Mormon Church Accused of Violating Election Laws to Pass Prop 8
Christian Church
November 18, 2008
Guilty verdict may result in overturn of discriminatory measure.
Both the Salt Lake Tribune and the New York Times are reporting that a complaint has been filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against the Mormon Church alleging that Church officials violated campaign finance laws during their efforts to help pass Proposition 8. The measure, if sustained in the Supreme Court, eliminates same-sex marriage in California. Since June, over 18,000 same-sex couples have been wed in the Golden State.
The complaint was filed by Fred Karger, founder of the website californiansagainsthate.com, which exposes the major donors to the Yes on Prop 8 Campaign.
Karger writes that soon after same-sex marriages became law in California, the leadership of the Mormon Church sent a letter to be read to all Mormons with the request, "Do all you can to pass Proposition 8." According to Kargerīs research, church members were told that "their souls would be in jeopardy" if they did not donate money to pass Prop 8. Reports indicate that Church elders persuaded members to donate as much as $25,000 each to the "Yes on Prop 8" Campaign.
According to Karger, critics charge that the Mormon Church is targeting same-sex couples to "clean up its battered image" among traditional Christian denominations, which do not condone polygamy. Several court cases continue to link the Mormon Church with polygamist sects and Proposition 8, Karger argues, could be a "crafty" way to improve their image at the expense of gays.
According to ReligiousTolerance.org the three uniquely Mormon texts, which are considered "inspired by God and authoritative" do not mention homosexuality at all. In fact, the website states, early Mormons were openly gay and the Church was quite tolerant of homosexual behavior.
The Mormon Church was founded by "prophet" Joseph Smith, Jr. after announcing that an angel appeared to him and showed him a set of golden plates that described a visit by Jesus to the Native Americans. Historians agree that Smith taught and practiced polygamy and had "several dozen" wives, some of whom were "sealed" with him at the time of his death during a mob assassination.
According to a well viewed documentary on the Internet called, "What Mormon Theology is Really All About," the religion teaches that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers and that Jesus had at least three wives and fathered many children. The film also explains that Mormons believe all of the defenders of Jesus are "light-skinned" people, while those people who were indifferent to Jesus and unwilling to battle his brother, Lucifer, are all "dark-skinned" people. This explains the "negro race" the film concludes.
Consequently, many mainstream Christian denominations, such as the Baptists, Catholics, and Evangelicals, do not consider Mormonism "valid or recognized" as a "Christian" faith.
It will be up to the FPPC to determine if the Mormon Church violated campaign laws in their attempts to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The FPPC must first determine if a violation may have occurred before a thorough investigation can ensue.
The mission of the FPPC is to "promote the integrity of representative state and local government in California through fair, impartial interpretation and enforcement of political campaign, lobbying, and conflict of interest laws."
Both the Salt Lake Tribune and the New York Times are reporting that a complaint has been filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against the Mormon Church alleging that Church officials violated campaign finance laws during their efforts to help pass Proposition 8. The measure, if sustained in the Supreme Court, eliminates same-sex marriage in California. Since June, over 18,000 same-sex couples have been wed in the Golden State.
The complaint was filed by Fred Karger, founder of the website californiansagainsthate.com, which exposes the major donors to the Yes on Prop 8 Campaign.
Karger writes that soon after same-sex marriages became law in California, the leadership of the Mormon Church sent a letter to be read to all Mormons with the request, "Do all you can to pass Proposition 8." According to Kargerīs research, church members were told that "their souls would be in jeopardy" if they did not donate money to pass Prop 8. Reports indicate that Church elders persuaded members to donate as much as $25,000 each to the "Yes on Prop 8" Campaign.
According to Karger, critics charge that the Mormon Church is targeting same-sex couples to "clean up its battered image" among traditional Christian denominations, which do not condone polygamy. Several court cases continue to link the Mormon Church with polygamist sects and Proposition 8, Karger argues, could be a "crafty" way to improve their image at the expense of gays.
According to ReligiousTolerance.org the three uniquely Mormon texts, which are considered "inspired by God and authoritative" do not mention homosexuality at all. In fact, the website states, early Mormons were openly gay and the Church was quite tolerant of homosexual behavior.
The Mormon Church was founded by "prophet" Joseph Smith, Jr. after announcing that an angel appeared to him and showed him a set of golden plates that described a visit by Jesus to the Native Americans. Historians agree that Smith taught and practiced polygamy and had "several dozen" wives, some of whom were "sealed" with him at the time of his death during a mob assassination.
According to a well viewed documentary on the Internet called, "What Mormon Theology is Really All About," the religion teaches that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers and that Jesus had at least three wives and fathered many children. The film also explains that Mormons believe all of the defenders of Jesus are "light-skinned" people, while those people who were indifferent to Jesus and unwilling to battle his brother, Lucifer, are all "dark-skinned" people. This explains the "negro race" the film concludes.
Consequently, many mainstream Christian denominations, such as the Baptists, Catholics, and Evangelicals, do not consider Mormonism "valid or recognized" as a "Christian" faith.
It will be up to the FPPC to determine if the Mormon Church violated campaign laws in their attempts to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The FPPC must first determine if a violation may have occurred before a thorough investigation can ensue.
The mission of the FPPC is to "promote the integrity of representative state and local government in California through fair, impartial interpretation and enforcement of political campaign, lobbying, and conflict of interest laws."