: | Originally posted by djjoshuaallen
lame, put it to rest. All campaign ads are lying, its the nature of the beast. And to single them out because they raised the most money lol. |
| quote: | | Originally posted by in2muzikk Also, the petition above doesn't single out the Mormons, it applies to all religious organizations claiming tax exempt status that use significant efforts to influence legislation. As to what's "significant," I'll leave that to the courts and the ACLU to decide... |
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| R!CH |
| quote: | Originally posted by djjoshuaallen
lame, put it to rest. All campaign ads are lying, its the nature of the beast. And to single them out because they raised the most money lol. |
that's a pretty cynical attitude. i don't recall any lies coming from the no on 8 campaign, or obama's. even though i'm sick of hearing about it, i encourage the protest of this unconstitutional amendment. there are clearly a lot of people who need to be educated to the real facts surrounding the matter before a truly democratic decision can be made. |
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