I wonder if this is a violation of their tax exempt status?

[ellid]

Memo from the LDS church from 1997 outlining their political alliance with the Catholic church to defeat equal marriage in Hawaii.

And for those who think this is paranoia, or craziness...someone I consider a reliable source has passed along the news that the Catholic Church in New Jersey is all but ordering its priests to support McCain/Palin because of the abortion issue. Part of me isn't surprised because the RCC has been so close to the edge on this issue for decades, and part of me is shocked that they'd really risk their tax exemption this way.

Either way, I hope Proposition 8 goes down in flames, and that the RCC tones it down. There's enough religious nastiness going on right now without someone filing a challenge with the IRS.

Comments

[tree_and_leaf]

Grr. I hope that's not true. I don't think it could happen here - although they're anti-abortion, the RC hierarchy in Britain is more likely to be making a left-wing criticism of the government (and after all, even Josef Ratzinger, who is nobody's idea of a bleeding heart liberal was against the Iraq war).

Where are the Jesuits when you need them?

[psyfic.livejournal.com]

You know about that one priest in SF whose post was revoked for coming out against Prop. 8, right? I forget who pointed it out, but that is a serious action for the church to take. There are repeat offender child molesting priests that still maintain their posts, even after being caught by the church, but one who dares to suggest that Jesus' greatest commandment "Love Thy Neighbour" included gays is ousted.

[knitprincess.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I passed a clearly homemade sign today on my way to the drug store that read:

Save The Babies
Vote McCain-Palin

Scary stuff.

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

The bishop in St. Louis did basically that during the last presidential election, saying that anyone who didn't vote for Bush risked going to hell. (I don't remember the exact words by any means, but that was the gist of it.)

Frankly I think that no church should be tax exempt. They get services from the government - police protection, fire, etc. - and should have to pay for what they get like anyone else. No free rides.

[xrian.livejournal.com]

We had a local member of the RC hierarchy shock everyone at a special assembly for high school students by telling them all to vote Yes on 8.

Even the people who agree with his stance thought that was really, really inappropriate.

Sad to report, he got so many nasty, vituperative and threatening phone calls that the diocese had to re-direct all his calls for several days thereafter. I don't think anyone deserves that.

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

For the record, nonprofits CAN take stands on specific ballot issues. They just can't support candidates or parties.