Mormons Stole Our Rights is the start of a large protest and boycott against Utah and it’s tourist attractions. Utah and the Sundance Film Festival are being targeted for a boycott for its aggressive promotion of California’s ban on gay marriage via the Mormon Church. Tourism brings in $6 billion a year to Utah, with world-class skiing, a spectacular red rock country and the film festival founded by Robert Redford, among other popular tourist draws.
“At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one,” said gay rights activist John Aravosis, an influential blogger in Washington, D.C.
“They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards,” he said. “You don’t do that and get away with it.”
Where is the separation of Church and State? The even acknowledged that it was the Church’s influence. Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said in a statement about the temple protests Friday that it is “disturbing” that the church is being singled out for exercising its right to speak up in a free election.
“While those who disagree with our position on Proposition 8 have the right to make their feelings known, it is wrong to target the Church and its sacred places of worship for being part of the democratic process,” Farah said.
The church had said in a statement after Tuesday’s vote that “no one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information.” But telling lies, manipulating voters and spending money that could have gone to the poor, hungry and homeless. They did this buy using tax-free money as a 501 tax exempt organization.
The Mormon Church is not only a 501(c)(3), it is also a church, which grants them special rights and tax exempt status. They are prohibited from direct involvement in campaigns for a specific political office as well direct lobbying of legislators. The Mormon church has to be stripped of its status of a Religious organization and be recognized as a political party or lobby group.
Section 501(c)(3) describes corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literacy, 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 section (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. (Read More at IRS.gov)
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). An IRC section 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status. (Read More at IRS.gov)
- Revoke LDS Church 501(c)(3) Status
- Freedom from Religion Foundation – Separation of Church & State
- If you are a Mormon: Mass Resignation Planned — The website Signing for Something will be collecting names of people resigning from the Mormon Church over Marriage Equality and/or Prop 8 related issues. Visit http://signingforsomething.org/blog/ to find resources and information about resigning and to post your letter of resignation.
From now on, when we drive through to visit family it will only to piss and poop, no more money will be spent in Utah.