Backlash against Church.
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:28 pm
Backlash against Church.
Petition to strip LDS Church of tax-exempt status:
http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/
http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 4502
- Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:15 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
Haha. The promoters of that idea are referencing the following code:
While the Church members spent some time over the last few months focusing on one specific initiative, I seriously doubt the effort would come even close to meeting the legal definition of "substantial". Especially since it was only a relatively few members when taken as a whole.
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).
While the Church members spent some time over the last few months focusing on one specific initiative, I seriously doubt the effort would come even close to meeting the legal definition of "substantial". Especially since it was only a relatively few members when taken as a whole.
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:28 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
You may be right... but the ambiguity of "substantial" does open up some vulnerability, in my view. Especially if they are able to get a lot of signatures. I wonder if the church backed off their plan for out-of-state callers, in order to protect themselves from a potential lawsuit.
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:28 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
For more information on the legal definition of "substantial," see the Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations, pp 5-7:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 1495
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:52 am
Re: Backlash against Church.
Mormons must have stolen their brains, too. (Provided they had any to begin with, which I doubt.)
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei
(I lost access to my Milesius account, so I had to retrieve this one from the mothballs.)
(I lost access to my Milesius account, so I had to retrieve this one from the mothballs.)
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 15602
- Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:59 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
Good for them. I signed it (although I'm skeptical much will come of it).
Even if they don't get the church stripped of their tax-exempt status (I've been saying for a while now that they should), hopefully they'll shed enough light on this issue and (further) embarrass the hell out of the church. It would completely serve them right. The church should just butt the hell out of other people's lives. They want to believe stupid things and keep it to themselves, that's one thing. Messing with good, decent people based on BS is quite another.
Even if they don't get the church stripped of their tax-exempt status (I've been saying for a while now that they should), hopefully they'll shed enough light on this issue and (further) embarrass the hell out of the church. It would completely serve them right. The church should just butt the hell out of other people's lives. They want to believe stupid things and keep it to themselves, that's one thing. Messing with good, decent people based on BS is quite another.
God belief is for people who don't want to live life on the universe's terms.
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 22508
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:42 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
cinepro wrote:Haha. The promoters of that idea are referencing the following code: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).
While the Church members spent some time over the last few months focusing on one specific initiative, I seriously doubt the effort would come even close to meeting the legal definition of "substantial". Especially since it was only a relatively few members when taken as a whole.
However, significant involvement from the top on down does seem substantial. The call for Church-wide financial contributions, the call from the pulpit for all California members to support this proposition and even cross state telephone lobbying may give the appearance of substantiality.
Cry Heaven and let loose the Penguins of Peace
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 998
- Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:52 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
moksha wrote:
However, significant involvement from the top on down does seem substantial. The call for Church-wide financial contributions, the call from the pulpit for all California members to support this proposition and even cross state telephone lobbying may give the appearance of substantiality.
I haven't been here in a while so this may have been posted already. I came across this article on how involved the church was in the Prop 8 camp. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/mormon-power-grab-its-tea_b_136018.html
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 6215
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:32 pm
Re: Backlash against Church.
I wonder what would happen if the church really is stripped of tax-exempt status. I would think it would encourage the church to be even more involved in politics. Finally the church would endorse Republican candidates (while BC sings praises).
I wonder if revenge from gays will come back to bite them (gays) in the butt (and not in a way they'd enjoy).
I wonder if revenge from gays will come back to bite them (gays) in the butt (and not in a way they'd enjoy).
Last edited by Analytics on Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
That's General Leo. He could be my friend if he weren't my enemy.
eritis sicut dii
I support NCMO
eritis sicut dii
I support NCMO
-
- _Emeritus
- Posts: 9947
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 5:12 am
Re: Backlash against Church.
Maybe. I doubt it. Remember, half the COB are lawyers, it's not like they wouldn't have thought about this.
Lou Midgley 08/20/2020: "...meat wad," and "cockroach" are pithy descriptions of human beings used by gemli? They were not fashioned by Professor Peterson.
LM 11/23/2018: one can explain away the soul of human beings...as...a Meat Unit, to use Professor Peterson's clever derogatory description of gemli's ideology.
LM 11/23/2018: one can explain away the soul of human beings...as...a Meat Unit, to use Professor Peterson's clever derogatory description of gemli's ideology.