"Religious Freedom", the Mormon Church's take

[icehorse]

I find the language in this article to be quite hard to parse. I'm tempted to suspect that it was designed to be that way.

Can anyone summarize or make conclusions about this article? I will add my conclusions later, but I didn't want to introduce any bias...

http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4461526-155/mormon-church-others-urge-obama-to

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

I find the language in this article to be quite hard to parse. I'm tempted to suspect that it was designed to be that way.

Can anyone summarize or make conclusions about this article? I will add my conclusions later, but I didn't want to introduce any bias...

http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4461526-155/mormon-church-others-urge-obama-to

Between this and the fact the Church is telling its members to campaign against the legalisation of recreational marijuana and assisted suicide, I think it's time the Church (and other religious organisations who act similarly) should have their tax-exempt status revoked effective immediately. They're violating the separation of Church and State by getting directly involved in the political process.

It's also nice to see the Church still maintains its position that freedom of religion = freedom to discriminate.

 

[Father Heathen]

It's also nice to see the Church still maintains its position that freedom of religion = freedom to discriminate.

Right. It's funny how "religious freedom" usually translates into "the freedom to deny others freedom", and when religious conservatives complain about being "persecuted", it's usually a case of where they were prevented from persecuting others. As for recreational marijuana and assisted suicide, if you disagree with it, don't do it. Can't people live by their faith without meddling in other people's business?

 

[Prestor John]

I found the article to be accurate and appropriate.

The responses made by other posters confirms that the LDS Church's concerns are legitimate.

 

[Prestor John]

Between this and the fact the Church is telling its members to campaign against the legalisation of recreational marijuana and assisted suicide, I think it's time the Church (and other religious organisations who act similarly) should have their tax-exempt status revoked effective immediately. They're violating the separation of Church and State by getting directly involved in the political process.

It's also nice to see the Church still maintains its position that freedom of religion = freedom to discriminate.

The legalization of marijuana and assisted suicide are moral issues.

The LDS Church can comment and encourage its members on how to act in regards to moral issues.

As to it being a violation of "Separation of Church and State", the Freedom from Religion Foundation states that in order for a Church to retain their tax status, they:

• Cannot endorse or oppose candidates for public office
• Cannot make any communication—either from the pulpit, in a newsletter, or church bulletin—which expressly advocates for the election or defeat of a candidate for public office
• Cannot make expenditures on behalf of a candidate for public office or allow any of their resources to be used indirectly for political purposes (e.g., use their phones for a phone bank)
• Cannot ask a candidate for public office to sign a pledge or other promise to support a particular issue
• Cannot distribute partisan campaign literature
• Cannot display political campaign signs on church property

None of these have been violated.

It also says that,

"Churches can attempt to influence any legislation considered at the federal level (Congress), state level (state legislatures), or local and municipal level (city councils and county boards). The IRS considers legislation to include any acts, bills, resolutions, confirmation of political appointees (including Cabinet members and judgeships), and ballot initiatives or referendums."

https://ffrf.org/outreach/item/14005-churches-and-political-lobbying-activities

The LDS Church is well within it's rights to encourage its membership on how to act in regards to moral issues and in its attempts to influence certain legislation.

 

[Aštra’el]

It's also nice to see the Church still maintains its position that freedom of religion = freedom to discriminate.

I have a freedom to discriminate and I enjoy it very much.

 

[DeepShadow]

It appears that many, many churches are alarmed by the report, when it complains lines like this: ""The phrases 'religious liberty' and 'religious freedom' will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance." (emphasis mine)

The biggest problem with that last line is that churches must be allowed to be intolerant of certain things, and no one can tell a church what it can or cannot be intolerant of. That's true, even when religious liberty/freedom is NOT just a code word for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy etc.

We need a solution to religious bigotry that acknowledges that the bigots are frequently hijacking an otherwise peaceful and harmless religious narrative to serve their own selfish ends. The religion is actually the first victim of bigotry, and this report treats it like the perpetrator.