Tax Exemption for Political Churches.

Lukas

Lukas

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Lukas
There is currently an initiative to strip The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of their tax exempt status on the grounds that they used their influence in an attempt to affect legislation.

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.
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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.
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The church donated as much as $20M to support Prop 8 (of a total $35.8M pooled in support for the constitutional revision). This is by no means a meagre contribution.

On the 6th of November, as many as 3000 people gathered outside the Mormon Temple in Westwood to protest the Church's questionable involvement.
 
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Sounds like a good idea to me.

They broke the rules, they should pay the price.

Spoiler:
not to mention that that particular mormon church has some pretty creepy inter-doings
 
Wow, this is some good info. I for one am outraged that a Church was able to influence such a monumental piece of legislation. I hope the IRS really takes a good hard look at what the Mormon church did.
 
The site provided is also an online petition to push the IRS into taking action. I have already signed and urge others to do so.
 
Yep just read thru the whole site and signed the petition as well. I for one am a religious person, but in no way shape or form must ANY church involve itself in the dealings of the government. The Founding Fathers established a separation between church and state for a damn reason back then, why allow that to be violated now.
 
A boycott? What do they make that could be boycotted??? Last i heard they dont have any important exports.......
 
Skiing and the Sundance Film Festival are big money-makers. Tourism in general. Painting the state as intolerant, etc.

The Associated Press said:
"There's a movement afoot and large donors are involved who are very interested in organizing a campaign, because I do not believe in frivolous boycotts," said Aravosis, who has helped organize boycotts against Dr. Laura's television show, Microsoft and Ford over gay rights issues. "The main focus is going to be going after the Utah brand. At this point, honestly, we're going to destroy the Utah brand. It is a hate state."
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Can we expand this issue to just take away tax exempt status from all... religious organizations.
 
Ahh yes forgot about that. Hmmm seeing as to how the majority of Hollywood supports gay rights, this has a good chance of working.
 
Dejavu said:
Can we expand this issue to just take away tax exempt status from all... religious organizations.
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No, because not ALL religious organizations throw their money and weight around the way the Mormon church does.
 
Dejavu said:
Can we expand this issue to just take away tax exempt status from all... religious organizations.
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Nah. Most of them play by the rules and aren't acting like complete dicks like the LDS church's leadership.
 
I read about the Sundance boycott and I'm not too certain. It's one thing to go after the Church of LDS because there's a clear IRS violation there and quite frankly the people running that institution are bigots. The whole state seems a bit much as there will be a lot of liberal bystanders caught in the cross-fire. It should send a vote of no confidence to some of the power players in the state though.

The statement released by the church in response to the boycott is an abomination:
No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information.
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...unless you're a fag, right?
 
I honestly wish all of the couples affected by this the best and I hope they are able to overturn this ridiculous and idiotic proposition.
 
Halifirien said:
Nah. Most of them play by the rules and aren't acting like complete dicks like the LDS church's leadership.
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That is not entirely true... the Non-denominational church that was right next to my house put vote yes on 102 (the phx equivolent of the bill) on their billboard that is in front of the church.

Anyways i did some research on this and you guys are going to have a hard battle

http://www.citizenlink.org/focusaction/A000006808.cfm
Listing the major contributors this is the first one who gives a compelling legal argument as to why they get to keep their tax exempt status.

http://www.cpcphoenix.org/resources/
Once again although covered in religious propaganda not a tax exempt org.

http://www.kofc.org/un/index.cfm
Once again extremely religious.. no claims of tax exemption.

The Mormon church is probably the one that you would have the easiest time going after but they are not listed as major contributors in the phx bill so i don't think that it is one that can be used everywhere.

From what i can find it is not the law in Cali like it is in Arizona for groups to release all of the names of their donors to public record because i cannot even tell where it says who the primary donors are.
 
Back in June, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement to Church leaders in California to be read to all congregations:

In March 2000 California voters overwhelmingly approved a state law providing that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The California Supreme Court recently reversed this vote of the people. On November 4, 2 008, Californians will vote on a proposed amendment to the California state constitution that will now restore the March 2000 definition of marriage approved by the voters.

The Church’s teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children. Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage.

A broad-based coalition of churches and other organizations placed the proposed amendment on the ballot. The Church will participate with this coalition in seeking its passage. Local Church leaders will provide information about how you may become involved in this important cause.

We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.
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Articles of interest:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i7Ee9lkE23iWetMMU1Vy5nxReXCgD93MT0601
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/08/state/n144806D74.DTL&tsp=1
http://cbs5.com/local/gay.marriage.ban.2.835943.html
 
Dogma. What is this shit, really?

These guys get by with this stuff, yet Obama's preacher mentions his name once in a sermon and it almost costs him his political career?

There's nothing wrong with talking about politics in a church but you aren't supposed to express favoritism for one side or another.
 
Dejavu said:
That is not entirely true... the Non-denominational church that was right next to my house put vote yes on 102 (the phx equivolent of the bill) on their billboard that is in front of the church.
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So long as they aren't offering redemption for votes, or beginning sermons with it, I don't think a simple billboard message qualifies as breaching their contract with the IRS.
 
Any church that attempts to influence politics, as stated in the IRS tax code, should be subject to penalty if they violate the terms of their tax exempt status.
 
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