Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Anti-Gay LDS Activities
California Commission: LDS Church Violated Law
Mormon Church Fined for Failing to Report Prop 8 Contributions

From a story in The Salt Lake Tribune
June 2010

The LDS Church will have to pay a fine for failing to report on time contributions made in fall 2008 to help wipe out marriage equality in California.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission’s staff has determined the LDS Church violated the state’s political-contributions law in the days leading up to passage of Proposition 8. The agency has proposed a $5,539 fine, representing 15 percent of the $36,928 in contributions to the “Yes on 8” campaign that the LDS Church did not report on time.

Fred Karger, who filed the original complaint with the commission, said Tuesday the fine validates his allegations that the LDS Church tried to cover up its role in banning same-sex marriage in California.

“They have absolutely every right — as any religious organization, any individual, any business owner, union, whomever — to be involved,” he said. “But they must comply with the law if they are going to be involved in politics. That’s what they’ve been covering up.”

Karger estimates that Mormons ultimately contributed $30 million of the $42 million total raised in support of Prop 8.