College Democrats of America | Gretchen Weiss-Elliot's Blog: Please sign this petition to eliminate tax exemptions for churches that lobby for state propositions...

Please sign this petition to eliminate tax exemptions for churches that lobby for state propositions...

By Gretchen - Nov 15th, 2008 at 3:15 pm EST

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Sign this petition to support the legal effort to amend our tax laws such that the Mormon Church, and other transgressing churches, would lose tax-exempt status if they continue lobbying for state propositions.

http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/#petition

Reader Comments

By Gretchen Nov 15th 2008 at 3:16 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 3:16 pm EST)

By Percy H Florez Nov 15th 2008 at 3:52 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 3:52 pm EST)

It is your intention to minimize the FREEDONM of SPEECH.

Church is only the element who group some persons in such manner they share his ideas and believe.

So it is the people who are congregate in this Churches who are telling his own opinion.

Why NOT?

I am Catholic as many Hispanic people but no matter what my Church said I strong believe GAY has the same equal opportunity for everything like me. Even if they want to be married.

But from there try to said churches has to be punished because they are lobbying in what they believe is another history.

And all about this TAXES proposition is an extortion against the constitution.

Percy H Florez

Re: ?

By Gretchen Nov 15th 2008 at 4:41 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 4:41 pm EST)

I work for a Catholic hospital-- I cannot in any way wear anything that represents ANY political party or belief as the hospital could loose its Non-profit status-- The Mormon church pored money and support into this proposition-- A political group IS NOT tax exempt-- They need to choose...

By Percy H Florez Nov 15th 2008 at 4:52 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 4:52 pm EST)

Let the Churches do the great job they did for centuries.

My God, there are more important issues at this time than ever to discuss if Churches can or cannot involve in this kind of discussion's.

Percy H Florez

By Gretchen Nov 15th 2008 at 5:05 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 5:05 pm EST)

Percy-- Churches cannot use their power to be political!!! If they are they are a political group--not a religious group-- Political groups have freedom of speech-- they just CANNOT be tax exempt!!

By Gretchen Nov 15th 2008 at 5:06 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 5:06 pm EST)

The mormon church has to decide-- political-- non tax exempt-- Religious-- tax exempt!

Freedom of speech IS NOT the issue here!!! smile!

By Democrat in Mesa, AZ Nov 15th 2008 at 4:59 pm EST (Updated Nov 15th 2008 at 4:59 pm EST)

you're perfectly right, i've just signed it. i really hope that percy will realize that this is not a freedom of speech issue. as you say, a political group is not tax exempt, period.

Catholic

By Hollywood Nov 16th 2008 at 12:26 am EST (Updated Nov 16th 2008 at 12:26 am EST)

Bishops and Archbishops should have kept their mouths shut. This issue has absolutely zero to do with religion. It is a civil rights issue. That is why the NAACP, a Mexican-American civil rights group and an Asian-American civil rights group all filed suits with the California Supreme Court to keep the court from revising the state constitution.

Now, note I say "revising", because since the courts ruled gay marriage is legal in California already, there can be no amendment. It has to be a revision. And a revision to the state constitution requires a 2/3rds majority. Which they haven't got. So if they want to revise the constitution they will have to have another vote. And they will not get the majority they are seeking. And the "Yes" people are now whining because their major donors are tapped out, and they see half a million people turn out today protesting.

We had fires raging all around, the sun blocked by smoke, power outages and freeway closures in LA County, and still 12,000 people turned up to protest at L.A. City Hall. 25,000 in San Diego.

I DID warn you about this. This is a fight you cannot win. You folks who want to revise the California constitution are just wasting your money.

Churches

By Private Joker Nov 16th 2008 at 1:03 pm EST (Updated Nov 16th 2008 at 1:03 pm EST)

I don't understand why anyone would bother with associating themselves with these obviously fraudulent religious phonies anyway. Unless they are doing something productive, tax them! Liberals always seem to advocate for separation of church and state, but politics, religion and car salesman should just merge into one profession.

I say

By Jon P Nov 16th 2008 at 2:41 pm EST (Updated Nov 16th 2008 at 2:41 pm EST)

eliminate tax exemptions for churches.

no conditions necessary

Absolutely

By Sue Sue's Straight Talk Express Nov 17th 2008 at 10:06 am EST (Updated Nov 17th 2008 at 10:06 am EST)

Gretchen,

This is really ticking me off. I am sick and tired of churches in the United States of America pushing their agenda. I am Catholic, love going to mass, but it is my choice and my choice alone. I would NEVER impose my beliefs on anyone else which is what churches are now doing.

Listen to this, a few years ago, my neighbor who is evangelical sent over via my daughter, information regarding transforming gay people to straight. The pamphlets explained that being gay was a choice and that it could be reversed through intense therapy. They were having a seminar at their church regarding it. I was outraged.

First of all, I do not believe it is a "choice", secondly how dare she assume that I would find it okay for them to gay hate. And that is what it felt like to me after reading the pamphlets. I have many gay friends and I know for a fact that they fought the desires a great deal before succumbing to who they really where. Why should people have to be who they aren't simply to make the majority in this country happy and for churches to advocate this is absurd to me and is in essence preaching hate. What kind of church does this?

Re: Absolutely

By Sue Sue's Straight Talk Express Nov 17th 2008 at 10:07 am EST (Updated Nov 17th 2008 at 10:07 am EST)

Also, I believe the mega churches should pay taxes anyway. If you have a congregation of 25K, pay some damn taxes (smile).

By Gretchen Nov 17th 2008 at 12:14 pm EST (Updated Nov 17th 2008 at 12:14 pm EST)

Hey-- Sue, maybe we solved the budget crisis-- If these churches--especially these ones that fill auditoriums paid taxes-- maybe we wouldn't have a deficit--- I agree with you completely-Any church that tries to dictate how people vote needs to change their tax exemption status-- I think we need to encourage our lawmakers to look at this and pass a law saying this--

Preaching is using someone of power to convey a message to vulnerable people... politics needs to be removed from the pulpit!!!