You are mistaken. Churches cannot give verbal support to a candidate (though, of course, many do). That is in violation of IRS code and technically they could lose their tax exemption for contributions.

Thanks for the correction. Mea Culpa. Had I done a little digging, I would have found this resource.

Additionally, they can give verbal support to candidates, including, hypothetically, telling church-goers that they will reap eternal punishment for not voting for a specific candidate.

Chris,

You are mistaken. Churches cannot give verbal support to a candidate (though, of course, many do). That is in violation of IRS code and technically they could lose their tax exemption for contributions (a real biggie).* They cannot tell you to vote for Joe Smith, but they can tell you that you will burn in eternal torment if you vote for a candidate that supports the evil homosexual agenda.

* Interestingly, the only church I know of which the IRS pursued is Pasadena’s All Saints Episcopal – a liberal church that supported a Democrat.

First the Mormons taint the Prop 8 campaign in California and now the Roman Catholic Diocese is donating over half a million to the anti-gay referendum in Maine.

So much for separation of church and state. I hope this is challenged in court if it’s approved and I hope the suit makes the church influence an issue for overturning it.

Unfortunately, the law as it stands currently, is that Churches are only barred from supporting specific individual candidates financially.

They are not barred from contributing financially to any propositions or measures, or to PACs, or to the political parties (RNC/DNC) themselves.

Additionally, they can give verbal support to candidates, including, hypothetically, telling church-goers that they will reap eternal punishment for not voting for a specific candidate.

First the Mormons taint the Prop 8 campaign in California and now the Roman Catholic Diocese is donating over half a million to the anti-gay referendum in Maine.

So much for separation of church and state. I hope this is challenged in court if it’s approved and I hope the suit makes the church influence an issue for overturning it.

No one ever said there was a deadline after which you couldn’t donate. I believe that you are thinking about reporting deadlines. On certain specific dates, both sides have to report what they have received and what they have spent. One deadline was midnight on September 30. The campaign asked for people to donate in advance of that deadline in order to show the media and the world that they had strong financial support. But that was not the last opportunity to donate.

I suppose that the LDS church learned it’s lesson from Prop. 8 and is now funding anti-marriage equality campaigns more discreetly.

Anyone know if the council of the 12 has put out the call for Mormons to contribute to SFM?

I can only hope that hate won’t win.