Investigate the tax-exempt status of the Mormon Church.

The Issue

We respectfully petition the President of the United States to direct the Internal Revenue Service to change The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tax-exempt status from 501c(3) to 501c(4) to properly categorize the church's activity against same-sex legislation.

 

The First Amendment includes, through court application, the separation of Church and State. However, by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) using it's members contribution, material, buildings, and personnel, to push for anti-gay legislation across the country, we believe they have exceeded the amount of money acceptable as "substantial part" to be used for lobbying; since the LDS finances are off-limits for review, and the gov't has to take it words on spending.

501c(3) gives Mormon members the benefit of contributing money to their church, which is used in part to propagate a religious hatred of Mormons towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transexual (LGBT) community. Mormon benefit from the 501c(3) by having their donations become tax-deductible on their Federal Income Tax Reports.

501c(4) is the more appropriate category for what is clearly a large lobbying organization, who members are contacted via church membership rosters, to sign petition, run signature campaigns, pay for TV advertisements, and other lobbying tools. The LDS church would still be tax-exempt from paying taxes to the United States government; however, it would not be able to have it's members used their donations to reduce their income tax liability.

Most lobbying organizations ar 501c(4). And since the LDS Church is not forthcoming to an audit of its funds received, and funds spent, then a 501c(4) would be most appropriate to prevent other churches from becoming tax-exempt lobbying organization.

avatar of the starter
Timothy UnrinePetition StarterI am not LGBT, but have had several friends that are, and knew co-workers that were too. Ultimately, yes, a religion can determine what it believes constitutes a marriage, and decide who it wants as members. However, the United States was truly developed from groups of people 'throw out' one or more countries for political beliefs, religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, and other reasons. We, as Americans have always welcomed all to our country. But now there is a large campaign to outlaw same-sex marriages throughout the United States, especially by the Mormons and the Catholics. Churchs should not determine who can marry in the United States. Churchs can decide who it wants as it's members. While the Mormons are attempting to portray themselvs as being gay-friendly, that isn't the case. Someone summed up the Mormon policy best as: Do Ask, Do Tell, Don't DO.
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This petition had 42 supporters

The Issue

We respectfully petition the President of the United States to direct the Internal Revenue Service to change The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tax-exempt status from 501c(3) to 501c(4) to properly categorize the church's activity against same-sex legislation.

 

The First Amendment includes, through court application, the separation of Church and State. However, by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) using it's members contribution, material, buildings, and personnel, to push for anti-gay legislation across the country, we believe they have exceeded the amount of money acceptable as "substantial part" to be used for lobbying; since the LDS finances are off-limits for review, and the gov't has to take it words on spending.

501c(3) gives Mormon members the benefit of contributing money to their church, which is used in part to propagate a religious hatred of Mormons towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transexual (LGBT) community. Mormon benefit from the 501c(3) by having their donations become tax-deductible on their Federal Income Tax Reports.

501c(4) is the more appropriate category for what is clearly a large lobbying organization, who members are contacted via church membership rosters, to sign petition, run signature campaigns, pay for TV advertisements, and other lobbying tools. The LDS church would still be tax-exempt from paying taxes to the United States government; however, it would not be able to have it's members used their donations to reduce their income tax liability.

Most lobbying organizations ar 501c(4). And since the LDS Church is not forthcoming to an audit of its funds received, and funds spent, then a 501c(4) would be most appropriate to prevent other churches from becoming tax-exempt lobbying organization.

avatar of the starter
Timothy UnrinePetition StarterI am not LGBT, but have had several friends that are, and knew co-workers that were too. Ultimately, yes, a religion can determine what it believes constitutes a marriage, and decide who it wants as members. However, the United States was truly developed from groups of people 'throw out' one or more countries for political beliefs, religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, and other reasons. We, as Americans have always welcomed all to our country. But now there is a large campaign to outlaw same-sex marriages throughout the United States, especially by the Mormons and the Catholics. Churchs should not determine who can marry in the United States. Churchs can decide who it wants as it's members. While the Mormons are attempting to portray themselvs as being gay-friendly, that isn't the case. Someone summed up the Mormon policy best as: Do Ask, Do Tell, Don't DO.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Former President of the United States
Douglas H Shulman
Douglas H Shulman
Commissioner of Internal Revenue

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Petition created on April 17, 2012