Is gay marriage

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

The gay agenda

Gay To-do list:

1. Go shopping for some fabulous shoes
2. Work out
3. Take Peanut for his weekly grooming
4. Wash the Miata
5. Get Married
6. Ruin all heterosexual marriages
7. Turn 4 children gay
8. Make a dinner of spicy ginger tofu with garlic snap peas
9. Pray to lucifer
10. Go to bed

Wow, the gay agenda certainly has changed. I remember when all gays did was have promiscuous sex 24/7. At least now they seem to be moving away from that.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

The point is, the church really shouldn't care whom the government thinks is or is not married. The church still gets to make its own rules and marry or not marry whomever they wish. That's the great thing about living in America.

Don't you know that as soon as gays can marry the LDS church will be forced to allow gay marriages in their churches and temples or they will lose their tax exempt status? Nevermind the bill of rights... it will be thrown out the window and Mormons will be forced.

End sarcasm

Another point I want to make is about our precious “tax exempt status”. In all honesty the
church is more at risk of losing it for its campaigning against this law then it is if gays can marry.

From the IRS.gov (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-07-41.pdf)

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "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."

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

Don't you know that as soon as gays can marry the LDS church will be forced to allow gay marriages in their churches and temples or they will lose their tax exempt status? Nevermind the bill of rights... it will be thrown out the window and Mormons will be forced.

End sarcasm

Another point I want to make is about our precious “tax exempt status”. In all honesty the
church is more at risk of losing it for its campaigning against this law then it is if gays can marry.

From the IRS.gov (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-07-41.pdf)

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "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."

the sub all clause would preclude the Church from exposure, but I get your point and have made it here myself before. There is no tax exempt issue.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one "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."

The campaign of which candidate for public office was the church participating in, again?

[cougarobgon]

Originally Posted by Flystripper

The gay agenda

Gay To-do list:
4. Wash the Miata

I thought their preference in autos was limited to Subarus and the current model of the Ford T-bird. I still have much too learn about my gay brothers and sisters.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Tex

The campaign of which candidate for public office was the church participating in, again?

mrd quoted the wrong section. he should have quoted the "attempting to influence legislation" section, which the Church is clearly doing.

As I stated before, the section also mandates that a substantial portion of the groups activities must be dedicated to the influence of legislation. I think we can all agree that to argue that the Church comes anywhere near devoting "substantially all" its time to Prop 8 is laughable.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by Tex

The campaign of which candidate for public office was the church participating in, again?

You are correct... but how hard would it be to change the tax code to say all campaigns. That seems a lot easier to do than them losing their tax exempt status because they wont marry gays in their churches

[creekster]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

mrd quoted the wrong section. he should have quoted the "attempting to influence legislation" section, which the Church is clearly doing.

As I stated before, the section also mandates that a substantial portion of the groups activities must be dedicated to the influence of legislation. I think we can all agree that to argue that the Church comes anywhere near devoting "substantially all" its time to Prop 8 is laughable.

Does a propoaition seeking to amend the state consittution qualify as legislation under the statute? real question. I have no idea.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

mrd quoted the wrong section. he should have quoted the "attempting to influence legislation" section, which the Church is clearly doing.

As I stated before, the section also mandates that a substantial portion of the groups activities must be dedicated to the influence of legislation. I think we can all agree that to argue that the Church comes anywhere near devoting "substantially all" its time to Prop 8 is laughable.

In other words, there is no risk of violating that clause.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

You are correct... but how hard would it be to change the tax code to say all campaigns. That seems a lot easier to do than them losing their tax exempt status because they wont marry gays in their churches

I don't think so. Were they to try that, the LDS church would not be the only organization screaming about it.

Moreover, the church's primary press release on Prop 8 says:

Other advocates of same-sex marriage are suggesting that tax exemptions and benefits be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not embrace same-sex unions. Public accommodation laws are already being used as leverage in an attempt to force religious organizations to allow marriage celebrations or receptions in religious facilities that are otherwise open to the public. Accrediting organizations in some instances are asserting pressure on religious schools and universities to provide married housing for same-sex couples. Student religious organizations are being told by some universities that they may lose their campus recognition and benefits if they exclude same-sex couples from club membership.

Clearly the church's lawyers believe the potential for "substantial conflicts with religious freedom" is great, and I do not have confidence in our judiciary to side with them.