Should The Mormon Church Pay Taxes? (...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2007
Should The Mormon Church Pay Taxes? (...
97
Fri, 09-19-2008 - 12:56am

Should The Mormon Church Pay Taxes? (See 1st post.)



  • No. Don't tax them.
  • Yes. Tax them.


You will be able to change your vote.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 6:38pm

>But we are free to stump for voting no on Prop 8 from the pulpit, just as the AARP are free to stump for their political issue in their meetings.<


Yes and no. AARP can talk about the importance of certain legislation, but cannot directly ask for action from its members without utilizing their PAC. I know. The organization I work for talks about the importance of a particular piece of legislation in our national magazine, but we do not ask for action in it. Any time a request for action is made, it comes directly from the PAC in the form of email and direct mail items. No non- nor not-for-profit money or staff can be used to make that plea.


We have to be extremely careful with this. Even the PAC solicitation that comes with our dues invoice is paid for completely by PAC funds, including their share of the postage and the bank lockbox. The IRS and FEC both eye these actions VERY carefully, and we ensure that we're abiding by the law with yearly audits.

The 3 Day

Sandy
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 8:24pm
Lol! There are a lot of misconceptions about mormons, but generally speaking, they really only want to make the world a more peaceful place and they help out as many people as they can.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 8:43pm

You know I get Mormon's knocking on my door every year and I usually just blow them off - not in a rude way, but I just am not interested in being 'preached' to. Ironically my daughters Mormon friend is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Her grandfather is my daughters AP chemistry teacher, again one of the nicest people I have ever met. I love it when my daughter has this friend over and I love it when she goes to her friends house - the value system is wonderful. I just never made the intellectual connection between the people and the religion.

I was raised Catholic, and then married a Jew, so I like to think I am open minded but I confess I have a hard time accepting some of the religions in this area. I will try to be a bit more open minded in the future. Just wish some of my ultra Christian friends would do the same!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 9:36pm

>>But the Mormons and Catholics and Southern Baptists and

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Mon, 09-22-2008 - 11:55am
I think one of the coolest things about the world we live in is the different religions and cultures. It just brings so much color. The only thing that is bad about that is that a lot of people get so emotional about what they believe and where they come from, that they can't see things from another's point of view. You don't have to believe what other people believe to respect what they believe. I went through years of going to different churches. I went to just about every church you can imagine. I even tried Jewish, Muslim, and Buddest. They are all such beautiful people, you just can't help but love them. I did end up joining the Mormon church. I started listening to them because they were the closet to the church that Christ set up. You know, with apostles, prophets, revelations and such. I liked knowing that God hasn't stopped communicating with us. He's still giving us instructions about how to be more like Him and how to return to Him again. But even though I am a mormon, I don't push what I believe on everyone else. I repect that you believe something different than I believe and we can still have a civil conversation. :-D As for the value system, that is what they believe. Most (not all, you get that in any religion though) are living clean, following the ten commandments plus some other guidelines meant to keep your mind and body clean. Like not smoking or drinking, they're also encouraged to read scripture and pray daily. This helps them have a relationship with Christ and keep themselves healthy and happy.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Mon, 09-22-2008 - 12:08pm
No more so than when you go to a movie and the theatre pays taxes on its income.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Mon, 09-22-2008 - 12:10pm
always depends on the topic sandy... I seem to recall an ongoing disagreement on another thread...
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-22-2008 - 12:52pm

>So my minister is free to let everyone know about the No on 8 yard signs a parishoner brought in for folks who wished to have one,<


Of course, because Churches are given special dispensation that other non- and not-for-profit organizations don't have. My organization can only do such things through its PAC, and I don't understand why Churches should not be required to do the same.


>and we are free to discuss the history of marriage equity during one 20 minute sermon this fall.<


And that I would agree is appropriate, just as when AARP tells its members about pending legislation. The difference is that I don't think that a Church should be able to say "you need to vote x" when other non- and not-for-profit organizations cannot do it any other way than through their PACs.


The written rules are the same for Churches and non- and not-for-profit organizations, but in practice Churches are given much more leeway than non-religious organizations. Our lawyers here have advised us to never do anything that smacks of political effort except through our PAC.


Sandy
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2007
Mon, 09-22-2008 - 1:58pm

But even though I am a mormon, I don't push what I believe on everyone else. I repect that you believe something different than I believe and we can still have a civil conversation.


Do you believe in same sex marriage? Would you extend the right to marry to two people who love each other and who are of the same sex?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2008
Mon, 09-22-2008 - 4:01pm

The fact your organization's lawyers have decided to advise your organization not to take advantage of the "insubstantial" clause of the law vis a vis lobbying does not mean your organization does not have the same rights other non-profits have.

Erring on the side of caution is no doubt prudent, but it doesn't mean religous groups get special dispensation.

Rose

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