The Mormons became the first religious organization to be fined for political malfeasance

[Are_grits_groceries]

On Wednesday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the first religious organization to be fined for political malfeasance, according to Californians Against Hate (CAH), the non-profit organization that filed the complaint after voters narrowly approved the anti-marriage equality initiative, proposition 8, November, 2008.

Leaders of the Mormon Church "failed to timely report making late non-monetary contributions" to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, an amount totaling $36,928, according to the June 10, 2010 finding by California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), announced at the commission's meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. The commission's enforcement included levying a 15% punitive fine against the LDS organization, totaling $5,539 dollars.

The late reporting charges were just one part of the complaint CAH filed November 13, 2008, shortly after the anti-marriage equality initiative passed, and followed-up with a supplemental complaint filed March 18, 2009, as more information became public.

" seems a little light since only looked at $36,000 of their contributions, but it's also historic because no church has ever been fined for illegal political activity in California before," said Fred Karger, CAH founder. "In fact, it's unprecedented."
More: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=node/7845

About time!

[Fumesucker]

1. Amen! Recced..

[Blue_Tires]

2. could they send a retroactive fine to Rome?

there may not be enough wealth in all the world to cover that one...

[customerserviceguy]

3. The unprecedented nature of this

may cause the Mormons to pursue this all the way to the SCOTUS. Their ancient history with that Court hasn't gone so well, but that was back when they espoused the virtues of polygamy, which was seriously at odds with the prevailing Judeo-Christian ethic of the 19th Century.

On this issue, they deal with a different landscape, a country that has consistently voted against equal marriage, and a SCOTUS that has it's own interpretations of what constitutes political speech. Being as this is dealing solely with a ballot issue, and not with a candidate (who would theoretically be in a position to 'pay back' favors), there's a significant chance that the SCOTUS might see non-monetary contributions in this situation to be protected political speech.

Expect a highly-trained cadre of Mormon lawyers to see if they can bring this up as an issue. It's not necessarily over yet.

[bluethruandthru]

4. If churches want to be involved in political activity

they should lose their tax-exempt status. No fines, no slaps on the wrist...just take away their tax exempt status and that's the end of it.

[SidDithers]

5. Good...

Sid

[ellenfl]

6. wow! that's a hugh fine! and did they lose their tax-exempt status as well? eom

[redqueen]

7. Just the first in CA, or anywhere in the US? (nt)