The LDS church contributed a significant amount of money and effort to endorse PROP 8 in California via its network of church, media, and community outlets enshrining discrimination under the law for thousands of Californians and their families.
"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)."
The LDS church contributed a significant amount of money and effort to endorse PROP 8 in California via its network of church, media, and community outlets enshrining discrimination under the law for thousands of Californians and their families.
"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)."
The Latter-Day Saints (LDS) church contributed a significant amount of money and effort to endorse PROP 8 in California via its network of church, media, and community outlets enshrining discrimination under the law for thousands of Californians and their families.
This initiative will cause great emotional and financial harm to thousands of California couples and their families who will not enjoy spousal rights under the law as granted different-sexed married couples.
In exchange for their legislative efforts, the LDS church's tax-exempt status should be revoked by the IRS.
"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)."
The petition has nothing to do with the tenets of the church itself but only in the context of contributing funds, providing a de facto bully pulpit, and motivating satellite churches across state lines to influence key political processes and outcomes.
Your prompt attention to these serious violations of the tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status is greatly appreciated.
We signed the "Review the 501(c)(3) status of The Church of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons)" petition!
# 21,540:
12:13 am PDT, May 1,Jenna Johnson, Nebraska
# 21,539:
9:17 am PDT, Apr 29,Martha Heinz, California
They sent CD's to all churches they thought would be sympathetic to their hateful message. You might want to revoke the tax-exempt status of the churches that used that CD also!
# 21,538:
8:02 pm PDT, Apr 27,Jeffrey Morgan, Utah
# 21,537:
12:55 pm PDT, Apr 27,Robert Scalzi, California
the Actions of the LDS or Moron church is unconcionable and Illegal .... The tax exemption for this hate group is disgusting and needs revocation. Teh entire church was built on the lies of a charlatan and has nothin to do w/ Jesus Christ, that being said their political activity is against the Law and should be immediately punished.. they are a political action commitee not a religeon ...
# 21,536:
7:58 am PDT, Apr 25,Sean Clew, California
# 21,535:
1:09 pm PDT, Apr 24,Kyle Nutter, North Carolina
I believe in the separation of church and state... no tax exemption for any religion that influences voting.
# 21,534:
1:36 am PDT, Apr 23,Shirley Linn, Tennessee
# 21,533:
1:35 am PDT, Apr 23,David Ogle, Massachusetts
This is a business not a church!!!
# 21,532:
2:54 pm PDT, Apr 20,Name not displayed, Kansas
# 21,531:
10:01 am PDT, Apr 20,Name not displayed, California
# 21,530:
4:55 am PDT, Apr 20,Name not displayed, California
# 21,529:
6:49 pm PDT, Apr 19,Richard Scott, California
# 21,528:
8:25 am PDT, Apr 19,Joshua Hazard, California
A church as large as the LDS needs to be regulated as strongly as any other church -- especially when it comes to tax exemption. With numbers so large, it's no wonder they were able to get enough people to donate time and money to effectively pay for hatred to be placed on the books in California. Please revoke their tax exempt status -- they crossed the line.
# 21,527:
10:28 pm PDT, Apr 18,Name not displayed, California
No tax exempt "church" should be allowed to influence/buy legislation. Stop the LDS NOW!
# 21,526:
9:03 pm PDT, Apr 18,Michael Kramer, Vermont
# 21,525:
10:58 am PDT, Apr 18,Robbie Hochderffer, California
you went after All Saints in pasadena. why not LDS
# 21,524:
8:17 am PDT, Apr 18,Tricia Johnson, California
The Latter Day Saints tax status should be reviewed. There appears to be much financial manipulating going on within this church. They are also participating actively in political campaigns that endorse their religious beliefs. This activity by them or any non-profit religious body can not be tolerated and threatens the very nature of the United States and one of the reasons we exist.
# 21,523:
11:52 pm PDT, Apr 17,Matthew Krizer, California
# 21,522:
11:41 pm PDT, Apr 17,Nina Salerno, California
# 21,521:
3:46 pm PDT, Apr 16,Warren Wolfe, North Carolina
# 21,520:
9:40 am PDT, Apr 16,Tim Phillips, Missouri
This church IS a business no matter how much it's salesmen(missionaries) believe it is a religion. I have had them come to my door and have looked up their own training manuals. They are SELLING baptisms.
# 21,519:
8:49 pm PDT, Apr 15,Joshua Melino, New York
# 21,518:
12:19 pm PDT, Apr 15,Estacia Brandenburg, Indiana
# 21,517:
10:43 am PDT, Apr 15,Name not displayed, California
# 21,516:
6:49 pm PDT, Apr 13,Jimmie Bryant, Iowa
The law is the law. stop pretending to be blind to its words, they are the foundation of this great nation
# 21,515:
11:48 pm PDT, Apr 10,Name not displayed, California
# 21,514:
3:02 pm PDT, Apr 8,Curtis Rich, California
# 21,513:
2:40 pm PDT, Apr 6,Paul Suino, California
by all means, please take this seriously. the mormons have confused religion and politics.
# 21,512:
8:59 am PDT, Apr 6,Jason Garber, Virginia
# 21,511:
8:03 am PDT, Apr 6,Karena Martin, Virginia
# 21,510:
7:48 pm PDT, Apr 5,Guillermo Perez-Leston, New York
# 21,509:
2:52 pm PDT, Apr 4,Name not displayed, California
An IRC section 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status. You guys are on a dead end. One mentioning of protecting the sanctity of marriage hardly demonstrates a "SUBSTANTIAl PART OF THEIR ACTIVITIES".
# 21,508:
9:17 pm PDT, Apr 2,Amanda Gutwirth, California
# 21,507:
12:20 pm PDT, Mar 31,Cliff Stephens, Washington
# 21,506:
8:39 am PDT, Mar 31,Carl Hauser, Texas
I thought church and state should be seperate.
# 21,505:
7:55 am PDT, Mar 31,Gerald Avila, Texas
Why should Mormons or any church have a tax exempt status and use their money to fight taxpayers? Makes no sense to me.
# 21,504:
7:46 am PDT, Mar 31,Alan Neal, California
# 21,503:
7:34 am PDT, Mar 31,Name not displayed, Texas
# 21,502:
7:22 am PDT, Mar 31,David Shumake, Texas
Revoke the Mormon Church's tax exempt status. They have violated the spirit of the law regarding this issue.
