The Mormon Church should no longer qualify for tax exemption

from,
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.

And I doubt that the ACLU is going to get involved in THIS one.

Let's hope they get an army of lawyers going after them. They deserve it.

:kick:

Or was it their members? It would make a difference. I would be surprised if the church itself violated the law, half the lawyers and judges that I know in AZ are LDS, and they aren't stupid.

I wonder if Harry Reid will look into any of this? You would sure hope so.

I don't know if they violated the letter of the law. They need to be investigated, I'm hoping they slipped up but the only way to know is to investigate the hell out of this.

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.

We must clarify our tax law to prohibit this behavior.

The United Kingdom has taken preliminary steps to strip the church of its tax-exempt status.

Through Prop 8, the Mormon Church has shown its true colors as a political group with specific social ends. Political speech is fair and legal here; such speech under the guise of religion is not. The playing field must be leveled. Though many religious groups were involved in Prop 8, the Mormon Church made this a far more substantial part of its activities than any other.

Californians will vote on future propositions to correct this flawed amendment next year, and every year, until we achieve our rights under the state constitution. We must be assured that our advocacy organizations are on an equal legal and financial playing field as those of our opponents.

Ultimately all religious groups are subject to the same laws - Catholics, Jews, Muslims, etc. The Mormon church, however, has shown itself to be most egregious in pressing a political agenda while registered as a church. We are starting with the biggest to affect the most change.

Doesn't non-profit status require proof of not being profitable?

A 7-page memo talking about being involved in defeating gay marriages but not being seen as being out front of the issue.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/3/15369/3779/711/651188

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.

A ballot initiative is not considered "legislation". Only bills in a legislature or Congress are "legislation". Likewise, Prop H8 isn't "a candidate for public office". That's why progressives keep getting their brains beat in in initiative campaigns: big corporate money -- and make no mistake, the Morons Mormons are a big corporate entity, with retail, real estate, and communications interests among others. :grr:

:kick: