OCT 17: Mormons to deliver Prop 8 letters, petition to LDS Church HQ
by: Chino Blanco
Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 20:38:45 PM EDT

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MORMONS TO DELIVER LETTERS, PETITION OPPOSING PROPOSITION 8

Not all Mormons agree with their church's decision to forcefully support Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that would eliminate the right to same-sex marriage in California. Now they're speaking out.

Hundreds of Mormons and friends of Mormons have written letters and signed a petition at SigningForSomething.org to oppose the church's inappropriate political posturing in California. The letters and petition will be delivered to church headquarters at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, after which Mormon dissidents will be available to talk with the media about their reasons for opposing the church's political stance. Copies of the letters and petition will also be available for the press.

Take away their tax exempt status.  Take away the tax exempt status of the business they own and run.

And, considering the historical and current problems within the Church, are not the LDS about the LAST people in America that ought be lecturing anyone else about marriage?

Virtually all religious groups engage lobbyists, have Washington offices, and write amicus curiae briefs to the courts in hopes of changing society.  I don't like it one bit.  But the alternative is worse.

Kristi

QuoteBut the alternative is worse.

What is that? "liberty" where you are responsible for your actions.

Could someone explain, in clear declarative sentences so that my feeble non-legal-minded brain can understand, what part of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" says that religious organizations can't be politically active?

Quote from: Alyssa M. on October 13, 2008, 04:02:20 PM
Could someone explain, in clear declarative sentences so that my feeble non-legal-minded brain can understand, what part of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" says that religious organizations can't be politically active?

The not for profit rules. It states that organizations that operate under the non-tax non-profit rules and accept tax deductible contributions is not allowed to use that money for political purposes. However if they are willing to pay taxes and not declared a for tax deductible purposes then they can lobby in political issues.

Quote from: lisagurl on October 13, 2008, 04:35:31 PM

Quote from: Alyssa M. on October 13, 2008, 04:02:20 PM
Could someone explain, in clear declarative sentences so that my feeble non-legal-minded brain can understand, what part of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" says that religious organizations can't be politically active?

The not for profit rules. It states that organizations that operate under the non-tax non-profit rules and accept tax deductible contributions is not allowed to use that money for political purposes. However if they are willing to pay taxes and not declared a for tax deductible purposes then they can lobby in political issues.

I got that ... and there are many not-for-profit political groups, just as there are many not-for-profit religious groups. Why can't one group be in both categories? How does that violate the First Amendment; indeed why doesn't a ban on them violate the First Amendment?