# The Church of LDS's Role in CA Prop 8: Endangering their tax-exempt status? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 8, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747 "2008-11-08T00:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pazu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pazu/32/15522_2.png) [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/1 "2008-11-08T00:37:23Z")
I’ve always been unclear on the limits of official church activity with respect to political causes and maintaining their tax-exempt status, so this is as much a request for information as discussion. [This](http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/) is a proposed response to the funding of the Yes on Prop 8 campaign by the Mormons–essentially, arguing that by backing the Yes on 8 campaign, they are in violation of federal law with respect to tax-exempt organizations. Does this effort carry any legal weight? Does it make sense? Is it likely to have any effect at all? Edit: Apologies for the thread title – I understand that the proper name of the church in question is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mods, please fix if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/2 "2008-11-08T00:42:07Z")
Doubtful. My understanding is that churches can back causes and issues but not candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/3 "2008-11-08T06:41:01Z")
I had understood that most of the funding came, not from the Church itself, but from a number of individuals who happened to be members of the Church. And of course, individuals can and do contribute to whatever political causes they like. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/4 "2008-11-08T18:33:29Z")
As a Gay man, as much as I would like to get on this bandwagon, I can’t. I am sure just as many bigoted, staunch Catholics donated to put a stop to Gay marriage. More shocking to me is the 70% of black voters who decided this bigotry is acceptable. Lots of blame to go around. This doesn’t mean I will ever support the LDS in any shape or form, but to single them out seems a bit disingenuous. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/5 "2008-11-08T18:42:15Z")
Churches can encourage people to vote certain ways on issues without any problems. It’s only when they get into backing (or telling people not to back) particular candidates that they risk losing their tax exempt status. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/6 "2008-11-08T19:31:11Z")
For me, it seems a reasonable line to draw between “issues” and constitutional amendments. Either by involving the legislative branch of government to have more oversight (no more simple majority tyrrany), or by enforcing the tax exempt status, which is admittedly a very difficult thing to enforce. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-ldss-role-in-ca-prop-8-endangering-their-tax-exempt-status/471747/7 "2008-11-08T19:35:54Z")
This is the relevant bit of the tax code: > [@Section 501(c)(3) of US Code Title 26](#): > > (3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, **no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation** (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. How is this not relevant in this case? It seems like it is but maybe I’m not understanding it correctly.