If the LDS church's leadership asked for members to donate time and money to pass prop 8?

Question

1. Is that pretty much the same as the LDS church itself pushing their views to the voters? Through the sources below listed?

LDS here are saying,
"The LDS church, in and of itself, did not donate much to funding proposition 8. The"members" did."

There was a satellite podcast (broadcast over 5 states) that sent a message to pass prop 8, and explained how the needed the members time and money.

The first satellite simulcast was on October 8, 2008 and was beamed to 5 Western states. Apostle Robert D. Hales led this broadcast on various aspects of the campaign, including how to deal with the issues telling the members how to conduct themselves.
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/churchupdate/081010prop8.html
And
Another satellite broadcast took place at a later date, and was led by Church Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton. It addressed the Church’s doctrine of marriage and participation in the Protect Marriage Coalition.


Below are some of their more activities done directly to communicate with California voters:


a LDS Church organized phone banks from Utah and Idaho
Sending direct mail to voters
Transported people to California over several weekends
Used the LDS Press Office to send out multiple News Releases to promote their activities to nonmembers.
Walked precincts
Ran a speakers bureau
Distributed thousands of lawn signs and other campaign material
Organized a “surge to election day”
Church leaders travel to California
Set up of very elaborate web sites.
This web page on PreservingMarriage.com has 13 very professionally made commercials and videos: http://www.preservingmarriage.org/videos.html .
Produced at least 9 commercials and 4 other video broadcasts all in support of Prop 8.
AND
Conducted at least 2 satellite simulcasts over 5 Western states. (listed above)


All of these unreported contributions by the Mormon Church were on top of its massive fund-raising effort; the largest ever undertaken on a social issue ballot initiative.

2. By not reporting any of these non monetary contributions, did the Mormon Church violated the Political Reform Act? Dealing with tax exempt status)
And should more be investigated? It does seem that the LDS leadership did make quite a effort to sway votes, with money.

Can you address 1 and 2?
Thoughts?

Answer 1

You have many good answers already. I cannot add anything substantive more than you have already been given. The Church is very careful to stay within the bounds of the law. The leaders did encourage our support. Those of us that agreed with them, the majority of us, did what we could to follow their advise. Fortunately, a majority of the California population agreed with us as well. Why are you not upset with the rest of the Pro-8 California voters? Really, the sour grapes of those that lost the election is astonishing. The only vituperative expressions I have witnessed have come from the defeated minority, not the victorious majority. So where is the supposed hate that the defeated keep spouting? It is only coming from them.

Answer 2

Thank you for bringing that up. And I too do not understand why the Mormon Church is being blamed in the passing of Prop 8. Religious organizations that supported Proposition 8 include the Roman Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a group of Evangelical Christians led by Jim Garlow and Miles McPherson, American Family Association, Focus on the Family and the National Organization for Marriage. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, California's largest, also endorsed the measure. The Bishops of the California Catholic Conference released a statement supporting the proposition.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) publicly supported the proposition and encouraged their membership to donate money and volunteer time. The Asian Heritage Coalition held a rally in support of Proposition 8 in downtown San Diego on October 19. On the March 7, 2000 primary election, Proposition 22 was adopted by a vote of 61.4% to 38%, thus adding § 308.5 to the Family Code, largely replicating the 1977 enactment. The one-sentence code section explicitly defines the union of a man and a woman as the only valid or recognizable form of marriage in the State of California. We the people of California voted on Prop 22. Four judges went against our votes. We the people of California voted on Prop 8 and WON ! Read the CA Family Code 297.5, homosexuals can REGISTER to become domestic partners, which states their provision or source of law governing the rights, protections, and benefits, and the responsibilities, obligations, and duties. To bicker and point fingers to those who contributed, then the same could be done to Barack Hussein Obama.

Answer 3

I looked at the link you had listed, If it is meant to document the list of items which precede it, it must have been changed after you posted it, I don't see documentation for the things you cite. Regarding your second query about the Political Reform Act. It is also known as the McCain–Feingold Act. It deals with federal elections. Even if it dealt with state elections, I don't see anything that would apply to Prop 8. It specifically allows issue advocacy but prohibits naming a specific candidate or political party. Tax exempt status is a function of section 501 of the internal revenue code. The same rules apply there. Organizations which are tax exempt can advocate for issues but cannot endorse specific candidates.



But, if you think you have a valid point, you are free to file form 13909 with the IRS. See the link below



To say that the actions of the members of a church are the same as the actions of the church does not explain the actions listed in the links below. If you want to see bigotry and hate, check out the LA times link below. What I have seen coming from the gay and lesbian community is anger, bigotry, and hate. I know they are not all like that, just as I know that all who follow Islam are not radical, but there is a silence from the moderates regarding the antics of the extremists in the gay and lesbian community the same as there is in Islam

Answer 4

?Is that pretty much the same as the LDS church itself pushing their views to the voters?



nope. that is how 'majority rules' works. the cause with the most votes wins. the 2% LDS voters in CA - (and obviously not all of them voted to pass prop 8 as there was also a website, commerical time, etc supported by many LDS against it) - did not win this vote. CA population won this vote.

and as there is no threat of punishment for not complying with their proposed 'wishes' - and no way to track how individuals voted - there is absolutely no coersion possible. votes are cast by 'secret ballot'.



?By not reporting any of these non monetary contributions, did the Mormon Church violated the Political Reform Act? Dealing with tax exempt status) And should more be investigated? It does seem that the LDS leadership did make quite a effort to sway votes, with money.?



again nope. the LDS church reported in accordance with law and in a timely fashion (reported on-time). the IRS is satisfied - what is your problem? the church -as an institution- made no monetary contributions......and all monetary donations came from individual members, who decided if and how much they would contribute. the church did make several in-kind donations, as reported by the California Secretary of State's website. under federal tax law, section 501(c)(3) organizations (like the LDS church) are entitled to take positions on public policy issues, including issues that divide candidates in election for public office.

if these activities were not reported as church participation - it is because they were not - they were the actions and organization of individual members who happened to be LDS.



prop 8 passed, and mormons only make up 2% of the population.......you do the math. while I personally think the LDS are great, we just do not have all the power in this you would like to give us.

Answer 5

Nope, it isn't the same at all.



There is a difference between what the LDS church does and what the LDS members do. They are not the same thing. There were members of the LDS church who were against prop 8. They were not ostracized or excommunicated. They weren't disciplined in any way. If you belong to the Catholic church would you say that there is a difference between you writing out a check for $50,000 and giving it away vs the Catholic church doing the same thing? If you're the one writing the check, there is a VERY big difference.



Yes, the LDS church wanted prop 8 to pass. Everyone knows that. What is your point??? The Catholic church wanted it to pass too, but we all realize that you're mostly a bitter former-Mormon who can't walk away without throwing stones.

Answer 6

Whats so funny is that people keep addressing this as if the IRS were completely absent and unaware during the whole Prop 8 thing. If there was something done outside of legal bounds, believe me, they would be aaaaaaaaaaaaaall over it. The church also has great legal advice and respects staying within the law. So give it a rest. Everything was done legally, and if not you may feel free to pop your popcorn and watch as we are audited.



Im just saying.... you arent catching anything the government missed.

Answer 7

There were churches, albeit smaller ones, that encourages its members to support "Yes" for Prop 8. I don't THEY should lose their tax exempt status any more than the LDS church should. However, it's curious why no one is ever asking about THEM.

Answer 8

Did you know that those opposed to prop 8 raised MORE money than those for prop 8???



Did you know that it was the Catholics that spear headed the push for prop 8?



Did you know that there is no reason why we should not be able to vote our conscience? Or contribute money?



Did you know that no one HAD to contribute a dime if they didn't want to?

Answer 9

I voted for prop 8. I was not asked by anyone.

Answer 10

1. Churches have every right to encourage its members to politically participate and when it comes to social issues they have every right to endorse causes that fits its moral view on the world.



The money members themselves donate are reported on the individuals tax returns and are the sole responsibility of that individual. It is not the responsibility of the church until it actually goes into the hands of the church.



Churches also have the right to politically campaign for social issues and it does not interfere with their tax exempt status.



It is called freedom of speech and freedom of religion and this issue has already been addressed by the courts.



2. Do you know how many attorneys and accountants there are in the LDS church? Given the fact that the church was so very vocal on this issue dont you think they crossed every t and dotted every i? Dont you think they had teams of attorneys and accountants making sure they did everything legally and reported everything they were legally required to?



It was investigated. Are we going to start blackmailing churches and non profit organizations by threatening potential "witch hunts" financially just because they dont agree with your political agendas?





edit

Yes, desiree has the moral highground here, eyes rolling.

She has straight out said several times on here that all Mormons should be wiped off the face of the planet.

Everyone should take her words so seriously.

Answer 11

Do you realize the Mormon church is less than two percent of California's population? Even if individual Mormons supported it, it is still TWO percent. How much can two percent "push" onto voters? Not much.

Answer 12

...are we still on Prop 8? That was so long ago, and this question has been beaten to death several times over. No offense, but don't you think it's time to move on?

Answer 13

I DONT AGREE.........BEING GAY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ' FREE SPEECH".........



AS FAR AS THE MORMON CHURCH BEING INVOLVED AND ITS TACTICS WERE ILLEGAL.........THAT IS FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATES OF UTAH AND IDAHO TO INVESTIGATE............



I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM IF PEOPLE WERE TO WORK ON LOCKING UP DRUG DEALERS, GANG BANGERS AND SENDING ILLEGALS BACK HOME.......



NOW THAT IS MONEY BETTER SPENT..............

Answer 14

easy. prop 8 passed...move on...

Answer 15

What the Mormons did was terrible and they will never be forgiven for it. They have blood on their hands and their children will pay the price for 100 generations.