Trouble in Mormonland: "Whatever It Takes" Finally Backfires!

The Mormons Are Following the Teachings of Rick Warren:

"Whatever It Takes"

(From San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 31, 2009)

Mormon Church officials, facing an ongoing investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, Friday reported nearly $190,000 in previously unlisted assistance to the successful campaign for Prop. 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California.

The report, filed with the secretary of state's office, listed a variety of California travel expenses for high-ranking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and included $20,575 for use of facilities and equipment at the church's Salt Lake City headquarters and a $96,849 charge for "compensated staff time" for church employees who worked on matters pertaining to Prop. 8.

"This is exactly what we were talking about when we filed the suit," said Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate, which opposed the same-sex marriage ban. "They spent money on the campaign and were supposed to report it."

Pay Back Time!:

If you recall, the Yes On Prop 8 (Protect Marriage) people sent letters to the top donors of No On 8 Marriage Equality) and threatened to publish their names if "in kind" donations were not made to them. Now the threat of their extortion - expose to harassment - is the reason they do not want their own list of donors made public. AAAWW! TOO BAD! Now they're afraid to list their donors for the same reason:

(Sacramento, California) A federal judge - U.S. District Judge Morrison England Jr. - denied a request Thursday to keep secret the names of donors to California’s anti-gay marriage initiative, saying the public had a right to know who gave money to state ballot measures.

“If there ever needs to be sunshine on a political issue, it is with a ballot measure,” England said. He said many campaign committees have vague names that obscure their intent, and the public would have no way of knowing who was behind the campaigns unless they could see who was giving money.

Could the Mormon Church lose its tax-exempt status? It could, it should, but it won't. We all know that. What it loses this time is its credibility.

...and a smidgen of righteousness.

Thank you, God!