10/08 HEADLINE: Mormons Outside California Recruited For Prop. 8

[Bluebear]

ALT LAKE CITY (AP) ― Senior elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a televised appeal to Mormons in California Wednesday night to step up their already considerable efforts to pass a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in the state.

Two members of the church's second-highest governing body, the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, quoted from Mormon scripture on the sanctity of marriage as they laid out a week-by-week strategy for boosting Mormon involvement before the Nov. 4 election in voter registration efforts, phone banks and distributing campaign materials.

"What we're about is the work of the Lord, and He will bless you for your involvement," apostle M. Russell Ballard said during the hourlong meeting, which was broadcast to church buildings in California, Utah, Hawaii and Idaho.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of a coalition of conservative groups backing Proposition 8, which would overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in the nation's most populous state by amending the state constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman.

Mormons have been active participants in the campaign both as volunteers and financial contributors, giving an estimated 43 percent—some $8.4 million—to the Proposition 8 campaign, according to the Web site mormonsfor8.com. There are about 770,000 Mormon church members in California, but Mormons from outside the state have been encouraged to give money and time to help pass the measure.

Along with recruiting Mormons to work in California, church members from outside the state have been asked to call friends and family at home in California to encourage support for the measure, according to Clayton. He said many students attending church-owned universities have asked how they might help and could be enlisted to make calls.

http://cbs5.com/local/gay.marriage.ban.2.835943.html

[IndianaJones]

1. missionaries of hate. nt.

[QC]

2. PLEASE STOP PERSECUTING THESE PEOPLE!1!!!!1

[LeftCoast]

4. Right after they stop persecuting me

You can't punch someone and then not expect them to punch back.

[GreenFiles]

11. Exactly! nt

[KitchenWitch]

5. Only after they are PROsecuted.

[ColbertWatcher]

15. ...

[kevinbgoode]

28. that's right. . .why the gays spent MILLIONS removing the Mormon's

right to marry all over the country. They are so persecuted. . .why, they are whining as we speak over being scapegoated for being caught lying through their teeth. A common characteristic among the partnership of thieves who sponsored this heinous attack on our constitution.

Of course, we better not point out the lies - cuz then they are being persecuted. . .but their victims? Well hey now - it's A-OK to persecute them.

By the way, how much money did DU raise to fight these amendments?

[QC]

35. It's a joke. n/t

[silverojo]

32. Spoken by someone who doesn't know Mormons

Trust me, 99.999999% of them are batshit crazies who'd fit in fine at Freak Republic.

[QC]

34. It's a joke. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

3. "Mormons from outside the state have been encouraged to give money ..."

"... and time to help pass the measure"

Gee, I wonder who advised them to do that?

Could it be ... the elders and officers of the "tax exempt church?"

[Critters2]

9. I hate what they did, but it's within the guidelines of their 501(c)3 status.

501(c)3s can't endorse candidates or parties, but they can take a stand on non-partisan referenda, propositions and social positions. That's why MCC, UCC, UU, Episcopal and Reform and Humanist Jewish Congregations came out in opposition to prop 8. Because it was perfectly legal to do so.

[SoCalNative]

18. But they are not supposed to make direct donations

to influence legislation, which they did

[ColbertWatcher]

27. Thank you! n/t

[Critters2]

39. Actually, they are allowed to do this. They can't make donations

to members of a legislative body--state legislatures or Congress--to influence bills coming before those bodies. But they can do campaigning on referendum issues, those which are being voted on directly by voters without going through the legislative process. That includes making donations to other organizations working on these issues. Progressive churches can do the same--and have--to take progressive positions on the same issues. If the LDS were to lose this right (which won't happen--the courts see this as a 1st Amendment issue), the UUS, UCC, and MCC would also lose their free speech.

The courts have been really consistent in interpreting the law (tax code, really) in this way.

[kevinbgoode]

26. yes....as part of their doctrine to amend constitutions

to inject religious tyranny over the rights of American citizens. California sold itself out to a cabal of professional "religious" thieves with no commitment to constitutional ideals except to use it as a tool to inject religious hegemony over all the people.

[Winnipegosis]

6. I've not been here very long.

But is there an anti-Mormon bias on this site?

[IndianaJones]

7. no...anti-gay bias. nt.

[Critters2]

10. There tends to be some anti-religious bias in general, more in some forums than others,

but it's quite pronounced right now, because of anger over Prop 8. The level of anger is (appropriately, imo) very strong right now. It's not always like this.

[kevinbgoode]

24. Only when "religious" people use their doctrine to inject tyranny

into our constitution.

[Lyric]

33. Thank you for that, mycritters.

It's hard for me to be objective or reasonable right now about religion, especially any religion/denomination that supported Yes on 8. The wound is still bleeding, and the pain is still almost too acute to bear. Your understanding and compassion mean a lot.

[Bluebear]

16. The news article is what it is. What is anti-Mormon about quoting facts?

[TexasObserver]

30. No, but there is an anti-bigot bias here.

And because the Mormon Church is bigoted and has declared war on gays, they are considered a hostile entity, much like a criminal organization, or perhaps the KKK.

[Duke Newcombe]

8. I've been holding my tongue on this one for a while...

If folks don't like this, please change the constitution to say that free speech doesn't apply to religious organizations, and be done with it. Otherwise, this is just so much crazy-making over something we can't do anything about.

[SoCalNative]

12. I'm quite happy to give them "free speech" in the political process

just as soon as they start paying taxes.

and it's not about "free speech."

It's that DESPITE their claims that they did not donate money directly to support Prop 8, they in fact lied and did.

http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/prop8/?appSession=383468146...

they also directly donated approx $500,000 to support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Alaska in 1998

http://www.lds-mormon.com/gaylds.shtml

[Duke Newcombe]

19. And at this time, the law allows them to do this...

...and remain tax-exempt organizations as long as then don't support a particular political CANDIDATE. Just sayin'.

I think this is the problematic issue for some here.

[SoCalNative]

21. No, the IRS code specifically prohibits

tax-exempt organizations from attempting to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities.

[Bluebear]

37. Thank you.

[Duke Newcombe]

38. I followed some links to the IRS regarding this issue.

You are correct--I stand corrected.

[SoCalNative]

22. dupe

[ColbertWatcher]

13. Everyone has the right to free speech. However ...

... churches are tax exempt as long as they follow the law,

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

--IRS

Emphasis the IRS.

[Bluebear]

14. Free speech does apply to religious organizations.

Excusing millions of tax dollars for this kind of activism really rankles one though.

[VOX]

17. Whatever happened to, "We don't swim in your toilet, so please don't pee in our pool"?

You know, mind your own business. Live and let live. Don't impose your shit on others. Don't use your big, fat dogma-smeared money to pull strings way outside of your state.

And most of all, stop trying to use your religion as a weapon, and your church as a sexual regulation society -- it's none of your damned business!

[SoCalNative]

20. That went out the window when the Rethugs allowed the right-wing fundies

to co-opt their party and by default the nation.

It's too bad that the US government didn't take a firmer stance and deal with this issue when they had the chance by absolutely refusing Utah statehood until they had expelled this scourge of a cult from their borders.

[kevinbgoode]

25. I agree...or at least let ALL of the people get to vote

on their CHOSEN right to worship. Since the Mormon Church isn't a "traditional religion" shouldn't ALL the people have had the right to vote on their status?

[kevinbgoode]

23. But they still demand the right to have a tax exemption

This is a cult. A political organization with the obvious intention of usurping the Constitutional rights of every American and replacing it with theocratic rule. Every aspect of this church's hierarchy must be resisted, as it is obvious their Church doctrine was used to assert religious tyranny over the rights of other citizens.

Free UTAH!

[bridgit]

29. Here in California that's been referred to as 'common knowledge' for weeks now...

but I suppose it's good to keep the word out there

[Skidmore]

31. I would lay good money on odds that Mitt Romney and his supporters

had a lot to do with Prop 8. Romney fell on his sword for McCain and McCain pissed his opportunity away. It was evident early on that McCain was screwing up big time. Romney, I think, has been working behind the scenes all the while trying to cement his position for 2012. The Mormon church is his natural base and a very organized group of people.

[secondwind]

36. I would bet that Mitt is the "anonymous donor" for that one million dollars